Lynn Coffelt wrote:
Keith Martin, W7KGV used a rig that was a wonder to watch. Whole garage
floor covered with used automobile batteries, charger working 24/7 for a few
days, then the fun began!
BC-375 (from B-17's and B-24's) ran off 28vdc. Motor generator turned
out 1000vdc for the rig. Basically an MOPA (remember????) with a VT-4C
oscillator and another for PA. (now the VT-4C's around are for audiophile's
output tubes... some now referred to as 211's)
The MOPA transmitter worked on all bands, with proper tuning unit, up
through 20 meters. Best output was on lower bands, 40 meters was Keith's
favorite, as his "off-center fed extended Zepp" antenna fit on his lot, with
just a little over on the neighbor's lot.
Keith could contact "ZL's" in the evening, with reports ranging from
336 to 589C. (Honest operators always included the "C"in the signal report,
as the BC-375 had a distinctive "yooup di dit dit" which the "C" designated
as a chirp, but was closer to a Yooup) It got really distinctive when the
batteries ran low, and the filaments dimmed and the motor generator almost
stalled on long CW dashes.
Keith eventually mastered a "bug" and increased his operating speed so
more than one contact could be made before the batteries went dead again.
Receiver was the venerable BC-312, which had a handy crank on the
tuning knob to follow the "state of the art" signals as they drifted around
the band.
Some, who disliked drifting around on the bands, invested in a pile of
FT-243 surplus crystals for other rigs, that didn't eliminate the friendly
and reasuring "chirp", but didn't make drifting so much of an issue.

Old Chief Lynn, W7LTQ




Lynn, Not a few of us currently have BC-375's and '191's on the air,
regularly. With a bit of tweaking, FMing can be "minimized" but they
still drift. I'd like to find the xtal control mod that CAP used in the
50's for these rigs! Power supply wise, fortunately, currently there
are supplies capable of running (at least) the DY-88 24v dynamotor and
ac HV supplies are also around for both. They do present a very
impressive setup when the BC-348 or BC-342 are included, along with the
other SCR- accouterments. Look for some of these on the Old Military
Radio Net, an East Coast, early morning net on Saturdays on 3885.

One can't buy a new and complete SCR-284 for about $100 anymore, but
nice gear does show up from time to time. I was lucky and got a new
one a few years ago.... a time machine, to be sure! de Jeep/K3HVG