Article: 95772 of rec.radio.amateur.boatanchors
From: (Steven Swift)
Subject: BC-229/BC-429 sensitivity question.
Date: 19 Nov 2003 01:42:04 GMT

Hi,

anyone know the sensitivity spec for the BC-229? It is an old TRF
radio and I am wondering if it is worth hooking up at a SW
receiver-- perhaps a WWV monitor.

TIA,

Steve.

I don't remember ever getting an answer to this question. However, I
re-discovered this unit while moving the mess around, so I went ahead
and got it running.

For an old 4-stage (4 each 49-44) TRF, it did pretty well. I could
get WWV on 5MHz nicely in the early evening and later I copied CHU at
7.335MHz. I had about 50 feet of wire for an antenna. My Sony did a
lot better even with its self-contained whip. Of course, so the my
Grundig 100 PE.

I don't have the coil sets for decent shortwave listing (anyone have
a spare C-348 or others?), so for now it will mostly be a curio set
to WWV. I will give it a try for the 41m band later this fall and
winter.

I bought one of this NOS still sealed in the box for $9.95 from Fair
Radio Sales in 1970, along with two coil sets.

Steve

--
Steven D. Swift, , http://www.novatech-instr.com
NOVATECH INSTRUMENTS, INC. P.O. Box 55997
206.301.8986, fax 206.363.4367 Seattle, Washington 98155 USA

I missed your earlier post on this.
Which BC-229 and BC-230 do you have?
They should have names like "BC-AH-229."
I'll dig out my books and see if I can
come up with a sensitivity spec.
D.S.

David Stinson writes:

I missed your earlier post on this.
Which BC-229 and BC-230 do you have?
They should have names like "BC-AH-229."
I'll dig out my books and see if I can
come up with a sensitivity spec.
D.S.

I have two: a BC-AS-229 and a BC-AR-429. The AS is by Philco and the AR by
Western Electric. I have the manuals, but unlike other Signal Corps manuals,
there is nothing in them about sensitivity or adjustments.

Thanks.

Steve.
--
Steven D. Swift, , http://www.novatech-instr.com
NOVATECH INSTRUMENTS, INC. P.O. Box 55997
206.301.8986, fax 206.363.4367 Seattle, Washington 98155 USA

"Litzendraht" writes:

Steven,
The BC-229 takes me back to my earlier times. I still have the 229 that
I bought at a ham radio club swap nite in 1954.

I was mainly interested in the low frequency capability, to listen to the
low frequency "A & N" aircraft beacons. I have the coil set that covers
200 to 400kcs, and switchable to the 40 meter amateur band. (Is it the
C-398 coil set?).

As far as actual sensitivity specs., I have no idea, but for an old TRF
set from the thirties, I was totally impressed.

Of course, on the HF frequencies, she's as broad as a barn door.

I do have a BC-230 transmitter in good condition, and hope to someday pair
them up as a viable set.

John

Yes, I have that switchable coil set (C-379). Back when I first got
the BC-AS-229, I used it mostly to listen to the continuous weather
report on the beacon band (200 to 400). Nothing down there anymore and
the QRM/QRN is so high here in Seattle, that the band is mostly
useless. Worked great when I lived 10 miles from nowhere.

There's no compelling reason to use one of these radios, other than it
being nice to keep them up and running. They must have been considered
junk for me to be able to get a NIB unit for $10. Certainly no good for
crowded bands.

Steve.
--
Steven D. Swift, , http://www.novatech-instr.com
NOVATECH INSTRUMENTS, INC. P.O. Box 55997
206.301.8986, fax 206.363.4367 Seattle, Washington 98155 USA

Steven,
The BC-229 takes me back to my earlier times. I still have the 229 that
I bought at a ham radio club swap nite in 1954.

I was mainly interested in the low frequency capability, to listen to the
low frequency "A & N" aircraft beacons. I have the coil set that covers
200 to 400kcs, and switchable to the 40 meter amateur band. (Is it the
C-398 coil set?).

As far as actual sensitivity specs., I have no idea, but for an old TRF
set from the thirties, I was totally impressed.

Of course, on the HF frequencies, she's as broad as a barn door.

I do have a BC-230 transmitter in good condition, and hope to someday pair
them up as a viable set.

John

Litzendraht wrote:

Ya know, I was just recalling, I was able to make the BC-229 oscillate to
receive CW by hooking a wire to the antenna post and running it back near
the grid cap of a later 39/44 stage...

I'd never have thought of that.
Cool. Thanks for the tip.

Ya know, I was just recalling, I was able to make the BC-229 oscillate to
receive CW by hooking a wire to the antenna post and running it back near
the grid cap of a later 39/44 stage. I'm sure that it would have copied
SSB,but SSB was almost un-heard of in '54. And keeping it tuned in would
have kept one very busy.

But, I could have done it! Radio operators in those days had at least
three hands, and sometimes four were required.

John