{"id":9429,"date":"2014-05-01T09:33:42","date_gmt":"2014-05-01T13:33:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=9429"},"modified":"2014-05-01T09:35:07","modified_gmt":"2014-05-01T13:35:07","slug":"swling-with-heavy-metal-my-signal-corps-bc-348-q","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/05\/swling-with-heavy-metal-my-signal-corps-bc-348-q\/","title":{"rendered":"SWLing with heavy metal: my Signal Corps BC-348-Q"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SignalCorps-BC-348-Q\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I write a great deal\u00a0about DSP portables, SDRs, and modern ham radio transceivers, but truth be known, my passion\u00a0is\u00a0for\u00a0older rigs\u2013ahem,\u00a0much<\/em> older\u2013the antique “boat anchors” of the radio world.<\/p>\n

Tuesday\u00a0afternoon, I had a rather involved\u00a0soldering project to do on behalf of my organization, Ears To Our World<\/em><\/a>. \u00a0While I worked, I decided to fire up my Signal Corps BC-348-Q to\u00a0hear\u00a0what was on the air. I promptly discovered\u00a0Radio Exterior de Espa\u00f1a<\/em> on 17,850 kHz–starting with their interval signal; REE,\u00a0care of\u00a0my BC-348-Q, kept me company while I soldered almost three hundred connections.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The BC-348-Q frequency dial (Click to enlarge)<\/p><\/div>\n

I listen to my BC-348-Q nearly\u00a0every week. Usually, she’s tuned to 9,580 kHz for my morning dose of Radio Australia. \u00a0In the winter, the ‘348’s tubes keep my little radio room a little warmer than the rest of my house. In the summer\u2013well, I just sweat a little more.<\/p>\n

I love this radio, and my other “boat anchors,” because when I listen to these rigs I can’t help but hear the past. \u00a0I wonder about the\u00a0others who have listened to the same radio, and what was happening in their lives as they listened…<\/p>\n

The BC-348 series, for example, is well-known for its\u00a0use\u00a0in WWII allied bombers\u2013these rigs were mounted in the likes of the\u00a0B-17, B-24, B25, and others of the era. Indeed, mine still has the original clips on the base that anchored it to the\u00a0radio operator’s onboard\u00a0work table.\u00a0The ‘348 was used as a\u00a0long-distance liaison receiver during WWII.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The B-17 radio operator’s position (Source: AZ Commemorative Air Force Base)<\/p><\/div>\n

The BC-348 series was built with simplicity, functionality, and serviceability in mind. It was built to withstand life on a B-17 bomber\u2013the\u00a0extreme vibration on start up, the extremely low temps in the upper atmosphere; it\u00a0could\u00a0be serviced by the radio operator in flight, if necessary. Its controls are simple,\u00a0bare-bones, even. The tuning knob\u00a0and analog dial are beautifully engineered and precise.<\/p>\n

The ‘348 has a power switch, volume control (switchable from auto to manual gain), crystal filter, CW switch, beat frequency control, tuning knob, and a band switch (located just below the dial). The antenna and ground terminals are mounted on the front of the radio for easy accessibility. All controls are spaced so that the radio operator could use the ‘348 even while\u00a0wearing thick cold-weather gloves.<\/p>\n

\"BC-348-Q-FrontControls\"<\/a><\/p>\n

You can’t do any medium wave DXing on the ‘348, however: this receiver was intentionally designed with the medium wave band omitted. Evidently, Uncle Sam wanted radio ops to be focused on communications instead of entertainment (but that’s okay; the government also made morale radios<\/a> for the latter).<\/p>\n

When I go to the Dayton Hamvention\u2013<\/em>or any hamfest, for that matter\u2013it’s radios like the BC-348-Q I seek. Tube\/valve radios sometimes\u00a0lack the sensitivity and (digital) accuracy of modern tabletop shortwave receivers, but they make up for this\u00a0in audio fidelity. As long as you have a properly-matched speaker, the sound can be…nothing short of\u00a0amazing. Even though the ‘348 was never designed for robust audio, it still sounds richer and fuller\u00a0than most modern tabletop radios. The sound is so warm it literally glows.\u00a0Moreover,\u00a0I’d be willing to wager that there are few modern receivers that can stand the test of time like these rigs.<\/p>\n

\"BC-348-Q-Label\"<\/a><\/p>\n

If you buy one of these old beauties, you must be ready to service them;\u00a0inevitably, a capacitor or tube will\u00a0fail in time. \u00a0But they just…keep…going.<\/p>\n

I’m very much in debt to my good friend and radio elmer, Charlie (W4MEC) who kindly teaches me everything I need to know about these great rigs. He’s exceedingly patient, and that counts for much, as I’m not by nature\u00a0technically inclined. But I do enjoy learning about these radios and how to service them; the romance of their history draws me in, and I simply can’t get enough.<\/p>\n

Note: It’s important to work with a knowledgeable elmer\/mentor or a professional repair technician when servicing these boat anchors, because, unlike with our modern radios, their high voltages can severely injure (or even kill) you if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing inside the chassis. \u00a0This is repair work for the professional.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"BC-348-Q-FrontView\"<\/a><\/p>\n

My BC-348-Q turns 71 this year\u2013and\u00a0I’m sure it has at least<\/em> that many more years to go. I know that I’ll give it as much TLC as it can take. We must keep these\u00a0still functioning\u00a0pieces of history on the air.<\/p>\n

If you, too, have boat anchors or antique radios alongside your modern rigs, please comment! I’d love to learn about\u00a0your favorites.\u00a0<\/strong>In other words, what heavy metal is in <\/em>your shack?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n