As to folks ideas as to what constitutes a "long" wire, THE manual AND the tuning cards for the BC-610 are VERY specific about the 44 ft for 80, 40, & 20 mtr bands, AND is very specific about the 77ft for 160 mtrs
The BC-939 is used EITHER for a 25ft vertical whip, or the above mentioned wire lengths. When using the wire lengths as stated in the manual and tuning cards, you MUST place the switch on the fron to the "Long Wire" position. Seems interesting to me that this old radio was used in WWII, Korea, AND Viet Nam with all of this working JUST FINE. If you don't like the BC-939 and its settings, you just erect dipoles for each band desired. Just DON'T use a trap dipole. You WIL NOT get a proper tune and load! Of course if you want to stock up on a BUNCH of 250THs, you CAN have it you way. I've got one that someone sent me when they insisted on THEIR way. There is very definitive light all the way through opposing sides in the middle of the plate. YMMV Bob - N0DGN My 250THs are just fine! > On 10/26/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > In a message dated 10/25/05 8:18:51 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > > > > Actually, > > > The BC-939 (*) handles an end fed long wire, the recommended length for > > > 2 - 18 Mhz is 44 feet. That number changes to 77 feet for 160 meters and > > > works quite well. > > > > > Actually, a 44 (or 77) ft antenna is not a very "long" wire even at 18 > > MHz. > > The term is usually used to describe wires measured in wavelengths as > > opposed to feet and inches, see various ARRL and other antenna books. > > Apparently Hallicrafters and/or the military considered it long enough > to qualify since the 3 position switch on front of the tuner has 'long > wire' specifically listed in the center position. My guess is that > they considered any random length beyond what would qualify as a > 'whip' to be a long wire, perhaps in the spirit of the original term. > > The odd thing about my A model is that the lower vacuum cap has been > removed and replaced with an air capacitor, screwed to the base with > heavy wire soldered to each of the two clips. It resembles a moderate > sized air variable but with only 5-6 stationary plates. Looks to > either be factory installed or later upgraded. Haven't had time yet to > investigate the value or rating. > > Very well-built piece of equipment, even if it has limited utility. > > ~ Todd/'Boomer' KA1KAQ > ______________________________________________________________ > AMRadio mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html > Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net > AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami
