The BC-342 was a

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U.S. Army Signal Corps The United States Army Signal Corps (USASC) is a branch of the United States Army that creates and manages communications and information systems for the command and control of combined arms forces. It was established in 1860, the brainchild of M ...

radio receiver In radio communications, a radio receiver, also known as a receiver, a wireless, or simply a radio, is an electronic device that receives radio waves and converts the information carried by them to a usable form. It is used with an antenna. T ...

. It was used primarily as part of field installations such as the SCR-188A, but could be used with mobile sets such as the 2 1/2 ton mounted SCR-399. First designed at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey by the U.S. Army Signal Corps, it was built by various manufacturers including RCA. Many of the later units that are encountered today were manufactured by the

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. Variants include the low frequency coverage BC-344 receiver, and the battery or dynamotor powered BC-312 receiver.http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~postr/bapix/BC342.htm BoatAnchor Pix, Signal Corps BC-342N Receiver

Specifications

The BC-342 could be operated from fixed and mobile positions. *Power - An internal RA-20 AC

rectifier A rectifier is an electrical device that converts alternating current (AC), which periodically reverses direction, to direct current (DC), which flows in only one direction. The reverse operation (converting DC to AC) is performed by an inve ...

power supply A power supply is an electrical device that supplies electric power to an electrical load. The main purpose of a power supply is to convert electric current from a source to the correct voltage, current, and frequency to power the load. As a ...

unit is fitted providing 250 volts DC and 12 volts AC for the receiver tube filaments (three pairs of the 6 volt tubes are wired in series and three in series / parallel). *Manual Reference: TM 11-850 *Components: RA-20 Power Supply *Weight: 58 lbs. *Frequency Range: 1.5-18 MHz *Power Input: 110 VAC 60 Hz *Part of: SCR-197, SCR-237, SCR-277,

SCR-299 The SCR-299 was a U.S. Signal Corps mobile military communications unit used during World War II. History The SCR-299 "mobile communications unit" was developed to provide long-range communications during World War II. The US Military sought impr ...

, SCR-399, MRC-1 10

vacuum tubes A vacuum tube, electron tube, valve (British usage), or tube (North America), is a device that controls electric current flow in a high vacuum between electrodes to which an electric potential difference has been applied. The type known as a ...

included: * RF

amplifier An amplifier, electronic amplifier or (informally) amp is an electronic device that can increase the magnitude of a signal (a time-varying voltage or current). It may increase the power significantly, or its main effect may be to boost th ...

s - 6K7 (2) *Mixer - 6L7 *Local oscillator - 6C5 *IF amplifiers - 6K7 (2) *CW oscillator (BFO) - 6C5 *Detector/1st AF - 6R7 *Audio output - 6F6 *Rectifier - 5W4 The BC-342 was similar to the BC-348. Heavy chassis design was employed to minimize drift and oscillator instability due to temperature changes and vibration.http://www.nj7p.org/cgi-bin/millist2?mode=normal&name=BC-342J7P Military List Database

BC-312

The BC-312 was similar to the BC-342 but was designed to be directly powered by DC battery supply or dynamotor. *Power input: 12/24 volts DC power requirements. 6 volt tubes (Valves) connected in series with filament strings. *Frequency Range: 1.5 to 18 MHz *12A6 audio output tube in series with a resistor. * Dynamotor B+ supply.

BC-344

The BC-344 was similar to the BC-342 but was designed to cover low frequency bands. *Power input: 110 VAC 60 Hz *Frequency range: 150 KHz to 1.5 MHz

References

External links

*
Repairing a BC-342

BC-342 Data Sheet
{{DEFAULTSORT:BC 342 Military radio systems of the United States World War II American electronics Telecommunications equipment Radiofrequency receivers

Specifications

BC-312

BC-344

See also

References

External links