Radio Receiver BC-224

Developed by RCA, manufactured for the U.S. Signal Corps by various manufacturers.

The aircraft receiver developed by RCA (Radio Corporation of America) was manufactured with various frequency coverages and operating voltages and was the predecessor of the well-known BC-348 receiver used in long-range bombers.

• Principle: single conversion superhet, IF kHz
• Operation modes: A1 with BFO, AM (A3)
• Frequency range: (200 kHz - 500 kHz), 1.5 - 18 MHz
• Frequency display: analogue dial
• Frequency memory: none
• Signal strength indicator: none
• Signal processing:
• Features:
• Sensitivity: AM (A3) / Selectivity: kHz (-6/-60 dB)

• Batteries: 14 V DC from the aircraft electrical system, DM-24 dynamotor for conditioning the operating voltages.

• mm, weight kg

single conversion superhet

The set is equipped with tubes: VT-69 VT-69 VT-69 VT-70 VT-69 VT-76 VT-68 VT-48

In 1936, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) developed the BC-224-A, an aircraft receiver that covered the shortwave range in six bands and was powered by an on-board voltage of 14V.

In 1936/7, a slightly revised version with a DM-24 dynamotor power supply was launched; the sets covering the shortwave range bore the suffixes BC-224-B, BC-224-C and BC-224-D. Shortly afterwards, RCA developed the 28V DC version of the receiver, which was adapted to the higher on-board voltages of the new bombers; the receiver was the successful BC-348.

Now came the desire for coverage of the long-wave band (200 - 500 kHz), which is used in the USA for the long-wave beacons used in aeronautical radio. The shortwave range 1.5 - 18 MHz was now divided into five bands, and the receiver was given the designation BC-224-E. In the BC-224-F (and -K) receivers, a 6K6 was used as the AF end tube.

• Radio Receiver BC-224 on the website of www.radiomuseum.org