BC-654
Encyclopedia
The SCR-284 was a World War II
era combination transmitter and receiver used in vehicles or fixed ground stations.
manufactured the Signal Corps Radio
set SCR-284 that consisted of the BC-654 and associated support equipment.
The BC-654 first saw combat in Africa
during Operation Torch
in 1942. The BC-654 was the first radio set to establish communications from the beach to the U.S. Fleet, and was used to coordinate naval gunfire and beach radio networks.
The Radio Set came in three basic configurations - Field Radio Set, Vehicular Radio Set and Command Radio Set. The first two were used during World War II; all three during the Korean War
. As a field radio, the unit sat on four legs, the receiver powered by a battery (BA-43) and the transmitter by a hand cranked generator. The set packed up into three 55 pound
back-packs that the radioman and two assistants would carry. Once in operation, the radioman operated the set, while the two assistants took turns cranking the generator and standing guard. As a vehicular set, the set sat on a large stand which also held a 6/12 V dynamotor (PE-103), and the radio used a vibrator supply (PE-104). As a command set, the unit usually sat on a table and was powered by a two-cycle 3600 RPM, 1 horsepower
gas generator.
More than 50,000 BC-654's were produced and delivered in support of Operation Overlord
, the D-Day
invasion of Normandy. Over 150,000 units were eventually produced in total. After the war, many BC-654s were sold as surplus for $15 each. Today, many are restored and operated by vintage amateur radio
enthusiasts.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
era combination transmitter and receiver used in vehicles or fixed ground stations.
History
The Crosley Corporation of Cincinnati, OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
manufactured the Signal Corps Radio
Signal Corps Radio
Signal Corps Radios were U.S. Army military communications components that comprised "sets". Under the Army Nomenclature System, SCR initially designated "Set, Complete Radio," and later "Signal Corps Radio," though interpretations have varied over time....
set SCR-284 that consisted of the BC-654 and associated support equipment.
The BC-654 first saw combat in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
during Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
in 1942. The BC-654 was the first radio set to establish communications from the beach to the U.S. Fleet, and was used to coordinate naval gunfire and beach radio networks.
The Radio Set came in three basic configurations - Field Radio Set, Vehicular Radio Set and Command Radio Set. The first two were used during World War II; all three during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. As a field radio, the unit sat on four legs, the receiver powered by a battery (BA-43) and the transmitter by a hand cranked generator. The set packed up into three 55 pound
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
back-packs that the radioman and two assistants would carry. Once in operation, the radioman operated the set, while the two assistants took turns cranking the generator and standing guard. As a vehicular set, the set sat on a large stand which also held a 6/12 V dynamotor (PE-103), and the radio used a vibrator supply (PE-104). As a command set, the unit usually sat on a table and was powered by a two-cycle 3600 RPM, 1 horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
gas generator.
More than 50,000 BC-654's were produced and delivered in support of Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
invasion of Normandy. Over 150,000 units were eventually produced in total. After the war, many BC-654s were sold as surplus for $15 each. Today, many are restored and operated by vintage amateur radio
Vintage amateur radio
Vintage amateur radio is a subset of the amateur radio hobby, considered a form of nostalgia much like antique car collecting, where enthusiasts collect, restore, preserve, build, and operate amateur radio equipment from bygone years, most notably those using vacuum tube technology.Popular modes of...
enthusiasts.
Technical Description
- FrequencyFrequencyFrequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit time. It is also referred to as temporal frequency.The period is the duration of one cycle in a repeating event, so the period is the reciprocal of the frequency...
Range: continuous, 3800 to 5800 KHz - Modes: AMAmplitude modulationAmplitude modulation is a technique used in electronic communication, most commonly for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent...
, CWContinuous waveA continuous wave or continuous waveform is an electromagnetic wave of constant amplitude and frequency; and in mathematical analysis, of infinite duration. Continuous wave is also the name given to an early method of radio transmission, in which a carrier wave is switched on and off... - Receiver Type: Single conversion superheterodyne receiverSuperheterodyne receiverIn electronics, a superheterodyne receiver uses frequency mixing or heterodyning to convert a received signal to a fixed intermediate frequency, which can be more conveniently processed than the original radio carrier frequency...
- IFIntermediate frequencyIn communications and electronic engineering, an intermediate frequency is a frequency to which a carrier frequency is shifted as an intermediate step in transmission or reception. The intermediate frequency is created by mixing the carrier signal with a local oscillator signal in a process called...
Frequency: 455 kHz - Dimensions: 18" × 14" × 9" (BC-654 only)
- Weight: 44.75 lbPound (mass)The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
(20.3 kgKilogramThe kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...
) (BC-654 only)
Performance Specifications
- Transmitter output
- AM: 17 wattWattThe watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s - CW: 24 watts
- AM: 17 watt
- Receiver Sensitivity: TBS
In popular culture
- In the TV show The MunstersThe MunstersThe Munsters is a 1960s American family television sitcom depicting the home life of a family of monsters. It starred Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster and Yvonne De Carlo as his wife, Lily Munster. The series was a satire of both traditional monster movies and popular family entertainment of the era,...
, Grandpa Munster was depicted using a BC-654 as part of his amateur radioAmateur radioAmateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
station.
See also
- ART 13 transmitter
- ARC-5ARC-5The AN/ARC-5 Command Radio Set is a series of radio receivers, transmitters, and accessories used to provide two-way Morse code and AM radiotelephone communication for U.S. Navy aircraft during World War II and the years following. It was an improvement of the Navy's ARA/ATA command set. Similar...
- BC-348BC-348The BC-348 is a compact American-made communications receiver, which was mass-produced during World War II for the U.S. Army Air Force. Under the Joint Army-Navy nomenclature system, the receiver system became known as the AN/ARR-11. -History:...
- BC-610BC-610The BC-610 was a radio transmitter used by the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II.-History:In the early 1940s, the U.S. military sought a high-powered radio transmitter capable of infallible voice communications over 100 miles , sturdy enough to work in all conditions, flexible enough to...
- Wireless Set No. 19Wireless Set No. 19The Wireless Set No. 19 was a Second World War mobile radio transceiver designed for the British Army to give armoured troops reliable communications.- Specifications :...
- Signal Corps RadioSignal Corps RadioSignal Corps Radios were U.S. Army military communications components that comprised "sets". Under the Army Nomenclature System, SCR initially designated "Set, Complete Radio," and later "Signal Corps Radio," though interpretations have varied over time....
- SCR-300SCR-300The SCR-300 was a portable radio transceiver used by US Signal Corps in World War II. This backpack-mounted unit was the first two way radio to be nicknamed a "walkie talkie".- History :...
- A/N URM-25D Signal GeneratorA/N URM-25D Signal GeneratorThe AN/URM-25 Signal Generator was a device used during the 1950s and 1960s by the U.S. Military to test electronic equipment.-History:The AN/URM-25 were part of a series of vacuum tube-based signal generators built for the U.S...
- SCR-694SCR-694The SCR-694 was a portable two way radio set used by the U.S. military during World War II. -History:The SCR-694 replaced the SCR-284 and was later replaced by the AN/GRC-9...
General references
- TM-11-275 — Technical Manual And Operating Instructions For The SCR-284-A Radio Set (BC-654-A Radio Receiver And Transmitter)