[Milsurplus] Re: [ARC5] SCR-274N Makes It on ARRL.ORG

[MillerKE6F at aol.com]

The use and abuse (as some would cite) is a topic that comes to the fore at  
least once a year.  While those who want to keep ARC-5s and other command  
sets in their original state, others want to actually use this stuff on the  air. 
 The only middle ground on this topic is that it's ok to modify stuff  that's 
already seen some dream merchant's activities.  
 
    To those of us who used command sets to get on the  air in the early 
years of our hobby, the need to give these units, "Hair Cuts",  as my mentor W6BWV 
(SK)called converting command set, was done more out of  necessity than 
desire.  Now some 45 years later those wanting to keep these  things as they came 
of the assembly line in 1943  charge that these  modifications, chop jobs, and 
other less than kind descriptions.  To that I  say, BS.  Like it or not these 
old war horses were not fit to be put on the  air in their avionics 
configuration and for the most part even using the rear  connector without additional 
bypassing was an invitation for TVI.  A 4-5.3  MHz command set was worthless as 
a ham transmitter without some  modification.  A lot of guys would have never 
been on ssb without the 5-7  MHz command set  VFO.
 
    I think that we can make a case for the historical  significance of the 
entire WWII surplus market as it relates to Amateur Radio  and radio hobbyists. 
 Another case can be made for those that want to  preserve this equipment as 
part of a historical  venue for military  avionics and navy comm hardware. But 
these are completely different areas of  interest which somehow fall into 
Glowbug charter.  And to that end  there will never be a convergence of 
philosophy on this topic.
    
    But again, my point is that the larger historical  context is captured in 
the Amateur Radio segment of the WWII surplus  story.  If not for the 
collecting and hoarding of command sets by amateur  radio operators with grand plans, 
there would be little if any equipment around  to argue over.  And it makes 
sense that to use this gear in the 21st  century as functional equipment one 
will have to make some modifications be the  equipment from the "Chopped Era" or 
 a pristine item found in some Silent  Key's attic.  
 
    So before there is another tirade and condemnation  of those folks who 
did what they had to make these old rascals work as ham  gear, an effort should 
be made to show some appreciation for those  folks who beat these old swords 
into plowshares and in that process preserved  more  WWII than any other 
interest group.
 
Bob, KE6F