[Elecraft] WWII-era US Military MF/HF QRP rigs (OT)

[Mike Morrow]

Sandy wrote:

> I think the "Pogo stick" was the SCR-511?  Anybody remember?

Yes, Sandy.  The Army BC-745 "pogo-stick" is part of the SCR-511.
The famous Army BC-611 "handy-talky" you mention is part of the
SCR-536.

The Navy also had low power battery-powered portable MF/HF sets
in the form of the MAB and DAV chest-pack sets.

All of these operate at about one-third watt output into a short whip
antenna.  They are crystal-controlled (receiver and transmitter),
operating from about 2 or 3 MHz to 6 MHz.  They had 5 to 7 vacuum
tubes, and utilized superheterodyne receivers and plate-moodulated
transmitters.  The Army sets had a receiver RF amp, but short
antennas.  The Navy sets had no RF amp, but longer antennas.

I doubt there was ever much DX with these sets.  I recently fired up my
BC-611-F on 3885 kHz and heard a surprising number of AM stations at
night.

What would the ERP be for .35 watts on 3885 kHz going into a 48-inch
whip, handheld?   :-)

Mike / KK5F