[GreenKeys] RE: R-808/GRC-14

Wed May 10 09:07:51 EDT 2006

Hi Paul,
I purchased one of these receivers many years ago and sold it a
year or so ago. It worked well but its only saving grace to me
would be the built in rtty converter and not a real good one at that.
I tried to find any manual on it with no luck. I don't know how
many were made but probably very low numbers, a good thing for collectors.
Multi voltage operation with the rite connector was a good thing!
The ease of connecting any machine to the converter with the push
connectors was very helpful. The tuning indicator was less helpful!
I found the loop relay to be noisy when used.
A great radio and very well built except for the film frequency display.
I don't know what the expected life of the film is but one day you know
it will turn to dust or take a hit from a solder iron and it will be
all over. I hope the film is easier to get than an original manual.
Wish I still had mine!
Enjoy
Bob, KC2LTX

-----Original Message-----
From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of
greenkeys-request at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 4:04 AM
To: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Subject: GreenKeys Digest, Vol 28, Issue 9

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Today's Topics:

   1. R-808 ///// AN/GRC-14  (Nell, Paul C.)
   2. Re: R-808 ///// AN/GRC-14  (Scott Johnson)
   3. Re: R-808 ///// AN/GRC-14  (WA5CAB at cs.com)
   4. RE: R-808 ///// AN/GRC-14  (WF2U)
   5. Re: GreenKeys Digest, Vol 28, Issue 8 (Web Williams)
   6. Re: Re: GreenKeys Digest, Vol 28, Issue 8 (Don Robert House)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 07:33:36 -0500
From: "Nell, Paul C." <pcnell at trane.com>
Subject: [GreenKeys] R-808 ///// AN/GRC-14
To: "'greenkeys at mailman.qth.net'" <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID:
	<2D2D57B417D11A48A7456BAB69F258013619CD at laxhns10.am.corp.priv>
Content-Type: text/plain

Seeking any information on the above receiver. Apparently, this receiver
followed the R-392 in the evolutionary process of portable receivers(26
tubes with some solid state) The receiver has some onboard RTTY capability.
Looking for manuals / schematics / technical information, that would be
helpful for trouble shooting purposes, or any leeds/contacts that could be
of assistance.

Thank you.

Paul N3YHO

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 06:09:35 -0700
From: "Scott Johnson" <scottjohnson1 at cox.net>
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] R-808 ///// AN/GRC-14
To: "Nell, Paul C." <pcnell at trane.com>, <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <05df01c67369$d1de3980$6401a8c0 at Johnson>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

Paul-
The R-808 was part of the GRC-14 set procurred by the navy for USMC use.  It
seems to be a case of interservice rivalry, because although the GRC-14 is a
newer set, its performance fall short of the GRC-19 in several areas. It is
almost twice the weight of the GRC-19, the power supply alone weighs 190
LBS!  The GRC-14 consisted of two R-808's, the transmitter, power supply,
TTY, and a big alternator with a selenium stack rectifier that mounted in
front of the radiator on the M-38A1 that hauled the whole mess. It does have
some interesting features, such as built in RTTY converters, etc. The
transmitter frequency is selected by decadic knobs, in sort of a rudimentary
tube-base synthesizer, which can also be operated as a MO if the synthesizer
crumps. The power supply design is way beyond stupid.  If AC operation is
contemplated, a tranformer-rectifier unit supplies 28VDC to the largest
dynamotor I have seen.  (I am, however looking for a power supply to
complete my GRC-14).  In my opinion, the USMC should have used the GRC-19 in
the GRC-46 equipment configuration. I'm sure this is what ultimately brought
about the TRC-75, a 1KW SSB set that weighs less than the GRC-14!   At any
rate, the R-808 is a nice receiver, and it even has a few transistors!
(Check out the doorknobs behind the little plate up in the LH corner of the
front panel)
I have the manual and could copy the pertinent receiver material if you
like.

Scott W7SVJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nell, Paul C." <pcnell at trane.com>
To: <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 5:33 AM
Subject: [GreenKeys] R-808 ///// AN/GRC-14

> Seeking any information on the above receiver. Apparently, this receiver
> followed the R-392 in the evolutionary process of portable receivers(26
> tubes with some solid state) The receiver has some onboard RTTY
> capability.
> Looking for manuals / schematics / technical information, that would be
> helpful for trouble shooting purposes, or any leeds/contacts that could be
> of assistance.
>
>
>
> Thank you.
>
>
>
> Paul N3YHO
>
> _______________________________________________
> GreenKeys mailing list
> GreenKeys at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/greenkeys

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 09:38:17 EDT
From: WA5CAB at cs.com
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] R-808 ///// AN/GRC-14
To: pcnell at trane.com, greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <307.448d663.3191f549 at cs.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Paul,

To add to what Scott wrote, AN/GRC-14 was fielded as part of AN/MRC-55.  To
the best of my knowledge, the only manuals ever done, NAVSHIPS 92911 V1 &
V2,
cover the latter set.  A couple of years ago, I spent several days
extracting
all of the R-808 pertinent information from the 2" thick AN/MRC-55 one and
have
a reprint available, NAVSHIPS 92911(A)-R808.  $30.60 plus shipping.

The power supply and transmitter are extremely scarce, mostly because of the
weight I'm sure.  I've had only one set through here (it now belongs to a
collector on the East Coast).  However, the power supply is not necessary in
order
to operate the R-808.  It will operate from either 28 VDC or 115 VAC,
supplied through the 9-pin front panel connector, which is the same as the
one on the
R-390/URR.  Fortunately, both styles of the right angle cable connector can
be used (dogbone and cathedral).

In a message dated 5/9/2006 7:34:01 AM Central Daylight Time,
pcnell at trane.com writes:
> Seeking any information on the above receiver. Apparently, this receiver
> followed the R-392 in the evolutionary process of portable receivers(26
> tubes with some solid state) The receiver has some onboard RTTY
capability.
> Looking for manuals / schematics / technical information, that would be
> helpful for trouble shooting purposes, or any leeds/contacts that could be
> of assistanc

Robert Downs - Houston
<http://www.wa5cab.com> (Web Store)
MVPA 9480
<wa5cab at cs.com> (Primary email)
<wa5cab at houston.rr.com> (Backup email)

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 09:48:04 -0400
From: "WF2U" <wf2u at starband.net>
Subject: RE: [GreenKeys] R-808 ///// AN/GRC-14
To: <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <NABBLNEJDDKECLKHCAAPCECCLNAA.wf2u at starband.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"

Scott,

You said almost all I could have said about the GRC-14... I'm not so sure
whether it's newer than the GRC-19. It's certainly built by Navy standards,
and by a favorite marine radio manufacturer, Federal Radio.
The power supply indeed is a strange creature, as the 115VAC input option
runs the 24 VDC dynamotor, the transformer/rectifier adding probably a good
40 lbs to the overall weight.
The frequency generation is really not a synthesizer, it's really a phase
locked loop master oscillator stabilizer which has to be pre-set to the
frequency in order to lock the tunable master oscillator. The MO has to be
tuned with a calibration chart, as it has no direct frequency readout. The
MO is stable enough by itself, after a warm-up period, so it's usable
without locking the loop. I guess for extended periods of RTTY ops, over
rough terrain, the stabilizer (if and when it works) will prevent the MO
from drifting.

Power supplies are harder to come by than even the T-631/GRC-14
transmitter - I heard stories that they went overboard first, when the sets
were replaced... It was a short-lived radio set.

I'm not sure whether the Marine Corps hasn't got GRC-19's as replacements
for the GRC-14, even for a short time as once I saw a T-195/GRC-19 with USMC
stenciled on the case.

I have a complete GRC-14 setup, without the M-38. I'm trying to get the
transmitter running. It has low output but I don't think it's the finals.
The latest fault is that it doesn't go into transmit when keying - so there
must be another glitch in the keying circuit and/or relays. If and when the
set works, I'll hook it up to the M15 for a little RTTY fun.

Another remark, regarding the R-808 receiver: It's a plain double conversion
receiver, unlike the R-392/GRC-19, which has the standard Collins conversion
scheme with crystal conversion in 1 MHz bands covering the frequency range
feeding into the variable first IF. An advice with the R-808: in case of a
noisy, unstable receiver, the contacts of the RF head have to be cleaned,
the subassembly reseated and locked on the contacts.

Have fun!

73, Meir WF2U
Landrum, SC

> -----Original Message-----
> From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Scott Johnson
> Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 9:10 AM
> To: Nell, Paul C.; greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] R-808 ///// AN/GRC-14
>
>
> Paul-
> The R-808 was part of the GRC-14 set procurred by the navy for
> USMC use.  It
> seems to be a case of interservice rivalry, because although the
> GRC-14 is a
> newer set, its performance fall short of the GRC-19 in several
> areas. It is
> almost twice the weight of the GRC-19, the power supply alone weighs 190
> LBS!  The GRC-14 consisted of two R-808's, the transmitter, power supply,
> TTY, and a big alternator with a selenium stack rectifier that mounted in
> front of the radiator on the M-38A1 that hauled the whole mess.
> It does have
> some interesting features, such as built in RTTY converters, etc. The
> transmitter frequency is selected by decadic knobs, in sort of a
> rudimentary
> tube-base synthesizer, which can also be operated as a MO if the
> synthesizer
> crumps. The power supply design is way beyond stupid.  If AC operation is
> contemplated, a tranformer-rectifier unit supplies 28VDC to the largest
> dynamotor I have seen.  (I am, however looking for a power supply to
> complete my GRC-14).  In my opinion, the USMC should have used
> the GRC-19 in
> the GRC-46 equipment configuration. I'm sure this is what
> ultimately brought
> about the TRC-75, a 1KW SSB set that weighs less than the GRC-14!
>   At any
> rate, the R-808 is a nice receiver, and it even has a few transistors!
> (Check out the doorknobs behind the little plate up in the LH
> corner of the
> front panel)
> I have the manual and could copy the pertinent receiver material if you
> like.
>

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Tue, 09 May 2006 09:51:43 -0400
From: Web Williams <kr4wm at earthlink.net>
Subject: [GreenKeys] Re: GreenKeys Digest, Vol 28, Issue 8
To: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <44609E6F.40603 at earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

Message: 1

>Date: Mon, 8 May 2006 22:59:56 -0500
>From: Don Robert House <drhouse at mchsi.com>
>Subject: [GreenKeys] Fwd: Just in case you get an email from the FBI
>
Verified on the Snopes.com website, but it's old news. It's been floating
around the internet since February 2005.

-Web (KR4WM)

------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 22:38:16 -0500
From: Don Robert House <drhouse at nadcomm.com>
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] Re: GreenKeys Digest, Vol 28, Issue 8
To: Web Williams <kr4wm at earthlink.net>
Cc: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <FEEA4295-FB96-4A7F-9944-11405CC15081 at nadcomm.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Apparently my friends in Southern California have seen recent
examples of this which is why I passed it along.
Hopefully none of us will see these emails.
Don

On 9 May 2006, at 8:51 AM, Web Williams wrote:

Message: 1

> Date: Mon, 8 May 2006 22:59:56 -0500
> From: Don Robert House <drhouse at mchsi.com>
> Subject: [GreenKeys] Fwd: Just in case you get an email from the FBI
>
Verified on the Snopes.com website, but it's old news. It's been
floating
around the internet since February 2005.

-Web (KR4WM)

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------------------------------

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End of GreenKeys Digest, Vol 28, Issue 9
****************************************