[Johnson] Viking II PTT - Civil Defense version questions

[Kenneth]

The band coverage of the Civil Defense (CD) model was basically the same as
the regular Viking II except there are no gaps in the band coverage, The CD
frequencies where specified so what most people at the time did was install
crystals to cover those frequencies, and then used the VFO 122 to cover
everything else.  The best way of thinking about the CD version is they have
been opened up for something like MARS operation.

In the 50's Ham radio operators who affiliated with the Civil Defense System
received Federal moneys for purchasing CD radio gear.  The Viking II CD was
one of those rigs.  Today's parallel is the MARS system where they can go to
Surplus depots and survey out equipment they need for their operations.

It would be nice if the Office of Homeland Security were to set up a program
like the old Civil Defense system and give hams a subsidy to purchase
equipment for a Homeland Security Affiliate Radio Service. The Amateur Radio
Service is classified as official first responder to disasters, anyway it's
a thought.

Ken W7ITC


P.S.

For those of you thinking about doing a PTT conversation I would suggest
using a wall wart type of a power supply to power up the relay.  I changed
My Viking II in this way and it works very well.  Drill a small hole in the
back to mount the coaxial power plug and it is done.  These plug in power
supplies come in 5 through 24 volts and upwards of 1800MA in power.  In My
case the home brew power supply in my unit was 24 volts. It died and I had 
No way of repairing it so I just purchased a 24 volt wall wart and installed
that, it works so well this is the way I am going to do the Viking I when I
am finished with it.