[Milsurplus] Need SCR-288 details

[David Stinson]

Hue Miller wrote:
 
> Dave, having not operated one, other than repairing one and listening
> for a while, i am wondering what kind of things you like about the
> rig.

First- its history.  It saw active service primarily in the Pacific.
The rig was intended as a "transition" between
the old SCR-131 style radios to the newer SCR-284.  
It took longer then most people think to switch over. 
The SCR-284 was "the" ground portable HF radio in the ETO by D-Day.
Most of the inital production would have to have been 
sent to the ETO.  The 284 was intended to be so in the PTO,
but according to my documentation had not completely replaced 
the SCR-288 by May of 1943.
This is confirmed in division level documentation I have.

There are accounts of the SCR-288 in parties landed by
submarine- the SCR-288 is lighter and easier to carry then 
the SCR-284.  It was easier to get through the sub hatches.
In a pinch, one man could carry everything for an SCR-288.
Not going to do that with and SCR-284.
Someone once likened them to a mini pickup truck
vs. an SUV, and that's an apt analogy.  
In many applications, a mini pickup does the job just fine.

Second- The 288 is compact and simple.  
It's easy to understand, easy to repair and
easy to operate (once you get used to it ;-).

Third- When set up, it looks very "early WW-II"
and makes an excellent public display.

> Someone i talked to years ago, told me they thought it was
> interesting,
> in that it was the only Army set using a 6V6 final.
Unless you count the light aircraft radios used by the
Army Air Corps, of course.

> Isn't it pretty darn hard to use on 40, considering the receiver
> tuning rate up there?
I haven't had much trouble.  It's "three handed," to be sure,
but most rigs of this era are like that.  You do need a good
frequency standard and an antenna tuner, but I don't mind 
a little extra work on this one.  It's far and away my 
favorite "ground pounder" radio.

73 Dave S.