[The WS No19] RE: [Milsurplus] Re: British Army Radio During WWII

Sat, 24 May 2003 23:49:38 -0400

Regarding power output - all measured in CW into 50 ohms, with matching
devices between the set and the power meter:  My BC-654A puts out 24 W in
CW,
the BC-1306 22 W, and my Wireless Sets 19 between 14 and 20 W. My TBX-6 is
not on the air yet as I'm in need of the receiver supply.
However, none of the US sets above covered the wide frequency range of 2 to
8 MHz as the WS19, not to mention the WS19 UHF "B" set.

I agree that the BC-603/604 tank FM set is very convenient to use and it was
effective. However,  longer range HF sets (such as the SCR-506) still had to
be carried and used in the commander's vehicle to communicate with other
units and higher levels of command.

73, Meir WF2U

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Hue Miller
Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2003 11:16 PM
To: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Cc: Milsurplus
Subject: Re: [The WS No19] RE: [Milsurplus] Re: British Army Radio During
WWII

----- Original Message -----
From: "WF2U" <[email protected]>

> No US field radio set in the power range of the WS19 relied only on hand
> crank or pedal generators... There were dry battery packs for the receiver
> sections (BC-654, BC-1306, TBX) and only the transmitters could be run on
> human power.

Well, you tell me, how much more powerful in either CW
or A3 mode, the 19 is than the BC-654. The batteries for
the receiver were relatively longlasting, and easy to pack
spares. NO wetcells, no carts in the jungle.

> I wonder how long they could hand-crank those sets. After a while,
batteries
> might not seem so bad.
> -John

It seems to have worked. You pick the biggerst gorilla in
the company, of course.
While the coastwatchers in the Pacific (apparently) only
used gas engine generators and wet cells, the guerillas
in the Philippines used US sets with handcranked
generators. Maybe this was because that's all the US
had in it's storehouse, maybe because these forces
were surrounded by greater enemy numbers and had
to be more mobile?

I like the 19 set, actually, or else i wouldn't have 5 of them.
But you have to admit, for purely tank use, the FM Jukebox
was a better idea, when it appeared. You push the button
for the channel, you talk. Maybe not as much fun for the
aftermarket.
Hue
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