[Milsurplus] MAB

[Hue Miller]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Norris" <r390a at bellsouth.net>
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] MAB


> I had a couple that I played with 20+ years
> ago, but never made any contacts. I'd love
> to try again, but looking around find that you
> can't get a MAB for $15 any more!! Last one
> I saw at Epay went for nearly $300 a few
> months ago and was touted as a "rare collectable"
> that was "used at D-Day by paratroopers." The
> darned thing didn't have the whip antenna!

I still don't think these were used at all in D-Day operations.
Just the BC-611 and BC-1000.

$300 for one sans antenna? Lotta rank beginners out there,
who believe any claim they read. Bless their simple souls.

> There used to be piles of both at Fair Radio
> until just a few years ago, they couldn't give them
> away....
> 
> Tom NU4G


You sure they didn't  sell? After all, they eventually sold out.
I have seen an ad in an old CQ or 73 for some company in FLorida
that sold them, but for higher prices, especially considering back
then, but these never had the popularity of the BC-611. 
After FAIR sold out, they still had antennas and bags ( they called
it "BAG-1942" ) for several years. Those opportunites are now gone.
I have wondered if there's another US Army musette bag that is close
to the MAB bag, close enuff to use, but i've not really found one. I
am very very glad i bought some bags and antennas when FAIR still
had them.
The MABs i have i obtained from K7GRC ( may his soul be in peace )
who told me the Explorer Scouts  in Salt Lake City used them, maybe 
they were even donated to this group by the military.

Another ham fellow told me from his experience the BC-611 worked 
better overall, because its receiver was more sensitive, having an RF
stage. He told me his were xtaled up on 4495 kHz and at night here in
USA they would hear some station in China.
-Hue Miller