[Milsurplus] UHF (& BC-357)

[Mike Morrow]

Brad wrote:

>I too have an ARC-27 & a GRC-27...It's a shame so many of them
>get 'scrapped', they aren't in a very usable part of the band, as far
>as amateur radio is concerned, and Defence is sensitive to people
>being able to listen (& maybe transmit!) in their bandwidth.

Hi Brad,

Here in the U.S., surplus 225 to 400 MHz radios are all over the place, often at give-away prices.  In that category, I've got most of the ARC-27, -34, -45, -51BX, -52X, -55, -60, -108, -109, -114, -164 sets.  I suppose I should include the weird B-58 ARC-57 unit I got from William Donzelli too.  I'd love to find a RT-58/ARC-12 such as Fair Radio sold 40 years ago.

Of all the above, IMO the AN/ARC-51BX is an excellent, lightweight, and compact set that likely approaches the earlier ARC-27/55 sets for the number of installations.  It is the classic military "command set" of the 1960s and 70s.  On eBay, $50 is a typical price for the RT-unit, and $25 usually gets a control box.  Other than cable/plugs, that's about all there is to the set.

>I have a BC-357-B here & was wondering if anyone has the BK-35
>relay with bakelite mount in their scrapbox. Not a very usable radio

The old 75 mc marker beacon receivers...good as relics but little else.

73,
Mike / KK5F