[Milsurplus] VRC-19, thumbs up or down?

[Skip Frolik]

Wow !!!!
Don't hear much talk these days about VRC-19's.
But ... set the "Way-Back" machine to the mid 60's.
Alabama MARS must have gotten several box car
loads of VRC-19's and AN/TRC-32's. (I might be
wrong on that second number). Anyway the 19's
looked to be the mobile rig end of things and
the 32's seemed to be the base configuration.
Back then I was just the flunky helping out
but some of the more experienced guys put those
things up all over the state as repeaters and we
got pretty good service out of them. I believe
eventually they even solid stated the 394 receiver
which was prone to being wiped out when something
went wrong on those 1.4 volt sub-miniature tubes.
Anyway as time moved on and commercial solid state
became available on the surplus market they were
switched out. I still have one of the 32's here
on the old 148.01/143.99 frequency. Another one
I have in the shop just for the nostalgia of it.
I've recrystaled it for the local repeater.
Since it was my first VHF experience I guess I
just have a soft spot for these units. For anyone
else it's probably more good as parts. You really
never hear much about people actually using them.
I figured I had the only one still running .... Hi.
Guess you could ask around if anyone was trying to
complete a display setup before parting it out but
my experience is that there are still plenty around.
Also as far as parting this gear out the VRC-19
I believe had several 2E24's you could rob plus
some variable caps and the 32 transmitter was I
believe a T-416 which had a 5894 in the final.
Can't remember what drove it. Maybe a 2E26.
It also has some caps. Plus there were some
6AK6's in there plus one as an audio out in the
receiver if again I remember correctly. If you
were lucky to get the AC power supply then that's
a good building block for other projects. The
receiver also could be powered with an internal
supply or piggy backed off the AC supply so
you'd have to look inside and see. Most 19's
will have a vibrator supply in the receiver and
a dynamotor for the transmitter. There were also
AC power supplies for the receiver that would be
good for parts. Don't know about other people but
I think I could come away with quite a few usable
parts for other mad scientist projects .... Hi.
Since you specifically mentioned 19 I believe they
came in 6, 12, or 24 volts DC and even though
it's not talked about too much you could put
the AC supply in the 19 cabinet for fixed location.
The 19 cabinet and the 32 are totally different.
The 32 could have 2 receivers plus a remote control
using if I again remember correctly a C-845 head.
Well have fun whatever you do. I always though
these were "Way-Cool" with all the plug in modules.
But what did I know, I was a kid in high school.
Rumor is that one of the "Ol-Time" MARS guys
here in Alabama had an old barn crammed full of
VRC-19's and the likes. I met him once at one of
our meetings and he told me all about it. Even
said he use to make jewelry out of the bad 1AD4's
from the 394 receivers. Hehehe .... I'll leave
it to others to question the truth of that .... Hi.
Maybe some day I'll just have to go see what's in
that old barn. Ya never know ....
Skip
AAV4HC
-----Original Message-----
From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Hue Miller
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 07:51 AM
To: Milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Milsurplus] VRC-19, thumbs up or down?


I came home with a HEAVY, VRC-19 radio. ( I think that's the 
nomclat, without going to look.)  2-channel FM radio built
by Motorola, lots of submin tubes, 3 pullout units in a large
case. Pretty much uselss as well as big / heavy - not an
endearing formula.  So, is there any reason it should not
cease to exist? Even tho there won't be much to harvest off
it.
Tnx, Hue Miller
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