[Milsurplus] r-1018/prc-51

Mike Morrow [email protected]
Wed, 24 Mar 2004 11:05:05 -0600


Bill wrote:

> Does anyone have any "hard" information on this RCA manufactured
> 51 Mhz.(?) solid-state receiver (R-1018/PRC-51)

Sorry, I don't.  But it sounds like an interesting unit.

> I've deduced it was in the design competition for the PRR-9, and was
> a losing effort(?). Uses the excruciatingly rare "molecular" construction
> method I've only seen in another couple of RCA protypes

Is it all transistorized?  The experimental AN/PRC-36(X1) and -34(X1)
web-belt and helmet radios in the very early 1960s may be a related project.
The AN/PRC-34 is interesting.  It has a small transceiver unit in the back
of a specially-made helmet, integral earphones at the side, a small control
box at the front, and a wire antenna that came out the front of the helmet.
The transceiver unit is transistorized (15, including 2N128, 2N299), except
that the transmitter uses one subminiature tube (CK6051).  It has modular
construction (three major assemblies, two of which were changed to change
frequency).  The AN/PRC-36 is the same electronics in a unit designed for a
web-belt mount.  They were single-channel FM units operating between 38 to
51 MHz., with a gigantic 30 mW rated output.  I always thought of them as
experimental antecedants to the PRR-9/PRT-4 set.

I got mine from Navy MARS 35 years ago, and there appears to be a fair
number of them out there.  But I've never heard of your unit.

> I have a couple of pictures if anyone wants to see it.

I'd be interested in seeing it.

73,
Mike / KK5F