[Milsurplus] tank radio skip?

[Hue Miller]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "J. Forster" <jfor at quik.com>
> The 19 set will put out between 14 and 15 watts on CW, roughly 4 or 5 on R/T on a good
> battery.
> 
> The aerial circuit is a series resonant configuration, composed of the Variometer (L),
> the aerial capacitance (C), and the radiation resistance + Variometer resistance (R).
> The aerial circuit is fairly high Q, BTW.
> 
> -John

That will verify my opinion that the German sets, with most models having 10 watts
output, had more output power than the U.K. models  ( and seeming to prove
incorrect another poster's surmise ).  5 watts output into an inefficient mobile
antenna, with maybe 5% efficiency, is much less than 10 watts into an antenna
of 1/8 to 1/4 wavelength (at 27 - 33 MHz, sometimes higher ).
Also, i'd have to conclude that the German gear, at least for tank to tank comms,
would probably do the job more reliably - it is simpler, and no critical antenna 
tuning, and no antenna variometer  (loading coil).  However, i don't think the
overall effective range was any better, due to not-so-good RF receiver tubes,
and i see the rated ranges of the panzer equipment is only maybe 3 miles or so,
kinda like CB.
I can't see that the 19 Set CW capability would be of any advantage whatsoever in
tank maneuvering. I suspect it was maybe never used except in training.

I'm not sure what exactly the US FM equipment power was, but they were certainly
the most powerful of the tank equipment. Maybe there would be an advantage in
that, as you might not have to have special "command tank" equipment or maybe
less susceptible to jamming. -Hue Miller