[Milsurplus] MAB vs BC-611

[Hue Miller]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Morrow" <kk5f at earthlink.net>

> And the MAB/DAV wasn't???  The fact that HF-AM tactical portable sets were replaced worldwide by
far superior VHF-FM sets says nothing about the relative merits of the BC-611 vs. the MAB/DAV.
IMHO, the RF and physical design of the BC-611 is a significant advance over that of the MAB/DAV.

> But it's good that VHF-FM ultimately relegated all these HF-AM sets to reserve use or storage
depots.  (I'm ignoring the Vietnam era "village" radios.)
>
> 73,
> Mike / KK5F

You're also ignoring the Viet Cong and NVA use of manpack MF / HF radios such
as (Chinese ) Type 63.
To be ready to receive a message on the '611, you have to hold the thing up against your
head. It may have paved the way for handie talkies of the future, but it sure was not a
widely copied innovation in combat tactical radios. If you have headphones, even with
the mic stowed, you are instantly ready to receive. Excess cordage can be taken up.
The HT in combat use seems only a fairly recent innovation, with the advent of the
Oriental produced ham and VHF fm, frequency selectable HT, and at much lower cost
than the previous military radios.
Yes - the antenna length is an issue. Most of the early HF portables didn't have any
means to readjust for shortened antenna. -Hue Miller