[Milsurplus] KWM-2A or AN/FRC-93 or AN/FRC-153

[Mike Morrow]

Mac wrote:

>No, they certainly didn't compare with the monstrously costly 
>and complicated fixed HF gear at fixed transmitter and receiver 
>sites, but like the proverbial Timex watches, they took a licking 
>and kept on ticking.

It just bothered me that a high-dollar set like the KWM-2A used RCA phono plugs for RF connections, doubtless to mate automatically with the 351D-2 mobile mount.  But still, it seems cheap.

The bare-bones, no accessories, KWM-2A in 1961 cost $1250.  That's equivalent to $8700 today!

Just what is the differnce between the AN/FRC-93 and the AN/FRC-153?  They both used the RT-718/FRC-93 (KWM-2A), I think.  Does anyone on the list have units of this system with JAN nomenclature tags present?  I seem to recall that the tags weren't affixed very permanently, and thus often were missing.

There's an interesting document describing the equipment used in a cold war era USAF communcations squadron at:

http://www.radomes.org/museum/documents/Roslyn_AFS_274_Communications_Squadron_final.pdf

Mike / KK5F