[Milsurplus] PRC-74

[Mike Morrow]

>Well after all most a year of collecting bits and pieces I am all
>most ready to get my PRC-74 on the air.
>...
>I am hoping to be ready for Field Day and to have some fun this
>summer going back packing.

Jeff,

I think that the ham band usefulness of the AN/PRC-74 and -74A units
is pretty much limited to CW, since these models only cover 2 to 12 MHz,
and the AN/PRC-74, -74A, -74B, and -74C are USB only.  You can't use
them on 60 meters, because those five frequencies require the ability
to set frequency in 0.5 kHz increments.  These sets only tune in 1.0 kHz
increments.

I've got a couple of AN/PRC-74B sets, which along with ths -74C tune
2 to 18 MHz.  These models can be used on 20 meter USB.

These 40-plus year old sets were pretty advanced and compact for their era.
For backpacking today, though, I carry a small and efficient QRP CW rig
(Elecraft K1).  The AN/PRC-74 series would be a killer to carry by
today's standards.

Mike / KK5F