[Milsurplus] R-808/GRC-14

[w7qho]

On Nov 1, 2008, at 3:16:49 PM, "RICHARD SOLOMON" <w1ksz at q.com> wrote:
I picked up (barely) one of these at a swap meet today.
Is there any info on it available on the web ? Particularly
interested in the RTTY function, the Control Box and the
power connections.
The Control/Power connector looks familiar, will the R-392
connector fit or is it a different beastie ?
 
Thanks for any help,
Been using one of these for several years now.  Observations follow based on a sample of one:

Works OK on 115vac but seem to be more frequency stable and less prone to overload on strong signals with an external DC supply. Regulation deficiencies in the internal supply may be the reason but haven't dug into the problem.

Book and band switch say 2-4 Mhz for band 1 but actually calibrated down to 1.8 so good for 160M.  (Ham on the design team maybe?)

POOR SSB performance.  More BFO injection would probably help.

Quirkey control functions, ex. RF gain control works backwards when the Function switch is in the PHONE position and a squelch function kicks in.

Haven't used the RTTY features myself but have heard only works well on strong signals.

No signal strength meter.  Does have a RTTY tuning meter.

Odd duck but, actually works quite well, at least on 160, 75 and 40M AM where I use it.  Haven't tried it on 10M.

One wonders, though, why the Marine Corps didn't just buy the R392  instead (or the whole 
GRC-19 system for that matter) instead of undertaking the GRC-14 adventure.

--
Dennis D.  W7QHO
Glendale, CA
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