[Milsurplus] Milsurplus Digest, Vol 85, Issue 20

[Roger Basford]

On 17/05/2011 06:25, milsurplus-request at mailman.qth.net wrote:
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 20:16:29 -0700
> From: mac<w7qho at aol.com>
> Subject: [Milsurplus] TCS Xtals
> To: Milsurplus list<milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>,	boatanchors List
> 	<boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>,	ARC-5 List<arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
> Cc: john at martasystems.com
> Message-ID:<03361D83-0F07-4A28-A2DB-7D19C640F309 at aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> All,
>
> Bit hesitant here about bringing up "TCS" again following the fuss
> that developed following the last mention of these radios but let's
> see what happens. :^)
>
> Been seeing and owning these (transmitters and receivers) for years,
> very popular radios, widely available and produced originally in large
> numbers.  But, very few of the crystals in their large holders which
> could be optionally used to control the transmitting and receiving
> frequencies seem to be in evidence.  Have never seen a fully populated
> set, transmitter or receiver, and rarely any set with any crystals
> installed at all.  Don't see them at 'fests or on eBay. What's the
> story here?  Were there sets of crystals produced for these radios,
> boxed with separate drawers for transmit and receive units like with
> the BC-669 for example?  Or, was xtal control found to be unnecessary/
> undesirable in practice?  Or what?  Anyone know more?
>
> Dennis D.  W7QHO
> Glendale, CA
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
Dennis,

I've never seen the TCS crystals offered in any sort of cabinet, and 
there were a lot of TCS radios circulating on the UK surplus market back 
in the 50s and 60s. My TCS-9 has three rocks for civilian marine band 
channels, 2182 kc is one, which was the international distress and 
calling channel until a few years ago. All the rocks are of US 
Coastguard origin. A naval version of the Hallicrafters HT-11 that I 
found in a SK sale some time ago has similar frequencies fitted, but 
they used British 10X holders for the TX rocks.

One drawback about using crystals from the amateur standpoint (and why 
the radios usually are rock-less when we find them)  is that I don't 
think there is any netting facility if your TX is rock-bound, whereas 
the TX MO has a Test position on the oscillator switch which puts out a 
net signal for RX spotting. That wouldn't be a problem for naval use, as 
you'd most likely have the channel pairs fitted in your RX and worked 
split-frequency, other than on 2182 and on inter-ship channels.

73

Roger/G3VKM - Norfolk, England.