[Milsurplus] 3BZ ( Milsurplus Digest, Vol 89, Issue 42 )
Hue Miller
kargo_cult at msn.com
Sat Sep 24 06:32:51 EDT 2011
Re the 3BZ, I am just amazed that the USA couldn't get it together to
produce a really satisfactory clandestine
forces radio in this timeframe. ( Of course, considering the Pacific War
timeframe, there was not a whole lot
of time for this to play out, and possibly more important things to
develop...) I mean clandestine, as opposed
to "spy radio", which would be rugged enuff or powerful enuff for the
behind-the-lines role. I consider the
3BZ a beast...required too many porters, too much heavy stuff. Why not build
your receiver on battery tubes???
And use exclusively a handcrank for transmit power? This could be a 3 man
pack, including everything, including
the antenna, or even a 2-man pack. The GRC-9, I think, came closest to what
was needed, but at the time, it
hadn't quite been figured out how to cram more frequency range into the most
beautiful radio so far, the
SCR-694 by Rauland.
The TRC-10 and MBM I discount because they still used 6 volt + 250 volt
tubes - so, you have to provide
substantial power even on receive, and as I read, if you use the handcrank
on receive, the frequency can
be unstable...
You know, it just occurred to me, the Collins TCH would have played pretty
well in this role, maybe...
certainly better than the 3BZ in several respects...but I think Collins got
out of the TCH business when they
started selling the TCS.
-Hue
-----Original Message-----
From: milsurplus-request at mailman.qth.net
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Subject: Milsurplus Digest, Vol 89, Issue 42
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: Question about GRC-109 (greg mijal)
2. Re: Question about GRC-109 (Todd, KA1KAQ)
3. Re: Question about GRC-109 (Mike Morrow)
4. Re: Question about GRC-109 (mstangelo at comcast.net)
5. Re: Question about GRC-109 (Todd, KA1KAQ)
6. Re: Question about GRC-109 (Mike Morrow)
7. Re: Question about GRC-109 (John Hutchins)
8. GRC-109 caution (Eric Jones)
9. FS: Amateur Band FT243 crystals (Bry Carling)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:16:35 -0400
From: greg mijal <usbssb at hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Question about GRC-109
To: <w4ron at carolina.rr.com>, <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <BLU165-W7ADECAAC404BC33D7A317C90D0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I guess I'm the only person that knows pretty much all the tricks, or used
too, for the GRC 9.I used to operate one at Ft, Bragg NC in the early 70's.
It was still part of the Special Forces primary equipmentinventory at that
time. I was temporarily assigned to the 5th SF at Bragg after their return
from VN and did all thePM, storage and a wee bit of repair on the
inventory.The extra little item you have is the other power supply. It is
smaller and lighter that the big one and is the supply that the A teams
jumped with. The big one left in storage as unnecessarily heavy to back
pack. The load was typically splt between 3 jumpers, each man had one box in
his ruck sack. The ruck sack was designedto be dropped, but still attached
to the jumper via a long bungee cord.For an even lighter load an operator
could always bring a battery for the receiver and the same hand rank
systemor similar along for the transmitter. When the little rig loads up
correctly it loads the crank ope
rator to a herculian effort.They are about as good t a talking watt meter as
you can get.The radio loaded very well on the freq's we used: 4 - 8 mhz
using a 100 foot wire as long as a full length counterpoise was installed
underneath.73'sGregWA7LYOKinston NC Former SGT USSF Det A - 115
> Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 05:26:56 -0400
> From: w4ron at carolina.rr.com
> To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Milsurplus] Question about GRC-109
>
> I wonder if there is a GRC-109 expert in the group?
> I've found a set that appear to be in like new condition.
> I've done a Google search and everything I find shows
> there being 3 units, but the set I've run across has
> 4 units. All 4 sections has it's removable cover,
> Included is a package of cables that look like they'd
> go with the set.
> I've uploaded some photos of the 4 units together
> and then a separate pic of unit.
> You can see the pics here, just scroll down a little;
>
> http://radioheaven.homestead.com/McCall-collection.html
>
> Any advice as to what I've found and what they might
> be worth would be much appreciated.
>
>
>
> --
> 73, RON w4ron
> http://radioheaven.homestead.com/menu.html
> 2012 Charlotte Antique Radio Conference
> http://antiqueradiocharlotte.homestead.com/
> My YouTUBE channel
> http://www.youtube.com/user/w4ron
>
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------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:51:04 -0400
From: "Todd, KA1KAQ" <ka1kaq at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Question about GRC-109
To: Mike Morrow <kk5f at arrl.net>
Cc: w4ron at carolina.rr.com, milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID:
<CANCs6AXtvTQWAHkfz3yZCowKh-RJM6pAmGYt==nmknRwjP2HYg at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 7:01 AM, Mike Morrow <kk5f at earthlink.net> wrote:
> On ebay your set would likely pick up bids
> well above $300. ?The R-1004A/GRC-109 is the hardest unit
> to find and sometimes can bring that much by itself, at least
> in pre-Obama-Depression days.
I submit that the RR-2* pre-109 CIA version is the hardest to locate.
Nowhere near as many of them made, and many were apparently destroyed.
Same radio, different nomenclature. Screw-on covers, other minor
differences.
Peter McCollum's site has some great info and early history:
http://www.militaryradio.com/spyradio/rs1.html
Great little radios for what they are. Seems like $250-$500 is a
typical range. I'd put your find at the upper end of that range Ron,
and probably higher since you have both supplies. But as Mike points
out, the dollar jus' ain't what it used to be. Neither is disposable
income. So $350-$450 is more likely.
One word of caution: be careful adjusting the volume. I use the Viet
Nam-era pin type headphones with mine (Trimm?), and they will blow
your ears out of your head if you bump the control or turn it too
fast. Earpieces against the temples might be a better approach until
you get a feel for it.
~ Todd, KA1KAQ/4
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:22:34 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
From: Mike Morrow <kk5f at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Question about GRC-109
To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID:
<15942799.1316629355435.JavaMail.root at elwamui-rubis.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I wrote:
> The R-1004A/GRC-109 is the hardest unit to find and sometimes can bring
> that much by itself...
Todd wrote:
> I submit that the RR-2* pre-109 CIA version is the hardest to locate.
Ah...but Ron does not have an RR-2 to sell. He has an R-1004A/GRC-109, plus
other AN/GRC-109A components. :-)
I don't much care for the AN/GRC-109*, but I suppose it beats those
Australian
coastwatcher 3BZ sets: http://www.qsl.net/vk2dym/radio/3BZa.htm . I have a
manual for a version of this set supplied to the US Army Signal Corps as the
AMC-145 in 1944. I wonder why the US Army bought this set.
The fact that the AN/GRC-109A was being procured by the US Army after 1969
seems to imply that the 1968 Hughes AN/PRC-74B HF USB portable wasn't
fulfilling
the Army's needs.
Imagine what could be done with today's technology, properly hardened for
military use. Check out the forthcoming 18 oz. Elecraft KX3, which is
possibly
the most interesting radio I've come across in 47 years of radio play:
http://www.elecraft.com/KX3/kx3.htm .
Mike / KK5F
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:55:41 +0000 (UTC)
From: mstangelo at comcast.net
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Question about GRC-109
To: Mike Morrow <kk5f at arrl.net>
Cc: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID:
<1570238685.1000171.1316638541530.JavaMail.root at sz0121a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
You don't have to imagine. it's already in the works...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304563104576361480888426472.html
Mike N2MS
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Morrow <kk5f at earthlink.net>
To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:22:34 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Question about GRC-109
<snip>
Imagine what could be done with today's technology, properly hardened for
military use. Check out the forthcoming 18 oz. Elecraft KX3, which is
possibly
the most interesting radio I've come across in 47 years of radio play:
http://www.elecraft.com/KX3/kx3.htm .
Mike / KK5F
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:15:55 -0400
From: "Todd, KA1KAQ" <ka1kaq at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Question about GRC-109
To: Mike Morrow <kk5f at arrl.net>
Cc: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID:
<CANCs6AV8cVyKPe5BwASyH2cATnbuFVajmt0KNWRjRsLGnWz7Fg at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 2:22 PM, Mike Morrow <kk5f at earthlink.net> wrote:
> I wrote:
>
>> The R-1004A/GRC-109 is the hardest unit to find and sometimes can bring
>> that much by itself...
>
> Todd wrote:
>
>> I submit that the RR-2* pre-109 CIA version is the hardest to locate.
>
> Ah...but Ron does not have an RR-2 to sell. ?He has an R-1004A/GRC-109,
> plus
> other AN/GRC-109A components. :-)
See, I missed that part. I thought it was merely a question of
possible value. (o: I bet Ron will want to keep the set once he plays
with it a bit. The coolness factor is high from a minimalist
perspective.
That AWA set is pretty cool too, never saw the complete set up before.
It's almost like the father or big brother to the RS-1/GRC-109. More
to it since it wasn't intended to be packed around from place to place
on a daily basis. It includes a speaker, mic, and modulator as well. I
bet it would be fun to play with a complete station in good repair.
Looks nothing like the one used by Cary Grant as a coast watcher in
"Father Goose", though.
~ Todd, KA1KAQ/4
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:23:35 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
From: Mike Morrow <kk5f at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Question about GRC-109
To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID:
<13176155.1316640215789.JavaMail.root at mswamui-swiss.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> You don't have to imagine. it's already in the works...
> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304563104576361480888426472.html
But cell phones don't qualify, not even militarized ones! What would an
Australian
coastwatcher do with that, even if the technology had existed then?
Portable HF/VHF all-mode sets, which require no external infrastructure
(towers,
satellites, networks, etc.) to work, are the ideal sets for use under very
extreme
conditions, for military or even civilian users.
Mike / KK5F
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:36:12 -0500
From: John Hutchins <jphutch60bj at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Question about GRC-109
To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <4E7A82FC.3030801 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
On 9/21/2011 4:23 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:
> coastwatcher do with that
Mike -
Use chewing gum and stick it to a tree, hit record, and delay send,
hightail it out of there!
hear they come down the slot!
Hutch
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:29:09 -0500
From: "Eric Jones" <ejones at hiwaay.net>
Subject: [Milsurplus] GRC-109 caution
To: <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <004601cc78e8$b6e2bb80$c404b4d8 at yourxb2x7j77gn>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
de N4TGC Eric
The harness from the handcrank genny to the radio is 'spose to be a
regulator, but the resistor is AFTER the regulator tube, not before it, as
it should be! The tube will overheat and burn out if the harness isn't
re-wired. Been there, corrected that ...
e
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2011 08:36:33 -0400
From: "Bry Carling" <bcarling at cfl.rr.com>
Subject: [Milsurplus] FS: Amateur Band FT243 crystals
To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net, milpack at yahoogroups.com,
MOPAGROUP at yahoogroups.com, Novice-Rigs at mailman.qth.net,
cascadeqrp at topica.com
Message-ID: <4E7B2BD1.390.736CE7 at bcarling.cfl.rr.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
FOR SALE: Amateur Band FT243 crystals
1810, 1815, 1822, 1825, 1843, 1848, 1856, 1869, 1880, 1885 kHz
3500, 3505, 3515, 3520, 3530, 3540, 3552, 3555, 3579, 3582, 3600, 3615, 3645
kHz
7000, 7010, 7011, 7014, 7015, 7018, 7025, 7030, 7032, 7040, 7044, 7050,
7047, 7058,
7060 kHz
7100, 7107, 7110, 7114, 7120, 7123, 7125, 7143, 7146, 7150, 7175, 7200,
7290, 7293, 7295
kHz
The above are all available for $14.00 each and I have 4 or 5 left on most
frequencies listed.
Many others available - lists at:
http://www.af4k.com/crystals.htm
Reply by e-mail to arrange purchase.
73 - Bry, AF4K
------------------------------
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