[Milsurplus] What was TRC-1 used for?

[Robert Nickels]

On 3/24/2012 6:43 AM, C.Whitaker wrote:
>   used AN/TRC-1 at various places in AACS (USAF) from 1947 to 1964.
Thanks all for the info on the TRC-1. Interesting to learn a bit more 
about the official and "unofficial" uses! My theory about why the 
antenna has two connections was confirmed at least, I'd never noticed 
that until the other day and then it struck me as really unusual. 
Evidently it was a pretty tricky setup to get going and was soon 
replaced in the field. I looked a bit more diligently and did find this 
entry and pic also:

http://www.nj7p.org/cgi-bin/millist2?mode=normal&name=AN/TRC-1

Having 8 duplex channels was probably a pretty big deal back in the 
Korean war era. Interesting that the first production run was made by 
Vulcan Steel Products - not a name that normally comes to mind. 
Hallicrafters got the 2nd contract in 1952, but all Dachis' book shows 
is the receiver. Looks like this guy has one of the T-14 "receivers" for 
sale for $225 for any intrepid FM broadcasters out there (note this 
"receiver" is "missing its "PA tunning knob", lol).

I'm sure a lot of historians will write about how the computer and 
microprocessor enabled the enormous technological change we've seen in 
our lifetimes, but I think the "Expansion of Bandwidth" may prove to be 
the bigger factor in the end. It's pretty amazing to consider what it 
would take to duplicate the function provided by the TRC-1 today. As an 
example, I ran across mention of the "GEnie" network the other day - the 
initial price for connection, at both 300 bits per second and the 
then-high-speed 1200 bits per second, was $5–$6 per hour during 
"non-prime-time" hours (evenings and weekends) and $36 an hour (to 
discourage daytime use). Of course we didn't feel the need to post every 
turn of our daily lives via FB and Twitter back then!

73, Bob W9RAN