[Milsurplus] R-108, R-109 and R-110

[Mike Morrow]

Dave asked:

> The "green" receivers, R-108, R-109 and R-110:
> Any experience with them?   Worth fiddling with?

Of course they are worth fiddling with...what surplus isn't. :-)

It's been years since I last powered up one of these.  I have almost all
components for the 24 different sets (AN/GRC-3 to -8, AN/PRC-16, AN/VRC-7
to -10, -13 to -18, -20 to -23, AN/VRQ-1 to -3, and AN/UIC-1) of the
AN/GRC-3 series, consisting of various combinations of:

AM-65/GRC
C-375/VRC
C-435/GRC
MT-297 to -300, -327, -652/GR, -673/U
PP-109, -112, -282, -282, -448/GRC
R-108 to -110/GRC
RT-66 to -68, -70*/GRC

I don't think there's a lot of practical value to the operation of any
of these units today unless you can hook up with others in your area that
are likewise inclined.  But...all of these are beautifully built and
were world class state of the art after they appeared in the late 1940s.
That's worth something!

At least the supplies for the receivers and AM-65 (PP-448 (6v), PP-281 (12v),
or PP-282 (24v) are tubeless, ballast-less, synchronous vibrator units
that are wholly enclosed by the host unit.

The least usable are the sets using the R-108 and RT-66, covering the old
armor band of 20.0 to 27.9 MHz.

You could possibly get bit by the bug for these sets, including the
associated AN/PRC-6*, -8* to -10*, and -28 portable sets.  I can't wait
until I hear that you have a full-blown AN/GRC-7...all 250 pounds of it.  :-)

Mike / KK5F