[Milsurplus] R-442 Antenna Connections

[Mike Morrow]

> Why does the R-442 have two antenna connections? Both antenna
> input BNC's are connected in parallel. Enquiring minds want to
> know.

There are two versions of the AN/VRC-12 that use two R-442A/VRC receivers...the AN/VRC-44 (with RT-246A) and the AN/VRC-48 (with RT-524A).  The receivers were always connected to an auxiliary antenna separate from the RT-unit antenna.  Usually there was only one antenna for both receivers connected to one receiver directly.  The other receiver was connected to that antenna by a short coax cable 
CG-1127/U running between the remaining BNC connector on the one receiver to either of the BNC connectors on the other receiver.

I like the AN/VRC-12.  It had a 47-year service history with US forces, length unmatched by any other US radio gear in history.  The last units were removed from reserve unit service in 2008.  In the mid-1960s, it was fabulously expensive...with a RT-246A/VRC costing taxpayers close to $20,000 in 1968...about $100,000 today.

Mike / KK5F