[Milsurplus] Re-enactors radio

[Sean Kelly]

This would be a fun radio to put inside the BC-611 reproduction, but even better if the carrier could be restored so it transmits single sideband, full carrier:

www.ebay.com/itm/QRP-SSB-Transceiver-Taurus-80-80-meters-3-5-MHz-5Watt-KIT-for-assembly/174072043440

That's from Russia.

Sean

________________________________________
From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net <milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Al Klase <ark at ar88.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2020 8:51 AM
To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] Re-enactors radio

Gang,

I'd like to thank Ray for the tip on the WPG FRS BC-611 replicas.  Take a look<https://onlinemilitaria.net/products/4624-US-BC-611-SCR-536-Handie-Talkie-Radio/>, if you haven't already. They're 145 bucks, and they'll sell you an empty shell for $75.  Please, encourage the re-enactors to not gut historic radios!

IMO, the Family Radio Service, is the best solution for the re-enactor environment.  The radios, and their batteries are positively cheap, and there's no legal complications.  Plus, they are actually useful communications devices, and can be managed by unsophisticated users.

As an owner of a restored and working BC-611, I can assure you that deploying a number of these for this kind of service is a fools errand.

Al

On 9/24/2020 9:44 AM, Ray Fantini wrote:
The problem with the PRC-77 is it’s a Vietnam radio and most Re-enactors I have been around are all doing WW2 themed stuff. There are companies that are selling BC-611 radios that have modern FRS radios stuffed insides them that are popular with the re-enactors that I have come across.
https://onlinemilitaria.net/products/4624-US-BC-611-SCR-536-Handie-Talkie-Radio/
Also, a lot of SCR-543/BC-669 sets make their appearance at different shows I have been to, can’t say how many are operational but have seen them in many of the encampments.
I will do a couple maybe three shows a year where I drag out the M151 and all its radios but my motives are to go and play around with all the gear and do some of the Military radio nets that occur on the weekends. Everything I am running is Vietnam – Cold War era so find that usually the WW2 people will tolerate me being set up just outside their perimeter but not as a part of the WW2 experience.
An example would be something like the Delaware Goes to War event at Fort Miles where they allow me to set up between the parking lot for the public and the entrance to the event itself along with some of the others who bring out their military vehicles for the event, but they will not allow any non-period equipment into the camp itself.
Other shows like the huge show up in Reading PA each year are WW2 only and that’s all there is to it, so often you find that most re-enactors are only interested in the WW2 stuff and more in keeping with that then any functional use or any experience from using that equipment.
I have had a BC-669 offered to me before with the option of cleaning up and operating it at events but can’t see much use in one beyond maybe 3885 AM, the more modern Vietnam era radios that I have been running have the ability to QSY and are Side Band, big advantages in today’s world.

Ray F/KA3EKH



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--
Al Klase – N3FRQ
Jersey City, NJ
http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/