[Milsurplus] KWM-2A video

[Mike Morrow]

That is an excellent high-quality video.  Thanks!

The JAN nomenclature of the KWM-2A is RT-718/FRC-93 and if one is very lucky there will be a small permanent plate attached which shows that.  But most often there isn't one.

The KWM-2A was introduced in 1961 for $1,250 with no accessories or options, not even a microphone.  That's $13,000 today.  That's why the KWM-2A is so often a military purchase.  The 1958 KWM-2 ham-band-only version was $1,150, about the same as the KWM-2A in today's dollars.  It's interesting how it's almost universal for Heathkit owners to replace the high-quality ceramic-insert RCA phono RF connector on Heathkit gear, but owners of Collins S-Line gear never do the same.  :-)

I saw a very new-looking KWM-2A for $800 at Huntsville AL in 2022, but it had no JAN nomenclature plate.  (I'm old now and I've stopped acquiring new gear...the last being a one-pound Elecraft KX2 HF portable transceiver.  Some units of the US Army in the Mideast made COTS purchases of the 12-watt KX2 with internal ATU, battery, and general coverage transmit firmware.)

Still, if what I saw had been a KWM-1 I'd have considered *maybe* buying it.

I wonder how the KWM-2A package shown in the video came into private possession.   MARS programs abolished their equipment issue programs many decades ago.

Mike / KK5F

-----Original Message-----
From: Ray Fantini <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu>
Sent: Feb 7, 2024 1:24 PM
To: MMRCG at groups.io <MMRCG at groups.io>, Mrca Mailing List <MRCA at mailman.qth.net>, 'milsurplus at mailman' <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [Milsurplus] KWM-2A video

Just put up a video of a Collins KWM-2A that I looked at for a friend. This radio was sent thru DEPO (Tobyhanna)back in 1988 and put in storage until recently. Went thru it and did some contact and control cleaning but other then that it worked without issue. Called it a Time Capsule in the video because its rear these days to find a KWM-2A that&rsquo;s not got a thousand hours on it.
Not that I get involved in the sales aspect of this stuff but think this radio sold for around twelve hundred dollars with the power supply, crystal pack, microphone and Samsonite Suite case.
I have my own KWM-2A and have bought and sold them before but never saw one this clean before. They are a good SSB radio but not so good for CW and have no capability for AM at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-75soPNB7bg

You will also get the opportunity to hear K4NYW, W2HX and N3KCB in the video and thanks for their assistance.

Ray F/KA3EKH





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