Some of those conversion article or manuals comments were written for humor intent. Particularly those of one Thomas Kneitel. He was later practically carrying 'Popular Communications" magazine alone. I got a letter of rejoinder from him to mine, i wrote that it was inappropriate to use a photo of M-48 Cold War US tanks to illustrate the article on East Coast USA reception of Afrika Corps tank communications. I gather he maybe took some time out each month to answer reader letters that particularly raised his ire. Oh how i wish i still had that letter. His rejoinder was that he knew how to do his magazine and i didn't, and that this capability was shown by his owning a Trans Am and a boat to pull behind it. I kid you not. He got a lot of milage out of purveying his personal stories and memories.

I recall i carried a BC-653 transmitter from a store to my car, this around 1980. I would not try that today, even if i could do it. I would use a cart. i have gotten a little smarter over the years. The mice that are less smart got caught in traps earlier on.

I still have a couple BC-652 receivers. They don't do a lot, if you judge by features/lb. , but they do look pretty neat. CQ or 73 had a conversion to cover up thru 40 meters, but of course that messes up the dial freq readout. The BC-653 is one heavy beast. You have to wonder how they managed to make it that heavy. This transmitter demonstrates the truth of my simple check of whether it's vehicle equipment or aircraft. If you can use the radio for a footstool, if you can stand on it to reach something, it's vehicle.