[MRCA] MRCA Digest, "Backpack Radios".

Wed Jun 27 14:17:47 EDT 2012

Hi Guys,
	I will put in my $.02 worth on back pack OD radios. I bought about -
1 1/2 or so years ago a PRC 174S from 4X6MU in Israel. I bought it minus
accessories. I couldn't even get a power cord that was correct and I didn't
want to get it with all accessories-close to $2K. It worked very well for me
the period of time; I had the interest to run it. The built in tuner worked
so well that it would tune into a piece of un-terminated coax. It worked FB
on the 60M M&S net as well as surprisingly good on AM phone. I decided as
others had said, It was just a parts failure away from being a very
expensive wheel chock. I sold it on QTH.Com about 60% of my investment-
as-is, no warranty, out of sight, out of mind. I used the money to buy an
Ameritron AL-811, that I know I can (1) fix my self (2) Get replacement
parts or (3) send to Starkville for repairs. I have no luck at all getting
my military radios working or keeping them working. I have beautiful PRC 47
and a T-195B, both of which are in a coma-so to speak. I may change my call
to something other than OD, since it seems to me to be a jinx.Any one with
the expertise to get either of these units on the air-please contact me. I
especially would like to get the 195B operational. It was bought from Fair
about 5+ years ago as "REPAIRABLE".

Lou-n3od

-----Original Message-----
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Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 12:02 PM
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Subject: MRCA Digest, Vol 98, Issue 12

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: HF/SSB pack sets. (D. Platt)
   2. Re: HF/SSB pack sets. (Dennis)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:53:02 -0400
From: "D. Platt" <jeepp at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [MRCA] HF/SSB pack sets.
To: Dennis <spike.dennis at yahoo.com>
Cc: MRCA <mrca at mailman.qth.net>,	"milpack at yahoogroups.com"
	<milpack at yahoogroups.com>
Message-ID: <4FEA131E.6080009 at comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Dennis,

Excellent compendium on these types of radio sets.  That said, it 
appears to me that if one wishes to own and operate one for a number of 
months (dare I say years?), one would necessarily need depot support 
behind one's back?  I've considered several sets but have backed away 
for that reason.  Broken/inop gear is simply unacceptable to me and I 
find that I become adamant in getting everything up to snuff.  My last 
foray was repairing a pair of PRC-68Bs.  Luckily I had a friend at the 
USAF Sacremento depot and he was instrumental in finding me a manual and 
some test adaptors.  I may yet spring for a GRC-106A as I've become a 
bit familiar with them.  Corallary to your previous comments, I have 
both the FT-897D and the FT-857 HF-VHF rigs.  I doubt that there's 
anything on the green MIL market that can compete in all, I repeat all, 
aspects.  That is, cost, operation, maintenance, MTBF, et al.  That 
said... they ain't green and that may be the real salient point........  
One can't bring beer to a wine-tasting party!

Jeep - K3HVG

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2012 13:43:33 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dennis <spike.dennis at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [MRCA] HF/SSB pack sets.
To: "jeepp at comcast.net" <jeepp at comcast.net>
Cc: MRCA <mrca at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID:
	<1340743413.49060.YahooMailNeo at web161404.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

> it appears to me that if one wishes to own and operate one for a number of
months (dare I say years?), one would necessarily need depot support behind
one's back?
------------------
Lacking that, which most of us are, other means of support are required.
That being self serviceable equipment, or those with spares in great supply.
Radios like the early Racals, Southcoms, and others are very easily
serviced. The PRC-1099 is a servicable radio that still enjoys factory
support. The other option is those with an abundance of surplus parts. The
PRC-25, -47, -77, GRC-106, are all good examples.

> I may yet spring for a GRC-106A as I've become a bit familiar with them.
-------------------------
Here we go again:
GRC-106
Positive, 2-30mc coverage 1kc steps(100cps for 'A' models, or modifiable).
??????????????? Average 400 watts RF output USB, 100 watts AM.
??????????????? Very good TX audio tailoring.
??????????????? Very good AM TX performance.
??????????????? Readily available support materials.
Negative. Noisy(blower noise)
???????????????? Heavy
???????????????? Receiver is a bit wide.
Comments. I've owned a GRC-106 for years. Fun radio to use. Lots of spare
modules & radios available. Manuals readily available. Complete system
relatively cheap(I bought two complete sets with power supplies at Dayton
for less than $1000). 

> Corallary to your previous comments, I have both the FT-897D and the
FT-857 HF-VHF rigs. 
------------------
I do too, as well as 2x FT-817, IC-703+, IC-706, FT-747, etc etc etc. When
it comes down to serviceability, most hams are in a very similar boat when
it come to this modern Ham equipment. In most cases in the event of failure
you'll need to send it off for repair. At least some examples of military
equipment will allow repair by even the least technical via module
swapping(examples noted above).

> I doubt that there's anything on the green MIL market that can compete in
all, I repeat all, aspects. 
-----------------------
Some times there is. As already noted there is no viable commercial
equivalent for a military type HF/SSB pack set. Additionally when I'll be
away from home for more than 24 hours, I do not take my FT-897 with me to
use as a portable station. I take my TW100F(Transworld FlyAway). I could
quote other examples but that would be pointless.

For the most part, our intent is to have fun. Members of this group tend to
have more fun when military equipment is involved. Be it this equipments
historical significance, it's mystique, or the challenge, it all still
amounts to, the fun!

Dennis Starks
Military-Radio-Guy
KB?SFP
HFpack/Milpack Monitor(all USB):
3996, 5357, 7296, 14342.5, 18157.5

------------------------------

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End of MRCA Digest, Vol 98, Issue 12
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