[MRCA] AM-66 Amplifier

[Stew Beckley]

Hi Garret,

Sounds like a great setup. Share pics with us when you're all done! Here's
another GRC-9 tip, if you ever have to re-do whatever you did to replace
BT-1 (rather than stacking watch batteries in heat-shrink tubing):

Get one of those small LED flashlights that are showing up everywhere.
Remove the 3xAAA battery pack; solder leads on each end (remove the clips
first so as not to melt the plastic assembly); feed the (-) lead thru the
small hole in the BT-1 socket, and mount the pack where the BT-1 goes after
spreading the BT-1 retaining clip a little. See attached pics. Connect as
shown. Enjoy!

73,
Bud WA2AUI/KH6


-----Original Message-----
From: Garret Scott [mailto:scottgs at bellsouth.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 5:04 PM
To: 'Stew Beckley'; mrca at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [MRCA] AM-66 Amplifier

Hi Bud, 

Thanks for the advice.  My WC-63 was originally setup for radio by the
French Army after WWII, so I'm thinking it should be possible to make it
work ok.  The modifications are right out of the US Army TM's for installing
radios in the truck, which does include the BC-1306.  The mods are mostly
resistors on the spark plug wires and extra condensers in various placed.
They also performed a proper conversion from 6V to 12V, including a large
55A generator.  All of the later WWII Dodges came equipped with filters at
the firewall power feed throughs, so I'm thinking the power itself may not
be too bad.   I run HF in my ex Military Land-Rover regularly, without the
shielded military ignition, so I have an idea what it takes.  Although, I
must admit SSB deals with ignition noise much better than AM!

I'm going to use a DY-88 power supply with the GRC-9, and the AA-18 supply
with the AM-66, exactly as I expect the French would have done it.   It will
be a bunch of radio equipment, but then it's a bigger 6x6 truck, so there's
plenty of room.  I'm also putting a SCR-300 in it, though I'm still looking
for a vehicular power supply.  In our local Military vehicle club, a large
number of us are hams, and we regularly use 6m on our military radios during
convoys, parades and other outings, so I got to have the VHF.   Give me a
couple years to get it all done and I'll post some photos.

I imagine a GRC-9 and PE-237 would pretty much fill up the whole back of a
VW beetle, and maybe then some.  But we got to do whatever it takes, as we
can't let those old radios to sit in the corner and rot!

Garret
W8BUG

-----Original Message-----
From: Stew Beckley [mailto:budaui at hawaiiantel.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 9:18 PM
To: 'Garret Scott'; mrca at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [MRCA] AM-66 Amplifier

Be ready to do a lot of ignition noise suppression! About 50 years ago I
installed a BC-1306 and a PE-237 in my '61 VW beetle (stacked behind the
back seat. With the engine running, all I could hear was noise; but with the
engine off, I couldn't transmit because that tiny 6V battery in the VW
couldn't handle the PE-237. Made for a cumbersome T/R transition. So much
for Old Military Radio mobility!

73 & Aloha,
Bud, WA2AUI/KH6

-----Original Message-----
From: mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
Behalf Of Garret Scott
Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2014 7:09 AM
To: mrca at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [MRCA] AM-66 Amplifier

I just acquired an AM-66 amplifier for my GRC-9.   Strangely, both of the
nomenclature data plates are missing from it. Just wondering why this would
be, and secondly, if anyone has a source for replacements?  Perhaps someone
has an AM-66 for parts?  Yes, I know, a needle in a haystack...   

I'm planning to install the GRC-9 with the AM-66 in my Dodge WC-63, which
was used by the French Army after WWII.  Any words of wisdom from the group?


Thanks,
Garret
W8BUG


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