[MRCA] Green Radios in WW2 Vehicles

[MKDORNEY at aol.com]

While this may seem a bit off topic, in the WW2 reenactment world, we're  
trying to standardize radios and frequencies for use by original military 
radios  used both on the ground, and in vehicles.  This does not apply, of 
course,  to aircraft and watercraft, since FAA and US Coast Guard regulations 
rightly  stipulate communications requirements for those vehicles.  AM 
frequency  3885 in the 80 meter band is a standard for most US radios, and  is 
popular  in use in radios like the BC-611, BC-654 and BC-1306.  The FM side of 
the  house is a little trickier.  The most popular US backpack radio, the BC  
1000, operates on the 60 meter net, on frequencies that for the most part  
are not legal for regular civilian use.  I've heard this radio can be  
converted for use on the 6 meter net, but there may also be a problem with  
bandwidth usage ( even though these radios were built before 1972, and are  
exempt from most of the rules concerning bandwidth use).   Perhaps as  the 60 
meter net is opened up for civilian use, that may change, but nobody is  
holding their breath, and re enactors are looking for equipment they can use  now. 
 The BC-620 and BC-659 are very popular radios for light vehicles dues  to 
the compact size ( in relation to other WW2 radio sets).  They operate  on 
the 10 meter band, but are really "2 trick ponies" in that they are crystal  
tuned, and operate using only 2 frequencies at any one time.  The BC-620 is  
not capable, without modification, to operate on the part of the 10 meter 
band  set aside for voice communication.  The BC-659 can operate on 
frequencies  at the top of the 10 meter band that are capable.  Here on the East  
Coast, the frequencies we're installing are 29.6 MHz (FM Simplex  Frequency) 
and 29.1 MHz.
      The Axis side of the house is a mess.   Real German, Italian and 
Japanese radios are practically non-existent, and  those few that are around are 
too expensive to risk in operation, even if all  the tubes, power supplies 
and other accessories are acquired. There are  reproduction radios on the 
market, but most are empty shells that look good but  do not function.  
Putting modern "guts" in these shells presents a  problem in that many of these 
sets had receiver and transmitter  sections in the same transceiver that were 
tuned independently from one  another.  Most of those used by re enactors 
use single channel handhelds  mounted inside the shells that cannot even be 
tuned on or off without opening up  the radio shell ( major buzz kill).  
 
I see a major area for possible expansion of the HAM radio community in  
both the military vehicle collector's community, and the re enactors  
community.  Most people in these communities think getting the license is  too hard 
to do ( not true - if an somebody like me can get a licence, anybody  can ). 
 They think that there is still a Morse Code requirement, and need  to be 
and Electrical Engineer in order to pass the technical part of the licence  
exams.  They also have no idea who to approach about getting their radios  
working even if they get a licence.  
 
Mark D.
WW2RDO
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/mrca/attachments/20170217/17a4a544/attachment.html>