[MRCA] SCR-284 PE-103

[Garret Scott]

I agree with Robert.   In my opinion, the SCR-284, with PE-103 is probably
the quietest of all the WWII radio sets that I have, while transmitting.
However, I only have a handful that I have restored and operated. 

 

But, I think the discussion is not that it is silent, but that relative to
the other HF sets available to the Marine Corps, i.e. TBX, etc., it is at
least as quiet, and maybe quieter, even when running with hand-cranked
generators.  In receive, of course they all can run from dry batteries, so
there is zero sound emitted from the power generation for the sets.  Even
the PE-104 vibrator supply in the SCR-284, if used instead of dry batteries,
seems exceptionally quiet on receive.  

 

I have noted a comment in one of the books I have about the Native American
Code Talkers, that when discussing radios it was mentioned how noisy the TBX
hand crank generator was, and that SOP was to find a shell crater to put the
generator in, attached to a log on the ground, just to help keep it quieter.
Having operated this set, I can attest to the fact that the hand-crank
generator is rather loud, at least the three that I have are.  As I have
also learned through (somewhat painful) experience, there are several other
short comings of TBX set too, which do not exist in the SCR-284 or BC-1306 -
but I digress.  I can say that if I were given a choice of HF radios, I'd
probably choose the SCR-284 over the TBX (if I didn't have to carry it), as
it is one fine working radio. 

 

Regarding whether or not you take a heavy medium power HF radio set to the
sharp end, complete with a PE-103 dynamotor and probably a truck to power it
- well that's a different matter.   But surely if you did, the SCR-284 would
be amongst the quietest. And the heaviest. 

 

I'm no expert, and I wasn't there of course, so these are just my amateur
observations after fooling with these WWII radios for several years. 

 

Garret

W8BUG

 

 

From: mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
Behalf Of WA5CAB--- via MRCA
Sent: Tuesday, October 3, 2017 7:34 PM
To: mrca at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [MRCA] SCR-284 PE-103

 

That's what I've been trying to say.  The ones that I have/have had are
quieter than even a DM-32.  And definitely quieter than a BD-77 or DM-41.

Robert Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480

In a message dated 10/03/2017 06:16:10 AM Central Daylight Time,
scottgs at bellsouth.net <mailto:scottgs at bellsouth.net>  writes: 



Surprised to hear this. The two PE-103's I have are exceptionally quiet,
more so than even some hand crank generators. You can barely hear them
outside a tent. Compared to other dynamotors, they seem the quietest of all.


Perhaps there's differences among them?

Garret
W8BUG

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/mrca/attachments/20171004/adf6d886/attachment-0001.html>