[MRCA] BC-342 and end of displays

[mkdorney at aol.com]

       God bless Chuck for putting that big honking radio set up in his jeep.  I just wrote an article for Army Motors about practical radios for use by restorers in vintage WW2 jeeps.  I would not have picked the set up with the BC-342 - transmitter and receiver takes up too much room.  Even the BC-654 is too big, and the BC -1306 is marginal ( and you loose access to a tool box ).  Keeping in mind that the Military Vehicle Preservation Association ( MVPA ) is a vehicle club and not a radio club, I recommended the BC-659, set on 29.6 MHz and 29.1 MHz FM ( FM Simplex frequency, and 1 frequency that doesn't interfere with local repeaters here in NY or with Amateur satellite  operations), and does not take up most of the back of the jeep.  Most vintage vehicle owners use a military radio more as a decoration rather than a radio, but the BC-659 ( as opposed to the BC-620 ) allows them to legally ( with a licence ) operate an unmodified vintage military radio on voice, one that is appropriate for their vehicle, and doesn't really affect the carrying capacity for their vehicle ( parades, reenactments etc ).  Interest in working vintage radios is just beginning to catch on with vintage military vehicle owners right now - if we can get Johnny Jeep Owner interested in getting the vintage radio working in their vintage vehicle, and get them then interested in actually getting a HAM licence, there is an opportunity to expand the HAM radio community.  The BC-659 would give these guys a radio to play with, and maybe plants the bug for them to go beyond just that one, very limited radio.  
 
    I don't just talk the talk here.  I have a BC-654 in my 1942 WC-52 Weapons Carrier.  I'm about to install a BC-659 to go along side the BC-654.  I actually have an operational 1945 VRC-3, but the operating frequencies aren't in any HAM band.  My BC-1306 is on the back burner right now, and when it's finished, I probably sell it ( as a complete set, not for parts).  And of course I have a couple of BC-611 Handie Talkies to prove the BC-654 works.
 
 
73
Mark
WW2RDO
 
In a message dated 10/7/2017 8:42:23 PM Eastern Standard Time, mr3hi8st8or5y at cox.net writes:

 
 Jeep and guys, Jeep, you looked good on the cover of Sept. ER. Glad to see Ted back. Ran into Chuck, WR1C, at today's hamfest. He is rebuilding a BC-342. If you know a source for parts for the Antenna Connector please contact him at the e-mail address CC: cjgy at cox.net or in CAPS that is CJGY at cox.net He is trying to keep the rig original. BTW This was my last time to set up my inter-operative display. I have enjoyed giving the history of the military radios and the units that operated them. That I will miss. I will not miss lugging the heavy rigs, setting up antennas, stringing field phone wire. No offers have come in on my FS list in the past three months. Next month it all goes to Schulman Auctions. 73, KØRMK, Roger in Wichita. ______________________________________________________________ MRCA mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/mrca Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:MRCA at mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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