[MRCA] BC-342 and end of displays

Mon Oct 9 03:24:42 EDT 2017

Most vintage jeep owners aren't operating day and night, and are more into shows and parades and the like than they are about radio operations. The biggest reason behind using the BC-659, set nationally to particulate frequencies would allow owners to interact with more another on vintage sets withing their organization ( with a proper licence, of course).  Besides most HAM operators are using SSB, so these vintage radio operators wouldn't be picking up all that much anyway. Plus you have to remember that a radio in the vintage vehicle hobby is an accessory and not the main feature.  Vehicle owners gain bragging rights through the total authenticity of the vehicle, not so much by having any particular accessory that was not manufactured as a normal part of their vehicle.  Also, radios of any type are not nearly that common an item seen on vintage vehicles as you think.   Most vehicle owners would rather either go without any special accessories, or they opt for a phony machine gun or other toy. 

Mark
WW2RDO

In a message dated 10/9/2017 2:52:22 AM Eastern Standard Time, mrca at mailman.qth.net writes:

Yahbut you are forgetting one important factor.  There are probably more Jeeps running around the US with BC-659's in them than there were on VE Day.  So putting one of the HF radios in the Jeep gives the owner greater bragging rights.  :-)  Plus as a more practical matter, day and night there is always something that you can listen to.

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

 In a message dated 10/08/2017 15:10:34 PM Central Daylight Time, mrca at mailman.qth.net writes: 
       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

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