[MRCA] PRC-74 ... Now CAP

[Robert Nickels]

On 3/25/2018 3:22 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:
> I was active in CAP, Arkansas Wing (1968-1972).  My main interest was communications because the flying part was too expensive.

I became aware of CAP a couple of years earlier than that, as a rival in 
high school was involved in CAP and I'd just got my ham license, and 
we'd each insist their particular hobby was superior ;-)  My interest 
was mostly on the communications side as well.

This was in Nebraska where World Radio Labs in Council Bluffs IA was the 
only ham store withing driving distance for most of the state and thus 
where most hams bought and traded their gear.    I remember this kid had 
a WRL Globe CB in his car for the 26.620 Mhz CAP frequency with the 8 
foot whip and all, which I was highly envious of (both the radio and the 
fact that he had his own car!) but the thing I remember clearly is their 
base station at the airport.   It was the first and only time I'd seen a 
WRL Meteor SB-175 transmitter until I found one of my own 30+ years 
later. Even though it was one of the two commercial double sideband 
transmitters  ever sold,  the CAP nets were in the AM mode at that time 
and that's how the transmitter was used, screen modulated with a crystal 
for 4585 KHz.   I can't remember what their receiver was, but I 
memorized the frequency and would listen to the nightly state net 
operations from home.

If there were standards or approved equipment lists for radio equipment, 
it's hard to believe an obscure rig like the WRL Meteor would be on 
it!   I suspect there weren't and wings were allowed to buy and use 
whatever they wanted, which in my area meant they did their radio 
shopping in Council Bluffs just like most of the hams did.

I know the hobby magazines and online sources still show lists of HF 
frequencies for various regions - are they still in operation?   If so 
are they still just using single frequencies or have they gone to ALE?   
It would be fun to listen in again if there's anything to listen to.

73, Bob W9RAN