[MRCA] adding another guy to the MRCA group

Al Klase ark at ar88.net
Thu Apr 15 09:18:59 EDT 2021


David,

Go here and sign up: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/mrca 
<http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/mrca>

This is linked out of the "contacts" page of our website.

73,
Al

On 4/15/2021 8:47 AM, MARK DORNEY via MRCA wrote:
> Hello David,
>        Give him the link to the MRCA web site and have him sign up.
>
> Mark D.
> WW2RDO
>
> “In matters of style, float with the current. In matters of Principle, 
> stand like a rock. “.   -   Thomas Jefferson
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Apr 15, 2021, at 7:31 AM, David Craine <david.r.craine at gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>>
>>  Hi Mark
>> Hi Ray
>>
>> I would like to know how can we add another person to this group.
>> Steve Hood is a retired Army helicopter pilot and owns a WWII Dodge 
>> WC and a Korean War Jeep.  He has some military radios and is buying 
>> more.  He lives in Topeka, Kansas.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> David Craine
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Feb 15, 2019, at 11:47 PM, mkdorney at aol.com wrote:
>>>
>>> 
>>> My apologies for getting the radio types mixed up.  I claim a long 
>>> day at work, and perhaps a bit of a senior moment.  The SCR-284 is 
>>> the BC-654;  What I thought you were referring to was the radio in 
>>> the picture you are in, which is either an SCR-694/BC1306 or an 
>>> AN/GRC-9. In any case, I'd get that radio under cover. The 
>>> SCR694/BC-1306 is a late war radio. It was supposed to replace the 
>>> SCR-284/BC654.  The SCR-694/BC1306  had the problems getting the 
>>> correct power supplies shipped to Europe with the radios, although 
>>> it was used extensively in 1944 and 1945 in the Pacific.  The 
>>> SCR-284/BC654 was widely used in Europe for the duration of WW2.  
>>> The vehicle radio mount for it is the FM-41. The issued vehicle 
>>> antenna base for the SCR-284 was the MP-48, although it could use 
>>> other types.  The vehicle antenna base issued with the 
>>> SCR-694/BC-1306 is the MP-65, although the earlier antennas could 
>>> also be used. The BC-659 radio could use either the MP-48, MP-65 or 
>>> the AB-15 mast base, but just make sure that the antenna can the 
>>> same type of antenna wire as the radio.
>>>
>>> Mark
>>> WW2RDO
>>>
>>>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>     From: mrca at mailman.qth.net
>>>     Reply-to: mkdorney at aol.com
>>>     To: david.r.craine at gmail.com
>>>     Cc: RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu, mrca at mailman.qth.net
>>>     Sent: 2/15/2019 10:04:27 PM Eastern Standard Time
>>>     Subject: Re: [MRCA] Additional thought on Dayton Hamvention
>>>
>>>     The BC-659 was the radio used by the Field Artillery. The BC-620
>>>     is an Infantry Radio. That’s the bad news. The good news is that
>>>     while operating a BC-620 can get some Hams pissed off at you for
>>>     using phone (voice) transmissions on frequencies used more for
>>>     CW ( Morse Code ) transmissions, the BC-659 is good to go for
>>>     voice at some frequencies above 29.0 MHz fm. Power supplies for
>>>     the BC-620 and BC-659 are interchangeable. Just make sure the
>>>     output power on the power supply and the input power on the
>>>     radio match. The way to tell the difference between a BC-620 and
>>>     a BC-659 is that the BC-659 has a speaker in the front, while
>>>     the BC-620 has no internally mounted speaker. In NY, we have our
>>>     BC-659s set on 29.6 and 29.1 MHz FM.
>>>
>>>     Your best bet is to see if you can get a hold of a WW2 dated
>>>     TO&E for a HQ Battery for either a Mech or a towed FA battalion
>>>     and see what they actually had. I think you have a good start
>>>     with the BC-284/BC-1306(80 meters, can work with the BC-611
>>>     Handie Talkie).  Keep in mind the the SCR-284/BC-1306 was a very
>>>     late war radio. Also, there were some delivery problems in
>>>     Europe with the power supply made for that radio. Look around
>>>     for a BC-659. For just the radio in decent but non-working
>>>     condition, the price should be in the $200-$400 range.
>>>
>>>         I’d move the SCR-284 to get it under the canvas for the
>>>     troop compartment. Best to get that radio out of the elements.
>>>
>>>         Do you have any vehicle antennas for your radios?  I didn’t
>>>     see any in you pictures. The SCR-284 was issued with an MP-65
>>>     antenna base for the vehicle. If you have trouble finding one,
>>>     let me know and I’ll see what I can find. The BC-620 and
>>>     BC-659 can use either the MP-48 or more plentiful AB-15 antenna
>>>     base. Just make sure you can get the correct wire W-128 to
>>>     connect the radio to the antenna. Also, don’t use more that
>>>     three feet of that wire when connecting the radio to the antenna
>>>     or you’ll have antenna matching problems.
>>>
>>>     73
>>>     Mark
>>>     WW2RDO
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>     Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>     On Feb 15, 2019, at 9:16 PM, David Craine
>>>     <david.r.craine at gmail.com <mailto:david.r.craine at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>     Hi thank you!  You guys can ask anything.  Hello from a fellow
>>>     Redleg.  In 1983 I started as a Pvt E1 13B cannon cocker and was
>>>     almost immediately pulled into the FDC, for a few years.  Then
>>>     became an Artillery Officer.
>>>     I desire to replicate a WWII artillery fire direction center.
>>>      Battalion level.  I have an SCR-620 that needs some work.  I
>>>     have an SCR-284 and just got the mount as a kit and an AM
>>>     receiver  BC-312.  One of my BC-312 was converted to AC and it
>>>     does glow and produces static.  I’m pretty excited about that.
>>>      I set up a large fly tent and back my truck up to it.
>>>
>>>     <image1.jpeg>
>>>
>>>     Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>     On Feb 15, 2019, at 19:57, Mkdorney <mkdorney at aol.com
>>>     <mailto:mkdorney at aol.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>     Hello David,
>>>            First of all, welcome to the group. If I may be so bold
>>>     to ask, what branch of the Army. I was an O-3, 13E5H.
>>>
>>>           What rigs do you have in the WC ?   I don’t think I’d add
>>>     any more. The’d be kind of like crew served weapons in that if
>>>     the vehicle was destroyed, the unit would loose 3 radios. I am
>>>     torn in adding even a second radio to mine. I can add either a
>>>     BC-659-B or a VRC-3 (BC 1000 with a PP-114 power supply. My
>>>     PP-114 is dated 1945 ). I’m not sure I want to add either.
>>>      Where did you put the radio connection box - in the front
>>>     passenger side tool box ( factory mount ) or behind the driver
>>>     on the front wall of the troop compartment (field mount)?
>>>
>>>     What level Amateur ticket do you hold?  General or Extra?
>>>
>>>     73
>>>     Mark
>>>     WW2RDO
>>>
>>>     Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>     On Feb 15, 2019, at 8:32 PM, David Craine
>>>     <david.r.craine at gmail.com <mailto:david.r.craine at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>     Hi guys, I’m new here and this is my first post.  I have a 1943
>>>     Dodge WC52 and I have 2-3 radios from WWII mounted in the back.
>>>      I found your group and I hope I can learn from you all and I
>>>     agree with Mark.  At the 2018 MVPA Convention I went straight to
>>>     the tables with military radios and there weren’t many!  I’m
>>>     hoping we can do more events together.  I’m in a MVPA club in
>>>     Topeka Kansas, I live in Lawrence kansas.
>>>     I’m 53 year old retired Colonel and now work for the VA.
>>>     Dave
>>>
>>>     <image1.jpeg>
>>>
>>>     Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>     On Feb 15, 2019, at 16:16, Mkdorney via MRCA
>>>     <mrca at mailman.qth.net <mailto:mrca at mailman.qth.net>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>     There are 4 letters I would recommend all Hams with an interest
>>>     in military Radio technology  memorize:  MVPA.  It stands for
>>>     the Military Vehicle Preservation Association. Their
>>>     International convention this year is in August in York, PA.
>>>     Those in the Northeast know that the MRCA joins the local
>>>     chapter of the MVPA in Gilbert PA every year for their show.
>>>     That could be replicated across the country if Hams who have
>>>     Military radio gear got together with local MVPA organizations.
>>>     There are even some recruiting possibilities at these shows as
>>>     many of these vehicle owners have old, working and non working
>>>     radios and really don’t know where to turn to in order to get
>>>     licensed and get there stuff fixed. And you don’t need to worry
>>>     so much about your “old stuff” being pushed into a corner,
>>>     because their stuff is also the old stuff.
>>>
>>>     As far as the ARRL is concerned, Military radio collectors and
>>>     operators have been the bastard stepchildren for some time now,
>>>     and that really doesn’t look to be changing any time soon. The
>>>     ARRL has become way too involved with companies like Yaesu and
>>>     the like, especially monetarily, to hope for any change on their
>>>     part. In that respect, the ARRL has become nothing more than a
>>>     trade group for these manufacturers. The only possible way that
>>>     will ever change as far as events like Dayton are concerned is
>>>     if Military radio collectors demand that change. And the big
>>>     money manufacturers will fight tooth and nail before they allow
>>>     that to happen.
>>>
>>>     Mark
>>>     WW2RDO
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>     Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>     On Feb 15, 2019, at 10:26 AM, Ray Fantini
>>>     <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu <mailto:RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>     If you look at the amount of promotion that’s been going on  in
>>>     QST and how packed the dealer and sales pavilions are I have to
>>>     wonder if maybe the flea market aspect of the Hamvention is
>>>     being pushed off to the side and being left to wither and die?
>>>     Or is it that the entire concept of used equipment, homebuilt
>>>     and playing around with old radios is itself died out?
>>>
>>>     Pure speculation on my part but is there a effort to make the
>>>     Hamvention into a convention where they just talk and show the
>>>     newest and latest technology and the hell with all that old junk
>>>     and the people who want to mess with it? Looking at the ARRL it
>>>     appears that’s their main interest is in pushing you to go out
>>>     and buy the newest whatever and that if you’re not on the
>>>     cutting edge or using the newest digital mode you not a complete
>>>     Ham.
>>>
>>>     I work in a technical field and have to deal with installing the
>>>     latest software, operating systems and hardware every day and
>>>     the last thing I want to do when I am not at work is have to
>>>     download stuff and resolve set up issues, so I prefer to work
>>>     with the technology of the past where you can get in, make
>>>     changes and work with things at a slower pace. After all it is a
>>>     hobby and not a business. So that’s the question is Hamvention
>>>     evolving into something more along the lines of a boat show,
>>>     where everything is about the newest and most expensive or will
>>>     it still reflect whatever the general state of the hobby is?
>>>
>>>     And what is the general state of the hobby? Maybe this is the
>>>     future and people like me that are getting older and prefer to
>>>     waste time on technology from our past just need to get out of
>>>     the way for the Hams of the future? Although most of the people
>>>     I know, see at the fest and have talked with are just as old if
>>>     not older then I am so where are all these Hams of the future?
>>>     Maybe by getting rid of us old buzzard Hams that will entice
>>>     theses young Hams out to the events? Yet another reason to kill
>>>     off the flea market.
>>>
>>>     Have to remember your Bell “When one door closes, another opens;
>>>     but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed
>>>     door that we do not see the one which has opened for us” Somehow
>>>     always thought that was a bible quote but apparently not. Maybe
>>>     if Hamvention is failing in my expatiations or costing too much
>>>     it is time to make this the last trip, but other regional sales
>>>     like Frostfest are doing great and maybe look to a future of
>>>     more online and local stuff.
>>>
>>>     Collecting and using military technology in some ways is a
>>>     smaller subset then the larger Vintage Ham radio community is,
>>>     but it’s what I want to do and once you get into the military
>>>     collectors community you soon discover the weapon, vehicle and
>>>     many other collectors that have a thriving community that
>>>     somehow survives without having a national organization that’s
>>>     beating the drum for everyone to go out and buy or constantly
>>>     move forward. Perhaps the nearest analog would be the reenactors
>>>     and what they are doing although I don’t consider myself a
>>>     reenactor, but they are from what I see a growing group and
>>>     would assume they have some sort of organization and
>>>     publications and would assume that a large part of it involves
>>>     advertising and trying to get there members to go out and buy
>>>     things.
>>>
>>>     It all circles back to Dayton and what the future is there.
>>>     Perhaps it’s my expectations that have changed and not the
>>>     Hamvention at all? Or maybe it’s a combination of the two? Or
>>>     maybe it’s just that it’s a Friday and Friday morning are
>>>     somewhat slow here at work and it’s an opportunity to take time
>>>     out and write about these things and try to get an idea what
>>>     others think.
>>>
>>>     Ray F/KA3EKH
>>>
>>>
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-- 
Al Klase - N3FRQ
Jersey City, NJ
http://www.skywaves.ar88.net

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