[MRCA] The T-195

Fri Apr 1 07:49:42 EDT 2022

I have a nice working GRC-19 set that I use for the afternoon 3.810 net
here on the East coast.  The T-195 is updated with all solid state power
supplies and sealed relays.  I purchased it working and it so far has
proven reliable, I use a dipole in a fixed station setting, my Fluke clamp
meter shows it draws 32-34 Amps on transmit, I'm using a 27.5 volt
switching 40A power supply/charger.  I receive nothing but positive
feedback on the audio quality and being able to hear the blowers in the
background.  I can offer no advice on repair but it is one of my most
favorite sets and it just screams real "Military Radio".

Mark
K1HF

On Fri, Apr 1, 2022 at 3:01 AM <scottjohnson1 at cox.net> wrote:

> I have four T-195’s.  The two I use (one fixed base, the other is in my
> M38A1) are both T-195Bs with the solid-state inverters, chopper, and fan
> drive.  I have had one for nearly forty years, they have always given
> yeoman service,
>
> And I have not done much other than cleaning and inspection over the
> years.  The other two are earlier units with dynamotors.  They are around
> for parts.  As far as R-392s go, pull the 26A7 and replace it with the push
> pull IRF-511 mod, and you will save
>
> 12 Watts in the receiver, and you will have more audio to boot. (My R-392s
> that I use both have the GI transistorized audio module).  Admittedly, I
> treat these radios very carefully, but they still never seem to fail me.
>
>
>
> Scott W7SVJ
>
>
>
> *From:* mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net> *On
> Behalf Of *David Olean
> *Sent:* Thursday, March 31, 2022 3:06 PM
> *To:* Jeep Platt <jeepcomms at outlook.com>; Ray Fantini <
> RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu>; Military Radio Collectors Association <
> mrca at mailman.qth.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [MRCA] The T-195
>
>
>
> Gee, I guess my initial impression back in the signal shop in 1968 was
> "right on".  I just got looking at the description of the RF circuits and
> the multipliers last night, and got all warm and fuzzy, just like I got
> with the T-368 and its' PTO and multiplier chain. I guess the problem is
> that you cannot make the T-195 into a manually tuned transmitter very
> easily. (Or can you? )
>
> I'll keep thinking about this project and would appreciate some more T-195
> stories. When I was in the signal battalion, we turned in a bunch of GRC-46
> RATT sets and got AN/GRC-106 rigs to replace them. Both were in small commo
> shelters on the back of a 5/4 ton truck. We had about eight GRC-26 setups
> too, that were in larger shelters on deuce and a halfs. The T-368s were
> quite reliable and I only had one repair guy who was not afraid to work on
> them. With 3 KV floating around inside, most techs were afraid of them. He
> was never very busy.
>
> 73
>
> Dave K1WHS
>
> On 3/31/2022 2:07 PM, Jeep Platt wrote:
>
> Dave,
>
> I have had two GRC-19 rigs in residence, here. One dynamotor powered, the
> other with the Victoreen supplies. My experience with the servo system
> seemed to revolve around the discriminator circuits and associated
> choppers. The diodes apparently are failure items. The TM calls for
> replacement at regular intervals. My systems would not autorune reliably at
> voltages below 28.5v. Boosting the PP-4743 up to 29 volts seemed to help. I
> used mine regularly on the Saturday net on 3885 but, truth told, never
> QSYed much, if at all.  I may be getting one of my systems back, it
> appears. Blessing or curse is a TBD.  Of course, the R-392s just soldier
> on.....
>
> Jeep K3HVG
>
>
>
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
> Get Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg>
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net>
> <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Ray Fantini
> <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu> <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu>
> *Sent:* Thursday, March 31, 2022 1:34:10 PM
> *To:* David Olean <k1whs at metrocast.net> <k1whs at metrocast.net>; Military
> Radio Collectors Association <mrca at mailman.qth.net> <mrca at mailman.qth.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [MRCA] The T-195
>
>
>
> I have often speculated that the natural condition of a T-195 is broken.
> Have talked with those tasked with maintaining them and think that although
> the Collins direct drive servo and discriminator technology is a miracle
> and on thing like the old ARC-38 or later 618 it was  never an issue the
> plate tuning servo for the T-195 somehow proved to be a bridge too far.
> Maybe reliable with a long wire antenna but cannot imagine it working
> consistently with a whip.
> If you have one that will reliably find a tuning solution consider
> yourself a lucky man. That and when you consider that the choppers and
> servo motors are all sixty plus years old now you have got to really want
> to run something that heavy.
> And for all the trouble of having to supply great gobs of twenty four
> volts required to transmit, the weight of the T-195 and a radio that's
> almost impossible to work on outside its case you get 100 watt AM only
> transmitter.
> Been told that if your M-38 was idling that keying that transmitter would
> stall the engine.
> Most everyone today is getting together on USB or carrier inserted USB for
> AM but it's only the hardiest amongst us who are doing real plate modulated
> AM. For reasons I cant explain no one is even trying to run RTTY on those
> old radios.
> The only advantage that I can think of is at least in the opinion of
> people like me is that anyone who can get a GRC-19 set up and running and
> keep it functional has got to be one hell of a Ham in my book, or that of
> anyone else who ever tried to get and keep that radio up and on line.
>
> Ray F/KA3EKH
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net>
> <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of David Olean
> Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2022 12:41 PM
> To: Military Radio Collectors Association <mrca at mailman.qth.net>
> <mrca at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [MRCA] The T-195
>
> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of Salisbury University.
> Please exercise caution when clicking links or opening attachments from
> external sources.
>
>
> For most of my adult life, I have had an aversion to the Collins T-195
> transmitter. It all started when I ran a signal maintenance shop in the
> Army from 1968 to 1971.  I saw a never ending stream of T-195s come through
> the door after each field exercise.  Of course, the R-392 companion
> receiver was never to be seen. They just seemed to work great all the time.
> I loved the R-392. In my retirement, I have been restoring some R-392s and
> just love working on them. I just obtained R-392  #5 to re work and it came
> with a T-195. I have been giving the T-195 a cautious glance, and the more
> that I see, the more I seem to be liking it.  I am going to try to get it
> going. I looked over the manuals and I need to get much more familiar with
> the auto-tune circuits. As I recall, many of the problems in the field
> involved a failure of the auto-tune sections, but we were dealing with
> operators who were clueless and heavy handed, so I think my perceptions
> were clouded a bit!
>
> So my question is:  Am I on the right track getting a T-195 working so
> that I can check in on AM on 3885?  What are the pitfalls to look for with
> this set?  I do have the solid state power units for it, and my particular
> set came with those plus a spare PTO and PA deck.  The insides look quite
> jammed together and I am sure certain problems may be
> difficult to deal with as a result.   Just looking for some general advice.
>
> Dave K1WHS
>
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