[MRCA] PRC-77 Vs RT-524

[MICHAEL ALUZZO]

Hello all

   I have a 524 that I would like to get or see if it can be made operational. I’m in Northern NJ. I don’t know much about the inside of them that’s why I’m asking for help. I also need a power supply for it if it works. 
  I’ve got a 292 antenna to match it up with and if all goes well, set it up in my soon to be finished shack in combo with my working 77.

    Thanks
    Mike

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 13, 2022, at 11:21 AM, Mike Morrow <kk5f at earthlink.net> wrote:
> 
> The AN/VRC-12-series (including AN/PRC-25 and -77) was without any doubt or serious contention THE most long-lived and most successful radio system in US military history.  The following article celebrates its retirement from US service in 2008 after almost 50 years of deployment.  With no doubt it still serves in other corners of the world.
>  
>   https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Family-Programs/Article/573638/legacy-radio-system-retired-from-army-guard/
>  
> It did not earn its longevity and near-universal use and adoption by many other countries by being stupidly designed (other than the quickly-corrected original weak panel lift handles and the germanium transistors in the non-A models that could be damaged by vehicle engine starting voltage surges.)
>  
> The AN/PRC-25, -77 has been called the soldier's most powerful weapon in Vietnam. 
>  
> The USN's Brown Water Navy had two AN/VRC-46 in every PBR and one in every PCF (which had a Harris 301 AN/URC-58 HF set instead of a second AN/VRC-46.)
>  
> These were truely magnificent radios, event if like every thing else known to man they were not perfect.
>  
> Mike / KK5F
>  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ray Fantini 
> Sent: Apr 13, 2022 8:06 AM
> To: B. Smith , Military Radio Collectors Association 
> Subject: [MRCA] PRC-77 Vs RT-524
>  
> Never had to wonder if a VRC-12 was going to achieve a tuning solution or not and have to wait until the light comes on before transmitting, or have huge power sources and cables to make it operate.
> I worked with maybe two T-195 transmitters and you came to their defense but have worked on maybe a dozen or so RT-524 and 246 sets and unlike the T-195 they are way lighter but most important of all are easy to work on. Just try running a T-195 out of its case, but the 524 works all day long with the top or bottom removed. Biggest issue I have found on the 524/246 sets are the band switch contacts on the little plug in cards in the receivers front end will get dirty and degrade performance but beyond that and having to repair when they have been demiled it's a somewhat trouble free radio or at least I would prefer to work on ten VRC-12 radios then one GRC-19.
> Will admit that the RT-246 that I use to have in the mutt had failed several times in the field after it got hot but did finally get that sorted and at the end of the day replaced that with a 524 because I wanted a internal speaker but in the last couple years now that radio has been working without issue. The biggest problem is getting others out to events and active on 51.0
> We did have a lot of activity on 51.0 at Gilbert during the MRCA show and some at Hagerstown but most of the time the radio remains silent.
>  
>  
> Ray F/KA3EKH
>  
>  
>  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of B. Smith
> Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2022 7:50 PM
> To: Military Radio Collectors Association
> Subject: Re: [MRCA] PRC-77 Squelch
>  
>  
>  
> Might as well put that RT-524 on my same "stupid"  list. It has a MTBF of 8 to 10 hours. Wasnt even reliable when it was installed in Comm Hut instead of a vehicle. But add "who needs a FM set that takes two people to lift it.
>  
>  
>  
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