[MRCA] AN/PRC-74 video

Ray Fantini RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu
Thu Oct 30 15:52:32 EDT 2025


Finished the video of the PRC-74 radios that I have been working on, and say it in the video but will also say it here that maybe the PRC-74 was the best backpack radio to come out of the sixties. At least for HF use.
You can see it at:

https://youtu.be/99pk6AMEk4s

Use to not think much of them but after lots of work come to realize that there simple construction, all solid state design and sensitivity has won me over. Radios like the TRC-77 and its crystal controlled weirdness, the PRC-47 and its weight and power demands and the PRC-70 with its faults like wanting to destroy itself when the battery dies and the sardine can construction that's a real pain to work on along with newer sets like the PRC-104 with the idea of sacrifice everything in the name of making it as small as possible.
The 74 has its faults, weird PA transistors and too many crystals but makes up for it by being easy to work on and with the exception of only a hand full of components that are not obtainable the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages, just try replacing LSI devices or working without twenty four test jigs on some of the modern stuff.

Ray F/KA3EKH



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