[MRCA] [MMRCG] GRC-19 on the air

Sun Jan 4 22:26:36 EST 2026

Thanks!

Yes, I’m definitely keeping an eye out for pieces to tinker with later on.

Jason WA6BBQ.

On Sun, Jan 4, 2026 at 19:09 B. Smith via MRCA <mrca at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

> The Collins PTO assembly utilized in the T-195 is a great performer. I get
> all most 8 volts PP out it and it easily drives my Northern 105 FSK on 80
> meters. Caution if you remove the PTO assembly from the T-195 chassis be
> very careful with the shaft. Support the shaft with a bracket.
> Z
>
>
>
> On 1/4/2026 1:18 PM, Ray Fantini via MRCA wrote:
>
> At the time that radio was designed Collins was in love with four band
> multipliers and the PTO with the idea that nothing beats the stability or
> quality of there sealed PTO.
> The PTO operates in a fixed band; think on the T-195 it's 1.5 to 3.0 MHz,
> and they have a system of four buffer multipliers to get the other
> frequencies. Start by checking the accuracy of the PTO on 2.00 MHz and
> that’s where you want to make any mechanical correction. Any error in band
> one will be multiplied in the higher bands! Don’t try changing to make
> something look correct on eighty or forty, do all alignment on band 1. More
> modern transceivers used converters and the like, but you were unable to
> get the wide coverage without using that approach back in the fifties.
> Collins used the same approach on the T-368 and ARC-38
> Another thing to look at is if you have the solid-state inverters or the
> mechanical dynamotors. There is a huge advantage in having the solid-state
> inverters over the mechanical dynamotors when it comes to starting current.
> Talked with old timers who used the GRC-19 back in the sixties and they
> tell me it can easily slow down if not outright stall a M-38 unless you
> were driving over thirty miles an hour or had the throttle set way high
> when keyed.
> With the solid state inverters, you can run all day long with a PP-8474
> power supply and with the dynamotors if you can find a PP-1104 battery
> charger – Power supply that will do the job. The PP-1104 can also do fun
> stuff like start an M-151 or M-38 or your daily driver. They can usually be
> had for cheap but at 110 Lbs. you don’t want to ship it.
>
> Ray F/KA3EKH
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* MMRCG at groups.io <MMRCG at groups.io> <MMRCG at groups.io> on behalf of
> Jason Sogolow via groups.io <w6iee.73=gmail.com at groups.io>
> <w6iee.73=gmail.com at groups.io>
> *Sent:* Sunday, January 4, 2026 11:47 AM
> *To:* scottjohnson1 at cox.net <scottjohnson1 at cox.net>
> <scottjohnson1 at cox.net>
> *Cc:* MMRCG at groups.io <MMRCG at groups.io> <MMRCG at groups.io>;
> mrca at mailman.qth.net <mrca at mailman.qth.net> <mrca at mailman.qth.net>;
> mrcg-west at groups.io <mrcg-west at groups.io> <mrcg-west at groups.io>
> *Subject:* Re: [MMRCG] GRC-19 on the air
>
>
> Welll, turns out the dial error is different, almost half, on 75M vs 40M.
>
> On Sat, Jan 3, 2026 at 12:13 <scottjohnson1 at cox.net> wrote:
>
> Jason-
>
> Assuming the error is uniform up and down the band, it is as simple as
> loosening the coupler on the PTO and moving it in until the display
> coincides with the frequency.  Ensure all the clamps are tight when you are
> done.
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Scott W7SVJ
>
>
>
> *From:* MMRCG at groups.io <MMRCG at groups.io> *On Behalf Of *Jason Sogolow
> via groups.io
> *Sent:* Saturday, January 3, 2026 12:58 PM
> *To:* mmrcg at groups.io; mrca at mailman.qth.net; mrcg-west at groups.io
> *Subject:* [MMRCG] GRC-19 on the air
>
>
>
> Finally lugged the GRC-19 set I got from the estate at the 2024 MRCG West
> meet up onto a bench… ibuprofen. Had successfully tested the two R-392’s
> separately last weekend.
>
>
>
> Opened the. T-195 up, had a look, did some cursory cleaning and dusting
> despite being pretty clean in there. Mainly looking for things that might
> go sizzle or bang.
>
>
>
> Then concocted  power source. I have an unknown and untested PP4763, but
> if I believe the ratings, trying to run it off 120VAC would make my home’s
> feeble electrical system go sizzle and bang, unless I jumped through the
> hoops of getting 240VAC to it, which would have been a project in of
> itself.
>
>
>
> Next best option at hand was a pair of 100AH  LiFePo3 batteries in series.
> Under the best of circumstances, that’s only going to give me 26 volts and
> change, not the full 28 as advised by WA7YBS in his excellent article on
> his website.
>
>
>
> Powered up last night into a KW-rated dummy load, read the manual and
> ascended the not very steep (grunt) learning curve to operate, saw that it
> was making a bit over 100 Watts, and seemed to be functioning mostly
> properly.
>
>
>
> Only issue is that the T-195 PTO seems to be off frequency, have to set
> the dial 28 kc low to be on frequency of 7293, our only active Southern and
> Central CA non-audiophile AM frequency, struck me as a place that wouldn’t
> clutch pearls over a carbon microphone and dynamotor roar.
>
>
>
> This morning with topped-off batteries at the ready, connected to the
> dipole and had a brief QSO with some of the regulars, as far north as
> Gilroy, and was also informed I was being heard Q5 on the Northern Utah
> WebSDR. Was also complimented that my audio sounded far better than any
> carbon microphone should, not sure if I’m believing that one!
>
>
>
> So it’s alive! I just need to come up with a better power source, having a
> look at that today.
>
>
>
> How involved is it to correct the dial error? Or should I just accept that
> as a quirk of 75 year old unrestored equipment?
>
>
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Jason WA6BBQ
>
>
>
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