MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, FEB.13/98 INDEX; OFF THE SHELF PRICK's; PART II, PRC-39>61 by Dennis Starks CHRIS's WEB PAGE; ODDBALL RS-1 TRANS STILL AVAIL; HUMOR; **************************** OFF THE SHELF PRICK's; PART II, PRC-39>61 by Dennis Starks As we progress up through this class of PRC designated equipment, you well begin to notice a few things. First is a progression from tubes to highbred, then solid state, the radios are also getting smaller, lighter and more expensive. In the case of the later, the government cost of this equipment is without exception extremely high. Often times higher than radios that would have been used in a more tactical role. While the civilian variants of these radios were also expensive, it was nothing like the governments cost for the same radio. Typical! You will also notice that the frequency range of these radios begin to concentrate more on highband VHF, I/E 130-170mc. I should note here that while some of these radios are rated for that entire range in print, in reality none will work that much of a frequency spread, not for another 20 years anyway. Both the lowband, and highband were dissected into sub bands, for lowband it went something like 25-30, 30-40, 40-50mc, and for highband, 130-150, 150-160, and 160-170mc. Each radio was in turn only capable of operation in it's sub-band. This is the reason that there was a PRC-23, and a PRC-24, both identical, and working in the same band, but only capable of operation in their respective sub-bands. So if you have a PRC-59 on 161mc, it will not work without considerable modification on 146mc, even though the set might be rated for that in print. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRC-37; Handheld VHF, FM transceiver. Intended for use by Air Police & with Air Rescue teams as a replacement for the PRC-21 in the US Air Force. Ops 144-174mc,with an RF power output of 1 watt. Power could be provided by either 6 or 12v rechargeable batteries. No other information is available. Reportedly the set could use any of the following accessories, Antenna, case, carry strap, loudspeaker, microphone, & power supply. Ref.#3 As there is no photograph or contractor data in the source reference material, I cannot identify the commercial variant of this radio. However by the description and date(1958) of the source info, we can guess that this was a Lunch Box type radio, possibly with a solid state receiver, and tube type transmitter(especially as it uses an apparently separate power supply). Also the source material list the receiver and transmitter as separate items on the major components list. Of coarse all these items were most likely housed in a common cabinet. It is also possible that the only solid state feature of this radio was it's power supply. As it was common at that time to over stress the fact that a solid state device existed in a particular item of equipment. For example, the General Electric Progress Line equipment of the time was all tube type, with the introduction of transistors into their power supplies in the mid 1960's, their names were changed to TPL, "Transistorized Progress Lines", yet the basic radio remained the same. BTW the Progress Line mobile was adopted as the VRC-32 circa 1955. I could make a guess, and I do have an idea, what the PRC-37 was, but with the risk of being wrong, I best not to. I hate being wrong, and make it a practice never to be. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRC-39; Portable VHF,FM transceiver. Built by Industrial Radio, suspect this is a commercial type radio similar to the PRC-40, and of tube type or highbred circuitry. Ops 28-44mc FM with an output power of 1.5watts. Requires 1.5v,15v,& 150v.Original cost $439.00. No further information avail. Ref.#28 Sense I originally wrote this description, a manual has been located, and my original suspicions were confirmed. It is identical to the PRC-40 except for it's frequency range. In it's original form, it has a solid state receiver, and a tube type transmitter, as did the early version of the PRC-40. It is unknown whether this set received the 100% solid state treatment later in life like the PRC-40 did. For further details about this radio, see the PRC-40 below. Ref.#30 (NAVSHIPS 93351, 20 May, 1959) ----------------------------------------------------------------- PRC-40/RT-507; Hand carried VHF, FM portable transceiver. Built by Industrial Radio, its a non-tactical radio built for police & security forces. Early models(circa 1959)were of highbred construction using mostly solid state circuitry. The PRC-40(AX) as redesigned & modified by Dixon Industries(circa 1963)is 100% solid state. Features a built in loud speaker, carrier squelch. Multiple carry options I/E, as a backpack set with it's canvas bag & straps, over the shoulder with common carry strap, or hand carried with it's top mounted carry handle. Ops 132-152mc,on one xtal control channel,with an output power of 1.5 watts(PRC-40) or 1 watt(PRC-40AX), has built in loud speaker & uses external hand mic. Requires 15v supplied by 6ea Everready 707 7.5 volt batteries(PRC-40AX)or 1.5v,15v & 150v(PRC-40). Accessories include 1/4 wave whip type antenna & CY-2625 canvas carry bag with associated straps for over the shoulder or backpack carry. Original cost $1350.00. Ref.#23,#28,#30 Of all the Off the Shelf PRC's, the PRC-40AX is probably the most common, though none have ever been found in their original highbred form. It also looks more like a child's "Lunch Box", than any of the others among this family of PRC's, being only slightly larger. One strange thing about it, and it's lowband twin is that none of it's commercial equivalents have ever been found. This contrary to the norm in all the other examples that will be presented, where the commercial variant is far more common than the military. This possibly do to it's extremely high cost, which was no doubt for the Government's benefit alone. You will notice this extremely high, and unfounded government cost repeatedly as this series progresses. As supplied from the factory, they had a tube type transmitter, and a solid state receiver. As all the original PRC-40 manuals are for the hybrid version, it is doubtful it was ever supplied by Industrial Radio in it's AX form, especially as the PRC-40AX manual is simply a supplement to the original manual printed by the contractor, Dixon Industries. All the later conversions of the PRC-40(hybrid), to PRC-40AX(solid state), appear to have been conducted by an independent contractor, and not the original manufacturer. Whether this was at the Navy's direction or that of Industrial Radio is unknown. For the Ham wanting something representative of a military radio to use at hamfest etc. on 2 meters, this is a good one, and the oldest radio practical for this application. It has been reported that a variant of this radio built by General Electric existed, but this has not yet been confirmed. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRC-46; General purpose VHF, FM portable transceiver. Ops 144-174mc on one xtal control channel with an output power of 1 watt. Requires 10.5v(rec), 1.5v & 150v (trans). No further information. Ref.#29 Again, as the original source material did not provide a picture, we don't know what the commercial equivalent, or who the contractor was. But we can see by the voltages that it used, it was also a highbred design, having a solid state receiver and a tube type transmitter. As it shows up in an Airforce manual we can also assume that it was for their use. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRC-55; Receiver transmitter, VHF, FM. Built by Allied Signal with an original Navy cost of $1810.00. Ops on one channel, 132-150.8mc, A3, size 4 x 12 x 16", 8.4vdc operating voltage, NSN 5820-00-757-3010. No further information. Ref.#28 Again, we don't have a picture, but from the description, this was luchbox type radio, and probably all solid state. Dating this one too could be shaky, but I would guess the late 60's. Allied Signal depending on the date in question could have been Bendix, Wilcox, Northrop, even Hallicrafters, or Radio Industries. Of these, the last four were all contractors that built the OPS series radios of Vietnam Village & Hamlet Radio System fame. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRC-56; Built by Allied Signal with an original US Navy cost of $2610.00. NSN 5820-00-757-3011, no further information. Ref.#28 There's not even enough available info on this one to guess what it was. But note the consecutive stock numbers, could this radio have been the same as a PRC-55 except for the frequency split, or band? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRC-58/RT-772; Body worn VHF,FM transceiver. Built by Repco for general purpose use. The PRC-58 is constructed in three major components, RT unit, battery box, & external handset. The handset houses a loudspeaker, mic, power on/off switch, PTT, volume & squelch controls. The battery box & RT unit are carried in a rubberized canvas bag with provisions for wearing in several ways about the users body. Ops 144-174mc on any one xtal control frequency. RF power output is 1 watt. Requires 12vdc. Original US Air Force cost $450.00. Ref.#23,#28,#29 Of all the radios we will feature in this series, this one is the most peculiar. For lack of a better definition I referred to it as body worn, though I have never figured out how this was done. It's rubberized canvas bag has straps sewn to it, coming out at all angles, with buckles everywhere. I've yet to understand how this thing was strapped to the body. It was arranged much like the RBZ of WW-II fame, and the component parts are similar in size, I/E the transceiver, and battery box. Most peculiar about the set was it's handset(for lack of a better word), it's more like a tiny control head, and indeed looks very much like an early yet very small, combination speaker/control head as used on the old Comco trunk-mount mobiles of the early 50's. By the way, Comco, and Repco are the same company. The construction of the set is most rudimentary, the cabinets for it's component parts look like a cross between something I would make, or buy from BUD. It's control head/handset/speaker-mic indeed looks home brew. Regardless of what the outside looks like, the inside is full blown quality as would be seen in all those built by Repco. It is all solid state, using sealed plug-in modules throughout, as all the successive examples from Repco would be, and this radio marks the first use of this technique in a non tactical radio. It would appear that the next generation of this set would be the PRC-91 series which we will visit later. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRC-59; Hand-carried, portable, VHF, FM transceiver. Adoption of the commercial Motorola model Z23BAC1001AR, by the US Treasury Department. These sets saw extensive service with the US Coast Guard. Note, this radio is identical except for color, frequency split, & the use of a microphone vice handset, to the US Navy's PRC-61. Circuit design includes a 100% solid state receiver, & a highbred transmitter. Provisions exist for use of a handset or internal loudspeaker. Features include built in loud speaker, multiple carry & power supply options. Vehicular operation with associated mounts, supplies & cables. The PRC-59,& 61 could be hand-carried with it's top mounted handle, shoulder carried with common carry straps, & used as a back-pack set with common carry straps or in a canvas bag. Additionally a canvas bag was provided, to contain the RT unit & power supply for use as a portable station. Ops 152-174mc,on any one(two channels optional)xtal controlled frequency.RF power output 1 watt.Requires -6v/26ma(rec) provided by Burgess F4P1 battery, 1.5v/875ma(Burgess 4D cell), 67.5v & 130v/55ma(2ea Burgess XX45)trans. Optionally power could be supplied via internal 6 volt nicads or any external 12vdc source using a solid state inverter, a 110vac power supply was also available. Accessories include 1/4 wave whip antenna 2AD6021A, Handset ZMN6003A, carry strap ZLN6024A, carry case ZLN6025A. Size 12 1/8 x 3 1/8 x 10 1/8" ,7lbs(less batteries). Circa 1961. Ref.#26,#30 This radio is of only two known that were expressly adopted for use by the Coast Guard, of the PRC types anyway. And as such they usually have a large Coast Guard crossed anchor crest on each side in place of the usual Motorola logo. In the last couple years, quantities of these radios have been trickling through the surplus system, those that I watched sell had the highly desirable 110vac power supply clipped in place of it's battery box, and the heavy canvas transit bag. Regretfully though, that person who was awarded the bid thought they were quite valuable. It's commercial version is the most familiar of the older Motorola Handie Talkie types. Being the last Motorola Draggie to use tubes anywhere in it's design. We often referred to as being of their fourth generation. The third was externally identical but had a hybrid receiver. This family also marked the change of the Motorola logo from silver script to black block letters, and the addition of the now familiar large capital M. The colors changed on this variant too, it would now be two tone, vice the old dark gray. By the late 1960's this series would be replaced by the PT-300, which was simply a re-packaged handheld HT-200. The options and accessories available for this radio, and it's PRC-61 cousin, would fill a book, and it's impossible to even begin to try and list them. It should be noted that the PRC-59 was of high split VHF, I/E 160-170mc, and most of the radios found will be on whats now the VHF marine emergency channel 16. It was most likely replaced in service by the PRC-91, or one of it's commercial variants, or later by the PRC-94. The PRC-94 has been found in abundance as Coast Guard surplus in it's commercial form. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRC-61/RT-693;Hand-carried VHF,FM portable transceiver. Identical to PRC-59 except frequency range of 130-152mc, use of microphone and internal loudspeaker vice a handset. Adopted at least for use by the US Navy, color is haze gray. Uses battery box CY-3870. Original US Navy cost $1770.00. For more information see PRC-59. Ref.#23,#28 The PRC-61 is possibly the second most common PRC designated radio of this type you'll encounter, just after the PRC-40. And like the PRC-40, it is a viable one for operation on 2 meters, particularly if you have it's optional nicad power supply. This supply was basically a 6 volt nicad battery for the receiver, with a solid state inverter for the transmitter. This inverter also allowed operation from an external 6 or 12 volt source. The PRC-61 also used the heavy round metal mic distinctive of Motorola Handie Talkies, dating back to it's first, and the PRC-29, it would be the last radio to use it. Unlike the PRC-59 which was dark gray with the Coast Guard crest, the PRC-61 is Navy haze gray. It is strange that none of the lowband versions of this or the third generation Motorola's are known to have been adopted, but then maybe they were and we just don't know it. Dennis Starks; MILITARY RADIO COLLECTOR/HISTORIAN military-radio-guy@juno.com References: #1) MILITARY RADIO DATA, VOLUME I, PRC Designated Radio Equipment, by Dennis Starks (copies available from the author) #3) TM11-487A,1958,MIL-HDBK-161,Military Handbook Electronic Communication Equipment. #23) The authors personal collection #28) Federal Logistics Data on Compac Disc(Fed Log).1995 #29) AFP 100-14,May 1980. #30) Associated equipments technical manual. **************************** CHRIS's WEB PAGE; Hi Dennis! I'm creating my own homepage and I want to have a mil radio corner. May I put Your PRC-descriptions (of course with full authors name etc.) onto that page? May be You have other documents, which are requested often so that the people can get them from the web. What do You think about? chris --------------------------------------------------------------- Sorry, no you cant as this book is in print, and I had asked it not be used by anyone other than those in the group, and that it not be circulated when I sent it out. Also the early version you have is now outdated. You can however use any of the articals that have been presented in the Military Collector Group Post, with my blessing. The following should be included at the beginning or end each, if at the end you'll of course need to change the word "following" in the first sentance to "proceeding": (The following was originally presented in the"Military Collector Group Post", an email magazine dedicated to the preservation of history and the equipment that made it. Unlimited circulation of this material is authorized so long as the proper credits to the original authors, and publisher are included. For more information conserning this group contact Dennis Starks at, military-radio-guy@juno.com) I would prefer that you rotate them from time to time so that any one is not there for too long a time. You can select from our backmail, or back issues, any topic you wish. Thanks Dennis Starks; MILITARY RADIO COLLECTOR/HISTORIAN military-radio-guy@juno.com **************************** ODDBALL RS-1 TRANS STILL AVAIL; Fair Radio originally had two of the RT/A-3 units that I got last week. He offered one to me, and the other to someone else. Well, the 'someone else' turned it down, so there is one more available. If anyone on the list is interested, contact Phil at FAIRADIO@WCOIL.COM The cost is probably $45 plus shipping. If anyone gets it, I would like to hear from you, to compare notes on the details. Thanks, Pete Colo. Springs, mccollum@ssdevo.enet.dec.com ED) for a complete description of this transmitter see: MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, FEB. 9/98 ODDBALL RS-1 TRANSMITTER; By Pete McCollum **************************** HUMOR; A man comes home from work one night after a long day at work. Before he greets his wife she starts moaning about the water leak in the basement. "Do I look like a plumber ?!" the man says in a angry tone and takes the evening paper to go sit and relax while he reads the paper. Before reading one heading in the paper the wife comes and start bugging him about the kitchen cubboard that is broken. He turns to her and says " All day long I work my fingers to the bone and when I come home to relax, YOU expect me to fix everything I know nothing about, I'm not a plumber or a f*****g carpenter ! ". The next evening when the man comes home, he notices that the leak in the basement and the kitchen cubboard is fixed. He walks to his wife and says " Where did you get the money to fix the stuff ? I hope you didn't use the money I gave you for the week's food". She explains : "I phoned a handyman and he fixed all of the little things around the house. When he was finished, he gave me the bill. It was more than I had on me and he gave me two choices : Either I bake him a nice big cake or I make love to him. " " What kind of a cake did you bake ?" the husband asks. " Do I look like a baker ? " the wife asks. ------------------------------------------ Subject: Application for a White House Internship Check this out: . Be a part of the action in the pulsing, throbbing political scene of the hottest city in the world! . Get up close and personal with some of America's movers and shakers! . See rooms in the White House that even a VIP tour won't show you! . Get total access to plenty of sensitive Presidential activities! Sound like it's for you? 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Scores of 16 can start tomorrow. Scores of 12 and above, please call soon. Uncle Sam wants you. *Please feel free to forward this form to anyone you know who might be interested in this program. The White House is an equal opportunity employer. of course as soon as your hired your application will be destroyed. no Evidence no convictions ------------------------------------------ Thomas Edison, who invented electric lights--he dedicated his life to humanity. Edison went to remote Indian reservations and strung electric wire to the outhouses so that the older Indians could have illumination. Don't ever forget. He was the first man in history to wire a head for a reservation. -- Norm Crosby ------------------------------------------ He's so old that when he orders a three-minute egg, they ask for the money up front. -- Milton Berle **************************** EDITOR; Dennis Starks; MILITARY RADIO COLLECTOR/HISTORIAN military-radio-guy@juno.com