MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, MAR.10/98 INDEX: PRC-28, AND 2 CENTS; Lenox Carruth, and Dennis Starks MEMBERS WRITE; Military Collector's Meet MEMBER PROFILE; Larry Hill ON THE COMMERCIAL FRONT; HUMOR; *********************************************** PRC-28, AND 2 CENTS; Lenox Carruth, and Dennis Starks Thought I would add my 2 cents worth to the PRC-28 discussion. I read a book a while back about a Special Forces radio operator in the early years of our Vietnam involvement. Seems one of the big problems with the PRC-10 was keeping it on frequency. The biggest problem was being issued out-of-date batteries. They would take several batteries on a patrol just to be sure of having one that might work. Crappy way to fight a war in my opinion. Anyway, back to the original discussion. The crystal control would have been an obvious solution to staying on frequency. Apparently a lot of the problem had to do with poorly trained Vietnamese who went on patrol with the Special Forces guys. I guess it would not take too may dorking fingers to get a PRC-10 off frequency. The other radio they used was the GRC-109. Used it from their base camp to communicate with higher commands. Lenox carruth@swbell.net Dallas, Texas Collector of WW-II Communications Equipment and Memorabilia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Len, the book you refer to is: Tan Phu, Special Forces Team A-23 In Combat, By Leigh Wade. We used extracts from it in the our GRC-109 series. True, the writer did sight some disgust with the PRC-10, but this was for the most part, in regard to the bad batteries they were receiving. Personally, I was impressed with the performance of the PRC-10 in his accounts, particularly if you notice the ranges the radio was being used at, and the topographical conditions. One thing that's not mentioned in the text, was if the radio had a good battery in it, it did communicate. One thing must always be remembered, combat radioman always hate their radios. I was one, and every radio I used was a peica shit.(Whether it was or not). Over all, the book is a good one, and there is only a couple of very minor errors, mostly with radio model numbers. Poorly trained Vietnamese were indeed a problem, especially those irregulars participating in the above mentioned book. But a complete line of radios had been fielded expressly for their use. The OPS series which included the HT-1, TR-5, and TR-20 among others. These radios too are mentioned in the book, and history records them as being generally well received by all those that used them, including Special Forces. The biggest complaint being that they were not compatible with other tactical equipment, being AM vice FM. I forgot to mention in the PRC-28 article, that while it has the same hasp fasteners to secure the radio into it's cabinet as the PRC-9 etc., they have had a hole drilled in the lever so that they can be screwed down. This denying access to the radios entrails by the user. The more we look at this radio, the more it becomes apparent that it was not intended as a front line, combat, tactical radio set. But at this point, we still can't dismiss any possibility. Dennis Starks; MILITARY RADIO COLLECTOR/HISTORIAN military-radio-guy@juno.com *********************************************** MEMBERS WRITE; Military Collector's Meet Here are some notes related to the May 2 get together. Hi Gang, We've got the third annual Military Radio Collectors Group meet, with swap scheduled for May 2 in San Luis Obispo, California. Last year we had presentations on the BC-348, GF/RU, the "pogo stick" or guideon (can't remember the darn number) radio, as well as presentations on restoration techniques. The swap was unbelievable, with tables of NIB WWII radio gear, hundreds of manuals, etc. Displays were outstanding and we also have a BBQ lunch. This year a lot of folks are going to camp out at the site and have a mini field day on Friday, May 1. That was from Dave Ragsdale who found us the site and arranged for the first BBQ. Both winners by the way. There has been a mailout but I have other copies that can be mailed to interested folks. This year we will start the swap at 0700 with equipment presentations etc beginning at 1000. The BBQ is optional of course but worth the $8, tri-tip, chicken, salad etc and a grunch o' burning mesquite. Andy Miller is organizer this year and you can get a flyer from him also: Andy Miller 22702 Picador Dr. Salinas CA 93908 amillertkx@aol.com Some of the equipment that will be present: ARC-5, Wireless Set 19, SCR-284, GRC-6/7/8, TCS, Morale sets etc. I'll drag along a GRC-109 and GRC-9 or RAl or.... Quite a collection usually shows up. Ed Zeranski This is a private opinion or statement. home email: ezeran@cris.com *********************************************** MEMBER PROFILE; Larry Hill 09 Mar 98 Larry Hill hill762@ix.netcom.com 1573 Harbor Blvd Belmont,CA 94002 (650) 593-0619 Dear Sir, I find your groups conditions quite acceptable, and would like to subscribe. About myself: I'm 38. I served in the late 70s-early 80s as a RATELO in the 82nd Airborne,then as a weapons sergeant with 7th Special Forces, where I went thur the 05B OJT course. I also served with JFK Center. I have some familiarity with PRCs 25, 77, 74, and 70. Also a long time ago with the ANGRC-109. I currently own a PRC-25, PRC-47, PSR-1 and PEWS transmitters. I am active in ARES/RACES here in northern Silicon valley. I have a M882 Dodge pickup.And am a war, and civil defense fanatic. Current Wants: Advice on how to tune a 1/2" copper J-pole for a PRC-25 in the 6 meter band. Recommendations for a power amp for a PRC-25 Ideas on handhelds compatible with the 25/77 Thank you very much. 73s KB6OWW Larry ______!______ o o (_) o o ^ ^ ^ Airborne! *********************************************** ON THE COMMERCIAL FRONT; Haney Electronic Company: J-45, leg iron CW keys, Correct for BC-1306, GRC-9, GRC-109, and PRC-47. These are new old stock units most still in original packaging, several contract dates from 1968 to 1980's. They include cord CD-201A with PJ-055B connector. The member price is $20.00ea, plus shipping. ed) except for the cord, the J-45 is identical to the KY-? used with the latter model equipment like the GRC-106. AS-2975, PRC-70 dipole antenna kit. Unused Similar to that use with the PRC-74 differing mainly in the balun it uses. The member price is $25.00ea, plus shipping ed) as the freq range of the PRC-70 is 2-79mc, and it's output 50ohms, these antennas should be good for just about any portable radio application. Quoted prices are good to group members only. To place an order contact Steve Haney at , If you have trouble with this address, call 817-496-3346. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dennis, I got this message from my contact in Russia. "Yuri has found a rare LF 12 to 65 kHz direction finding receiver from atomic submarine,type is R-676. " My response was:"I WILL ASK OUR GROUP IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED" Please add this to the next posting and if anyone is interested, have them contact me. Thanks Bill Howard THE WILLIAM L. HOWARD ORDNANCE TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE MUSEUM e-mail wlhoward@gte.net Telephone AC 813 585-7756 *********************************************** HUMOR; SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFE Does the Little Mermaid wear an algebra? Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery? How do I set my laser printer on stun? How is it possible to have a civil war? If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting? If God dropped acid, would he see people? If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular? If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest have to drown too? If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2? If work is so terrific, how come they have to pay you to do it? If you're born again, do you have two bellybuttons? If you ate pasta and antipasta, would you still be hungry? If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done? Is a castrated pig disgruntled? Why are hemorrhoids called "hemorrhoids" instead of "asteroids"? Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot at them? Why is the alphabet in that order? Is it because of that song? What happens when none of your bees wax? Where are we going? And what's with this handbasket? If the black box flight recorder is never damaged during a plane crash, why isn't the whole airplane made out of the stuff? Why is there an expiration date on sour cream? If most car accidents occur within five miles of home, why doesn't everyone just move 10 miles away? Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor. Atheism is a nonprophet organization. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes? The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live. If all those psychics know the winning lottery numbers, why are they all still working? Could it be that all those trick-or-treaters wearing sheets aren't going as ghosts but as mattresses? Should crematoriums give discounts for burn victims? If a mute swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap? And whose cruel idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have a "S" in it? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Casey came home from seeing the doctor looking very worried. His wife said, "What's the problem?" He said, "The doctor told me I have to take a pill every day for the rest of my life." She said, "So what, lots of people have to take a pill every day for the rest of their lives." He said, "I know, but he only gave me four." -- Hal Roach ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SOVIET MEAT STORY Sometime in the 1970s a shipment of meat arrives in a town in the Soviet Union. The townspeople line up at the town store to wait to be given their rations. After about an hour, a man comes out of the store and announces, "Comrades, I'm sorry to tell you, but there isn't enough meat for everyone, so the Jews have to leave." The Jews in the line leave grumbling. About an hour later, the man comes out of the store and announces, "Comrades, I'm sorry to tell you this, but there isn't enough meat for everyone, so anyone who is not a member of the Communist party will have to leave." More grumbling as the non-Party members depart. Another hour goes by and the man comes out of the store again and announces, "Comrades, I'm sorry to tell you this, but there isn't enough meat for everyone in the line, so anyone who wasn't a member of the Party before 1956 has to leave." More grumbling as all the younger Party members leave. A few old people remain in the line. Another hour goes by. It's now getting dark and it's cold. The same man comes out of the store and announces, "Comrades, I'm sorry to tell you this, but there isn't any meat. Go home." One old lady in the line turns to her neighbor and says, "See? It's like I told you. The Jews always get the best treatment!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A couple was golfing one day on a very, very exclusive golf course, lined with million dollar houses. On the third tee the husband said, "Honey, be very careful when you drive the ball don't knock out any windows. It'll cost us a fortune to fix." The wife teed up and shanked it right through the window of the biggest house on the course. The husband cringed and said, "I told you to watch out for the houses. Alright, let's go up there, apologize and see how much this is going to cost." They walked up, knocked on the door, and heard a voice say, "Come on in." They opened the door and saw glass all over the floor and a broken bottle lying on its side in the foyer. A man on the couch said, "Are you the people that broke my window?" "Uh, yeah. Sorry about that." the husband replied. "No, actually I want to thank you. I'm a genie that was trapped for a thousand years in that bottle. You've released me. I'm allowed to grant three wishes- I'll give you each one wish, and I'll keep the last one for myself." "OK, great!" the husband said. " I want a million dollars a year for the rest of my life." "No problem-it's the least I could do. And you, what do you want?" the genie said, looking at the wife. "I want a house in every country of the world," she said. "Consider it done." the genie replied. "And what's your wish, genie?", the husband said. "Well, since I've been trapped in that bottle, I haven't had sex with a woman in a thousand years. My wish is to sleep with your wife." The husband looks at the wife and said, "Well, we did get a lot of money and all those houses, honey. I guess I don't care." The genie took the wife upstairs and ravished her for two hours. After it was over, the genie rolled over, looked at the wife, and said, "How old is your husband, anyway?" "35." she replied. "And he still believes in genies?....That's amazing." *********************************************** (The preceding was a product of the"Military Collector Group Post", an international 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) *********************************************** --------- End forwarded message ----------