From: military-radio-guy Full-Name: Dennis R Starks To: military radio collectors#1 Fcc: Sent Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 08:12:37 Subject: MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, May 21/99 Message-ID: <19990521.081137.7871.9.military-radio-guy@juno.com> X-Status: Sent X-Mailer: Juno 1.49 MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, May 21/99 Index: ANNOUNCEMENTS; Member Web Site links, Backmail Files/Member Introductions, Group Post Material on Your Web Site, AFTER ACTION REPORTS; Operation Dayton MEMBERS WRITE; 6mtr Freq.? HUMOR; *********************************************** ANNOUNCEMENTS; Member Web Site links, I spent most of the last three weeks re-structuring our Backmail Files, the cumulative index of which was sent out a couple days ago. This cumulative index alone is over 12 pages long, and I suspect that by the next time I need to do it over, it too will be too long to email. Buzz has provided web site space to post our list of Backmail files as will be noted with it's address at the end of each future Group Post. He has proposed setting up links between it and other related web sites. While I don't think links to all related sites is a good idea. I do think it would be an excellent idea to link it, and all other "member" web sites together. At present Buzz does plan to link the site with those other sites which contain Group Post material as noted in the list itself, such as Tom Norris'(PRC Designated Equipment), Ralph Hogan's(Inverter Design Data), Alan Tasker's(U.S. Military Portable Radios, & PRC-90 Legacy) etc. I should note here, that though an article, or series of articles might be contained on a web site, I cannot vouch for it's entegraty. It is possible that the material contained on a specific web site might not be the same as what is contained in our original articles, nor include all the data on particular subject. If you currently have a web site, and would like it linked with all other "member" web sites let me know along with it's address and basic content. Once I've heard from most, or all, interested persons, I'll set up a discussion link between you all to get this accomplished. What do you think? Backmail Files/Member Introductions, You will note that Backmail #35 titled "Member Introductions" has a list of all those I have received material from. This is not by any measure a list of all our members. If you would like your's included, or would like to re-do what material you already have, let me know. It would be a good idea to review this file to see what others have done. Group Post Material on Your Web Site, When writing the cumulative index to the Backmail files, I tried to include the web sites that the associated material can be found on. I hope the site addresses are correct, current, and complete. Please inspect them and let me know. Though I had asked several times to be informed of all the material that was currently on a web site, some of the responses I received were less than coherent. If I omitted you, your web site, or any of the Group Post Material that is on a web site, PLEASE let me know. Also, if there is any material in our Backmail files that you wish to include on a web site, let me know. Thanks Dennis *********************************************** AFTER ACTION REPORTS; Operation Dayton Hey all: Just got back from Dayton, and other than a dramatic failure of my POV on the return trip, it was a fairly good event. I arrived about midnight on Wednesday, and left Sunday at 4. 5 or 6 URC-101 were seen at an adv price of $ 1,200.00, very few RT 524, R-422 were around, the few PRC 77 were tourist priced (325+). Mike Branowsky had a good array of parts and small goodies, he also had GRC-106s (WO meters) $ 350.00. Steve Haney was in the tent and it was good getting to chat with him for a bit. Ontario Sales had self erecting monopole antenna masts for sale at high prices, as far as I could tell, he did not sell any. (lots of interest though, he had a cute gal in a bikini top cranking one up and down all week.) There were two chaps from Indiana (I think) with cucv's with shelters displaying RTTY equipment. Besides the commercial stuff that I bought, I picked up lots of connectors, cables, and brackets, some equipment racks for a shelter project. I have to say I was disappointed in the military pickings this year.(Taking into account the stuff I sold, I actually brought back more money then I took with me, a first!) The flea market was considerably smaller this year, I make it as about 10%of the spaces were not sold/occupied. In my opinion, The DARA committee is becoming a Nazi thug force, instituting unnecessary and arbitrary rules. The committee has decided that the flea market exists because of them, not the other way around. (One of the reasons I think that attendance has been going down hill over the past years). Respectfully submitted Henry J. Fackovec President The Radio Communications Group, Inc. mailto:fackovec@radiotech.com http://www.radiotech.com fackovec@m151.com (wizop) fackovec@nycpd.com (Wizop) fackovec@radiotech.com (Wizop) ed) your assessment of the committee's attitude towards flea markets is entirely correct, and not just limited to Dayton. It is being practiced at most hamfest today, and I attribute this in great part to the general decline of such events. When will these people learn that without a decent flea market, there is no hamfest? And that the flea market makes the hamfest, they don't! Reports on the URC-100 series radios range in cost from $1200 to $1800. I've not heard of any that were purchased or sold. The Shelter/TTY guy's are members of our group, though we seldom hear from them. Hint! BTW what the hell is "The Radio Communications Group, Inc." ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dennis, I thought I would tell you some of the high spots of Dayton this year. There was not nearly as much in green radios this year as last year. In fact, the guy with the most green radios for sale was Steve Haney. He had a couple of URC-101's and a few AN/PRC-77's and a bunch of parts. There were the usual guys with their commo vans and fatigues that would show you their radios and when you would salivate, they would say that none of the equipment was for sale. I bought a VHF diplexer for $50. I bought some AN/PRC-126 rechargeable batteries (in the metal green box), new for $25/ea. Since I was interested in MX's, I bought many kinds from VHF to UHF S's, R's, 48 chan, encripted--you name it and it was there. A guy had a box of "not working" MX-R/s for $5/ea. I am sure, if you changed some modules, they would work. His working models were $15/ea. I bought a pare of PT-400's that had good battery boxes ( for the PX-300's) for $25. There wasn't one "night vision" scope, no weird green radios, no average green radios. Maybe I missed some and someone else who you know will tell you different, but it was a bust for green equipment. -- Jim Hopper/W5EBQ Pres., Megahertz Technology, Inc. ed) Believe it or not, Jim didn't buy any of the $5 MX-R's. What a dumb shit! But he'll gladly send off $100 for a module, or a couple of knobs for one from Motorola. Again, what a real DUMB SHIT!! I have heard from several members that although they have gone to Dayton every year for many years past, they did not go this year. Hmm? *********************************************** MEMBERS WRITE; 6mtr Freq.? Is there a mil gear calling freq for 6M? 73, Conard ed) Yes there is, and with the hamfest, and 6mtr DX seasons at hand, perhaps I should re-cap. Last year after much debate and discussion, we arrived at three frequencies for use with our beloved green radios. #1, is 51mc. for use at special events and just playing around. It was decided in the same tradition as 3885 is now the 75mtr AM freq. I/E all such radios were originally supplied from the factory on this frequency and it will in most cases negate the need to have xtals made. #2, is 51.6mc. for DX work. This freq was chosen because it is the only frequency that is compatible with all military radios, yet still fits within all known band plans. It also allows operation of 51mc with the same radio without re-tuning. #3, is 50.6mc, which is an alternate for whatever use you want. So spread the word! We have yet to decide on AM, FM and SSB freqs for all other bands. *********************************************** HUMOR; Zack volunteered for military service during WWII. He had such a high aptitude for aviation that he was sent right to Pensacola, skipping boot camp. The very first day at Pensacola he solos and is the best flier on the base. All they could do was give him his gold wings and assign him immediately to an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. On his first day aboard, he took off and single-handedly shot down 6 Japanese Zeros. Then, climbing up to 20,000 feet, he found 10 more Japanese planes and shot them all down, too. Noting that his fuel was getting low, he descended, circled the carrier and came in for a perfect landing on the deck. He threw back the canopy, climbed out and jogged over to the Captain. Saluting smartly, he said, "Well, Sir, how did I do on my very first day?" The Captain replied, "You make one velly impoltant mistake!!" ----------------------------------------------------------------- A fierce gust of wind blew 45-year-old Vittorio Luise's car into a river near Naples, Italy in 1983. He managed to break out a window, climb out, and swim to shore -- where a tree blew over and killed him. Mike Stewart, 31, of Dallas was filming a public service movie in 1983 on "The Dangers of Low-Level Bridges" when the truck he was standing on passed under a low-level bridge killing him. Walter Hallas, a 26-year-old store clerk in Leeds, England was so afraid of dentists that in 1979 he asked a fellow worker to try to cure his toothache by punching him in the jaw. The punch caused Hallas to fall down, hitting his head, and he died of a fractured skull. George Schwartz, owner of a factory in Providence, R.I. narrowly escaped death when a 1983 blast flattened his factory except for one wall. After treatment for minor injuries, he returned to the scene to search for his files. The remaining wall then collapsed on him, killing him instantly. Depressed since he couldn't find a job, 42-year-old Romolo Ribolla sat in his kitchen near Pisa, Italy with a gun in his hand, threatening to kill himself in 1981. His wife pleaded for him not to do it, and after about an hour, he burst into tears and threw the gun to the floor. It went off and killed his wife. In 1983, a Mrs. Carson of Lake Kushaqua, N.Y. was laid out in her coffin, presumed dead of heart disease. As mourners watched, she suddenly sat up. Her daughter dropped dead of fright. A man hit by a car in New Yory City in 1977 got up uninjured, but laid back down in front of the car when a bystander told him to pretend he was hurt so he could collect insurance money. The car then rolled forward and crushed him to death. Suprised while burgling a house in Antwerp, Belgium, a thief fled out the back door, clambered over a nine-foot wall, dropped down, and found himself in the city prison. In 1976, a 22-year-old Irishman, Bob Finnegan, was crossing the busy Falls Road in Belfast, when he was struck by a taxi and flung over its roof. The taxi drove away and, as Finnegan lay stunned in the road, another car ran into him, rolling him into the gutter. It too drove on. As a knot of gawkers gathered to examine the magnetic Irishman, a delivery van plowed through the crowd, leaving in its wake 3 injured bystanders, and an even more battered Bob Finnegan. When a fourth vehicle came along, the crowd wisely scattered and only one person was hit -- Bob Finnegan. In the space of two minutes, Finnegan suffered a fractured skull, broken pelvis, broken leg, and other assorted injuries. Hospital officials said he would recover. While motorcycling through the Hungarian countryside, Cristo Falatti came up to a railway border crossing, just as the crossing gates were coming down. While he sat idling, he was joined by a farmer with a goat, which the farmer tethered to the crossing gate. A few moments later a horseand cart drew up behind Falatti, followed in short order by a man in a sports car. When the train roared through the crossing, the horse startled and bit Falatti on the arm. Not a man to be triffled with, Falatti responded by punching the horse in the head. In consequence, the horse's owner jumped down from his cart and began scuffling with the motorcyclist. The horse, which was not up to this sort of excitement, backed away briskly, smashing the cart into the sports car. At this, the sports-car driver leaped out of his car and joined the fray. The farmer came forward to try to pacify the three flailing men. As he did so, the crossing gate rose and his goat was strangled. At last report, the insurance companies were still trying to sort out the claims. Two German motorists had an all-too-literal head-on collision in heavy fog near the small town of Guetersloh. Each was guiding his car at a snail's pace from opposite directions but both near the middle of the road. At the moment of impact, their heads were both out of the windows where they smacked together. Both men were hospitalized with severe head injuries. Their cars weren't scratched. In a case of "one thing leading to another", seven men, aged 18-27 years, received jail sentences of 3-4 years each in Kingston-On-Thames, England in 1979, after a fight that started when one of the men threw a french fry at another while they stood waiting for a train. Hitting on the novel idea that he could end his wife's incessant nagging by giving her a good scare, Hungarian Jake Fen built an elaborate harness to make it look as if he had hanged himself. When his wife came home and saw him, she fainted. Hearing a disturbance, a neighbor came over and, finding what she thought were two corpses, seized the opportunity to loot the place. As she was leaving the room, her arms laden, the outraged and suspended Mr. Fen kicked her stoutly in the backside. This so suprised the lady that she dropped dead of a heart attack. Happily, Mr. Fen was acquitted of manslaughter, and he and his wife were reconciled. A few years ago in California there was a raging brush fire. Once the fire was extinguished, the firefighters began the process of clean-up. In the middle of where the fire had been burning, they found a dead man wearing a scuba tank and wet suit. At first the firefighters were baffled as to why a man would be out in the middle of the countryside wearing full scuba gear. Upon further examination, it was determined that the man died from the impact with the ground and not the fire. As best anyone can determine, this man was scuba diving off the coast of California and was accidentally picked up by one of the firefighting aircraft when it was refilling its water tanks offshore. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Cultural Differences Explained ed) though I don't usually comment on HUMOR items, this one is good! AUSSIES: Dislike being mistaken for Pommies (Brits) when abroad. CANADIANS: Are rather indignant about being mistaken for Americans when abroad. AMERICANS: Encourage being mistaken for Canadians when abroad. BRITS: Can't possibly be mistaken for anyone else when abroad. AUSSIES: Believe you should look out for your mates. BRITS: Believe that you should look out for those people who belong to your club. AMERICANS: Believe that people should look out for & take care of themselves. CANADIANS: Believe that that's the government's job. AUSSIES: Are extremely patriotic to their beer. AMERICANS: Are flag-waving, anthem-singing, and obsessively patriotic to the point of blindness. CANADIANS: Can't agree on the words to their anthem, when they can be bothered to sing them. BRITS: Do not sing at all but prefer a large brass band to perform the anthem. AMERICANS: Spend most of their lives glued to the idiot box. CANADIANS: Don't, but only because they can't get more American channels. BRITS: Pay a tax just so they can watch four channels. AUSSIES: Export all their crappy programs, which no-one there watches, to Britain, where everybody loves them. AMERICANS: Will jabber on incessantly about football, baseball, and basketball. BRITS: Will jabber on incessantly about cricket, soccer, and rugby. CANADIANS: Will jabber on incessantly about hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, and how they beat the Americans twice, playing baseball. AUSSIES: Will jabber on incessantly about how they beat the Poms in every sport they play them in. AMERICANS: Spell words differently, but still call it "English". BRITS: Pronounce their words differently, but still call it "English". CANADIANS: Spell like the Brits, pronounce like Americans. AUSSIES: Add "G'day", "mate" and a heavy accent to everything they say in an attempt to get laid. BRITS: Shop at home and have goods imported because they live on an island. AUSSIES: Shop at home and have goods imported because they live on an island. AMERICANS: Cross the southern border for cheap shopping, gas, & liquor in a backwards country. CANADIANS: Cross the southern border for cheap shopping, gas, & liquor in a backwards country. AMERICANS: Drink weak, pissy-tasting beer. CANADIANS: Drink strong, pissy-tasting beer. BRITS: Drink warm, beery-tasting piss. AUSSIES: Drink anything with alcohol in it. AMERICANS: Seem to think that poverty & failure are morally suspect. CANADIANS: Seem to believe that wealth and success are morally suspect. BRITS: Seem to believe that wealth, poverty, success and failure are inherited things. AUSSIES: Seem to think that none of this matters after several beers. *********************************************** 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 or this group are included. For more information concerning this group or membership contact Dennis Starks at, . A list of selected articles of interest to members can be seen at: http://www.softcom.net/users/buzz/backmail.html ***********************************************