From: Dennis R Starks To: PasqualeNJ@aol.com,kg0qe@juno.com,w0nbz@juno.com,jawbrey@juno.com, lee@vtw.net,pmonroe@inwave.com,cranwill@roanoke.infi.net, ranickel@mwci.net,peterada@mindspring.com,haffner@mcs.net, eldim@worldnet.att.net,dr@cei.net,mrhro@pdq.net, kargokult@proaxis.com,ip500@roanoke.infi.net,bstrang@iac.net, jayc@hpcmrd42.sj.hp.com,AAFRadio@erols.com, jupeter@net-tech.com.au,rzelick@inetarena.com,ae4zh@juno.com, fsglong@mscomm.com,noel@mail.li.com,tactcom@rocketmail.com, davprin@gil.com.au,wa5cmi@access1.net,badger@telalink.net, smithab1@bellatlantic.net,jproc@idirect.com,marmot@core.com, torchboots@email.msn.com,adrian_heinrich@hotmail.com, wb4lzq@atl.mindspring.com,DKWkid@aol.com,TVComlGuy@aol.com, located@worldnet.att.net,tscm@jps.net,janschrader@juno.com, richwurtz@juno.com,carmelo.litrico@ctonline.it, jlbowers@planetkc.com,rbrunner@gis.net, spencer12345@classic.msn.com,d2012pn1@ozemail.com.au, dgrev@apollo.ruralnet.net.au,ae4in@webshoppe.net, peter@bergent.net,l.meulstee@wxs.nl Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1999 05:52:03 -0600 Subject: MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Nov.26/99 Message-ID: <19991126.055205.-234213.6.military-radio-guy@juno.com> X-Mailer: Juno 3.0.13 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Full-Name: Dennis R Starks X-Status: Sent X-Juno-Line-Breaks: 0-14,16-18,23,36-38,47-60,70,75-77,89,93-95,104,110,116,120-122,128,138,146,153-159,165-205,207-212,214,216-218,220-223,225-229,231-234,236-237,239-247,249-262,266-268,272-334,336-337,349-350,354-385,387-388,390-393,400-402 X-Juno-Att: 0 X-Juno-Fcc: Sent Items X-Juno-Size: 18128 X-Juno-RefParts: 0 MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Nov.26/99 Index: ANNOUNCEMENTS; MCGP WEB SITE; New Backmail Index, New Backmail Files, Redistribution of Group Post Material, Group Post Material On Your Web Site. TWO NEW BACKMAIL FILES; PROPOSED MILITARY NET FREQUENCIES; KIRBY ALERT; The Last Chapter, PRC-47 HELP NEEDED; HUMOR; *********************************************** ANNOUNCEMENTS; Don't forget to have your "Paper Trail", and "Group Wants/Trade" material in tonight. *********************************************** MCGP Webs Site, In response to my query about web site space for the "Group Post" last week, several people responded with offers of space on their web sites(with my thanks). But I had a wish for a site dedicated solely to the "Group Post", where considerable space might be needed, and even more space in the future. Kevin Greene(having a small west coast service of his own) granted my wish with a gracious offer of unlimited space and even our own domain(at his expense!). Ralph Hogan has volunteered(or I volunteered him) to be our Web Master. It is planned at this time to store all our Backmail files here with a newly designed index that itemizes all topics of interest in alphanumeric order. Users of the site will be able to search the index for key words, or scroll down the list, then click on the backmail file number to access it. This index so far is over 28 pages long and only represents about 90% of our *old files*(it's taken over 60 hours of work to get this far). The direct e-mail method of distribution for the old style index, as well as Backmail Files, will still be available for those of us without web access. My thanks to Kevin & Ralph for their pending contribution. New Backmail Index, Just like what might be found in a book or manual, the new index list all of the major items as can be found in the text of each article. For instance, Alan Tasker's series of articles on the PRC-90 ("PRC-90 Legacy") only includes the PRC-90 in the title line. Thus, only the PRC-90 was found in the old index even though the series also covered the PRC-106 and PRC-112 among others. The new index includes all these as well as other backmail files that contain related information. Sorrily though, the new index is already far too large for me to e-mail via Juno, and will be exclusive to our web site alone. --------------------------- Index Examples: CRT-3,(Gibson Girl) "SURVIVAL RADIOS & ARMS"; By Dennis Starks, Backmail #72: "US MILITARY PORTABLE RADIOS"; Conclusion By Dennis Starks, Backmail #50 GRC-71, GRA-71 CODE BURST RECORDING; From Pete McCollum, Backmail #42 See also GRC-109, RS-1, PRC-64., PRC-74. --------------------------- New Backmail Files, In conjunction with writing the new alphanumeric index for our older backmail files, and because it's now long over due, I've just begun the process of condensing the last years worth of the Group Post's back issues into *new* Backmail files. This involves dissecting all our back issues, taking related material, and combining it. For example, over a year ago we published a series of articles on Motorola's MX Paramilitary HT's. This series was long ago cut from our back issues, then all it's parts combined for our archives in the "Backmail". Recently we have learned of Navy Seal use of these radios, so this data too must be added to the old backmail file. Another example is a series of articles on the PRC-68, and PRC-25, each part of these series will be combined including all the data/lnput that was received from members as a result of it's publishing. Then all this relegated to a select Backmail file. Again, you'll see a couple of examples below. Other Web Site Considerations, We might also include on the site areas that are only accessible by Group Members. Like certain backmail files, the weekend wants/trades, member introductions/profiles, current status of group projects, a month's worth of back issues of the Group Post at a time. Or maybe even a page for the special offers extended to group members only from our commercial dealer/members. This would provide them with some measure of security in extending their specials to group members only, thus inspiring their continued offerings, and insperation for the future enlistment of more members(both commercial and private). If you didn't already know it, we have a special membership plan for commercial dealers who extend to us special members-only offerings at a significant savings over that they give general public. I do not wish to make the general public privy to all our material or benefits. I believe that certain aspects of our group should remain exclusive to our trusted, dedicated, and contributing members. This is how we promote that trust, and invoke participation. What do you think? Redistribution of Group Post Material, It has always been our policy to allow unlimited use of all the material produced by this group. This includes the use of Group Post articles(usually a Backmail file) on your web sites, or the forwarding of a selected "Group Post" to another list when that particular issue contains material of possible interest to their subscribers. There has always been only one simple requirement attached to this privilege. That full credit to the original author of the material, and to this group as the original publisher must be included!(just as is written in the statement at the end of each of our publications). In the event that an issue of the Group Post is forwarded to another group or selected persons, I do not mind that certain parts of that issue are edited out. Such as the "Humor", "New Members", or "On The Commercial Front"(which should in EVERY case be deleted). But, the credits statement at the end of each publication MUST BE RETAINED, and it's conditions observed! Not only is this a simple, common, courtesy that must be extended those who have devoted their time & expertise, but among other things negates much confusion that results from being read, or used, by other persons down the line. In the same light, I will not publish material sent to me without acknowledging it's source, and having the permission of it's author. Again, it's called COMMON CURTSEY! Any material that is used must be done so as it was published! This includes any references, sources, credits, or acknowledgements that the author chose to include, any editorial comments that might have been made, and a contact method for all. Group Post Material On Your Web Site, Along with all those conditions noted above, when articles are reproduced on web sites, even more precautions must be made to insure the integrity of the material, and that due credit is given. In many cases a special statement must be prepared for inclusion either at the beginning or end of an article to insure that the proper credits are made, and that the material is not being read by others out of context. Just a few minutes on the Internet with any search engine will produce countless web sites that contain material that was originally produced by us. Most are complete articles provided by me from our Backmail files along with a special notation, and/or some slightly greater care taken to insure that the text was complete, accurate, and in context. Until recently I thought that all these web sites belonged to members and were prepared with my help. But I have become aware over the last two weeks that not only has some of our material been used by members without my knowledge and assistance, but it has also been coveted by others who have included it on their sites(which is normally acceptable). One case in point, last week I was contacted completely by accident, by a person of uncommon honesty who had included material of ours on his web site that he had obtained from one of our member's site. He was extremely distraught to learn that the material he used was not only incomplete, but had completely omitted the proper credit(he having had material of his own plagiarized in the past). For some reason, our member had seen fit to omit the credit statement from his site. It took several days, and countless messages to get the mess straiten out. To conclude, I am delighted, even flattered, when we produce material that is of interest to the world. Especially when this material is of such significance that it's deemed appropriate enough to be included on a web site. But great care must be taken lest we contaminate history, or neglect those who have seen fit to devote countless hours in documenting it. So please let me know if wish to use any Group Post material, or if you already have and I don't know it. My Thanks to all. Dennis *********************************************** TWO NEW BACKMAIL FILES; It's time again to begin the intense process of dissecting all our back issues of the Group Post so that selected items of particular interest might be preserved in our Backmail files. As I've put this off for some months, it's going to take some time to get it all done. It took three days to complete the first two as seen below. When all is completed, I'll turn Ralph loose with them so he can place them on our new web site. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Backmail #76(15 pages) Index: PRC-25, FORGOTTEN LEGEND; Part I, By Dennis Starks Forward, In The Beginning, The PRC-25(Technical Description), PRC-25, FORGOTTEN LEGEND; Part II, The PRC-25 is Born, The PRC-25, "Milestone Radio", PRC-25, FORGOTTEN LEGEND; Part III The Legend Begins(1965-1970), PRC-25, FORGOTTEN LEGEND; Part IV, Forward, PRC-25 Legacy, Birth of The Ultimate PRC-25(PRC-77), PRC-25, FORGOTTEN LEGEND; Part V, The PRC-25 Legacy Continues, The PRC-77, References, MEMBERS WRITE; Misc ramblings on the PRC 25, From Bill Howard. Bob Simpson, Steve Haney PRC-25 Testimony, From Bob Lindgren EASY FIX FOR PRC-25/A15 or PRC-77/A35 MODULES; by Conard Murray ------------------------------------------------------------------ Backmail #77(10 pages) Index: THE PRC-68 FAMILY; By Alan Tasker THE AN/PRC-68 LEGACY; By Alan D. Tasker, WA1NYR *********************************************** KIRBY ALERT; The Last Chapter, Although a bit off topic, I had to share this story with all of you. I an a correctional Probation Officer in the state of Fl, and assigned inside a max security prison as a classification officer. I have a case load of over 200 and they all are the usual social retards, but last week made up for all the rest. I was interviewing the new intakes received from the reception center and called this heavy set, ugly and sorta balding reddish hairdo sob story in the office. I asked it what brought him to my prison and this is the story he told me, of all CPO's he could have gotten to manage his comfort level... He said,"I am a HAM Radio Operator and I violated the trust of my brother ham operators, There is a bond of trust among them and I took advantage of it by offering to sell gear that I didn't have and steeling their money." By now I am looking at this mutation of humanity thinking of the stories I heard about that Ham in Florida ripping us off etc...and how sweet justice in this case will be. He went on saying," I ripped off a lot of folks out there. You know, ham operators are a trusting group when it comes to other hams and I fed my habit from that trust......" On and on he went and by now breaking his body was sounding really good. He even had the nerve to say he really didn't want me to assign him to food service if I could help it, because of the long hours and the heat in the summer and with no Air conditioning... well... I asked the sub life form why he did these things, as I filled out his job assignment to food service. He started to reply and I told him to shut up and stand outside my office with his nose on the wall. I summoned my friend Mike Renaldo, also a ham, but a VHF type, to my office. Once he arrived I introduced him to Mike Kirby, our newest inmate and Ham Radio Criminal. Mike's response was words clear to Kirby that he was " out of gas..." My friends in security performed a search of Kirbys property finding contraband. He is going to spend some time on out chain gang learning a new meaning to his now miserable existence. He had the nerve to ask when I was going to allow him off the chain gang and back to the general population, my response was only suitable to his case... "when the sunspot cycle changes..." I didn't say which cycle. Any one want to pass a message to Mr. Kirby, he will be busy for a very long time with the chain gang. Jim KI6UP ed) Now if this ain't poetic justice, what is!! I asked Jim that Kirby might at least be given a job that pays money, howbeit a shity one, as the court has ordered him to make restitution to all those he has defrauded. *********************************************** PROPOSED MILITARY NET FREQUENCIES; Another group has been trying to coordinate frequencies for the use of military radios on the ham band for several months now. You will note that their plan for 6 meters is derived from the one we adopted last year. Please address any comments to both me at Patricia. PROPOSED NET Frequencies: ......................... TACTICAL FM: Primary FM Tactical GUARD CHANNEL: 51.0 MHz (includes low-power squad radios) 1st ALTERNATE FM 51.6 MHz 2nd ALTERNATE FM 51.4 MHz 3rd ALTERNATE FM 50.4 MHz Alternates for use when significant band openings create significant Interference on 51.0 MHz ......................... HF-Long-range guard channel: 28465 KHz USB, allows for all amateur license holders to communicate over long-distances as the amateur 10-meter band activity increases due to the increase in 10.7cm solar flux activity over the next 18-24 months. ......................... Tentative NET Schedules: Saturday Mornings: RATT:7081 KHz (mark tone) at 1000 Hrs VOICE: 1100 hrs local time 7296 KHz USB Voice: 1830 Zulu (GMT) 18163 KHz USB, or first clear channel down (in 1 KHz steps) [Military Radio Collectors Group has a net on Saturday Evenings: 2130 Hrs Pacific Time on 3980 KHz for AM or SSB check-ins] ------------------------ Sunday Evenings: 2100 Hrs local time: 7296 KHz USB (Primary) 7283 KHz USB (Secondary) (if 7296 is being interfered with) or 3996 KHz USB (Alternate) ------------------------ Patricia Gibbons list-owner and guardian of the authentication keys *********************************************** PRC-47 HELP NEEDED; Hi group, I am currently rebuilding a PRC 47 and have read ,with interest, the previous postings for this unique radio. My particular radio is a victim of water damage. The idler gear for the load- tune coils is frozen and so it the ON-OFF LIGHTS switch. I am pretty sure I can get the idler gear loose. However, my best efforts to loosen the switch have been for naught. I have soaked it breakfree, liquid wrench, deoxit. I have very gently tried to break it loose with pliers and have had no luck. So, it looks like I will have to replace the switch. Does any one have a source for this switch. I haven't bought a rotary switch in years. I have seen several postings referring to Fair Radio. I have long been a customer of this place. Am I to understand that they have parts they don't list in their catalog? If this is the case then cool! Also, does anyone know of a good source for the wonderful Bristol wrenches that the military loves to use on their knobs and such. Does anybody have a source for the tubes for the PRC 47? I found a web site that handles surplus tube and they had the 7761. Cool, except they wanted a crisp $100.00 bill for it! OUCH! Seems a little expensive to keep in stock as a "what if" spare! Thanks for you help in advance! Gary KD5DAY *********************************************** HUMOR; One enemy decoy, built in occupied Holland, led to a tale that has been told and retold ever since by veteran allied pilots. The German decoy "airfield," constructed with meticulous care, was made almost entirely of wood. There were wooden hangars, oil tanks, gun emplacements, trucks, and aircraft. The Germans took so long in building their wooden decoy that allied photo experts had more than enough time to observe and report it. The day finally came when the decoy was finished, down to the last wooden plank. And early the following morning, a lone RAF plane crossed the Channel, came in low, circled the field once, and dropped a large wooden bomb. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Airman Jones was assigned to the induction center, where he was to advise new recruits about their government benefits, especially their Servicemen's Group Life Insurance (SGLI). It wasn't long before Captain Smith noticed that Airman Jones had almost a 100% record for insurance sales, which had never happened before. Rather than ask about this, the Captain stood in the back of the room and listened to Jones's sales pitch. Jones explained the basics of the GI Insurance to the new recruits, and then said. "If you have GI Insurance and go into battle and are killed, the government has to pay $200,000.00 to your beneficiaries. If you don't have GI insurance, and you go into battle and get killed, the government has to pay only a maximum of $6,000.00. Now," he concluded, "which bunch do you think they are going to send into battle first?" *********************************************** 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 ***********************************************