MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Sept.15/98 Index: RUSSIAN MILITARY RADIOS PART IV; By LTC William L. Howard SPECIAL EVENT REPORT; Gathersburg Maryland Hamfest, MEMBERS WRITE; RBA, RBB, G-43? NEW MEMBER; Glenn Finerman *********************************************** RUSSIAN MILITARY RADIOS PART IV; POST WW II RADIOS,THE COLD WAR ERA 1950 TO 1973 In the 1950s the Russian Army adopted a system of radio nomenclature similar to the U.S. Army classification in the 50's but in some corrupted form. R1XX are complete radios, RX/TX was used to designate radios no matter what power,from 1 w to 2 kw and more. R2XX were Army receivers R3XX were special receivers and radios. R4XX were VHF and UHF radio relay systems; R6XX-Navy systems R8XX-Air Force .systems. Reconnaissance units and experimental units were often marked by nickname, like “Kalina"; "Krot"(Mole), etc. They were never assigned as RXXX. Some western collectors often refuse to get very rare specimens just due to lack of RXXX name...1973 is an arbitrary date that I chose as a dividing line. In 1973, the Arabs and Israeli engaged in what is now called the October War or War of Atonement. Many of the radios listed below were in service with the Arab nations and were captured by the Israeli forces. This is what much of our knowledge is based upon. An interesting fact in this system is that on occassion the Soviets intentionally gave a new radio the wrong designation in an effort to confuse western intelligence agencies as to the true nature of the radios intended use. GENERAL ISSUE TACTICAL RADIOS Patrol Radios: R 116 The R 116 was one of the first Russian radios in the post war period that resembled the WW II German “Dorette” and I suspect that it’s design was heavily influenced by captured Dorettes. This radio is a vey small, compact set, powered by batteries. It has the batteries and the R/T unit in the same case. It is believed that this set was replaced by the R 126. R 126 The R 126 which was first manufactured in 1962 is a ruggedly constructed, light weight battery operated radio designed for short range communication. It has a power output of 0.5 watts and a transmission range of 2 to 4 Km (1 -2.5 miles) The R 126 has a frequency range of 48.5 to 51.0 MHz and comes in two versions, crystal controlled and continuous tune. The crystal controlled version has three pre set frequencies. The set is housed in an aluminum alloy case, 17.8 x 7.6 x 15.2 cm, painted khaki colored enamel and is powered by two 1.5 VDC silver zinc batteries. With batteries, the set weighs 2.8 kg (6 lb.) It may be carried by a sling or clipped on the belt, copying very closely the WW II Dorette Radio. The main purpose of the R 126 was to provide communication between squads and platoons. Another use of the radio is to provide an off vehicle radio for command and control to the operators of SAGGER and SNAPPER missile systems. This set operates in the same frequency range as the AN/PRC 25, AN/PRC 77 and the AN/VRC 12 and can be netted with these radios. R 147, R 148, R 159 Company/Battalion Radios: R105, R105D, R105M, R-108M, R-109M, R-114 The most common of all the Russian radios to be found all over the world, is the R-105 family of backpack radios. The radio is rather primitive by anybodies standards, it is not easy to use, nor does it have any saving graces save one, "If you fire one up, it usually works". First introduced in the early 1950's, it was revamped in the 1960's to use more modern materials(D models), & again in the 1970's(M models). It has been referred to by many as a slightly updated copy of captured WW-II German sets and many of it's characteristics, & accessories will show this lineage. All the sets in this series are of tube type design, with the only presence of transistors being in the radio's internal inverter power supply. Their cabinets(M models) are constructed of a heavy bakelight type material, sealed with paraffin to prevent water & dust seepage. A removable cover allows access to the sets controls which are placed up one side. The radio is fully operational with this cover in place & it does provide exceptional protection for the controls, as well as further enhancement of the radios water tight integrity. The opposite side of the radio has an identical cover to house it's rechargeable nicad batteries. The short antenna supplied with the sets is unique in design & also reminiscent of it's WW-II German ancestry. Designated as the “KULIKOV” Antenna, it is constructed of a series of aluminum beads strung on a steel cable, a stiff spring on the end keeps pressure against these beads & a semi rigid but flexible antenna results. Releasing this spring tension collapses the antenna allowing it to be rolled up for easy storage and the radio will receive with the antenna collapsed, thus making it harder for enemy snipers to spot the radio operator. Better than the British system on the PRC-349, US SCR-300, & anything produced in WW-II, but still not as good as the U.S. "Stanley" tape configuration thats been in use since 1949, which was also copied from the German Feldfu of WW II.. Accessories are available to allow the set to perform various tasks. Without exception they exhibit the utmost in simplicity, & crude utilitarian design. Carry equipment consist of a very thin plastic covered cushion or a heavy canvas padded cushion, that is placed on the back of the radio, & simple canvas straps. A long sectional antenna is provided to increase the sets range while in it's backpack configuration, it does not incorporate a spring to minimize damage. This same antenna is combined with a "C" clamp type mount for use as a vehicular antenna. A metal frame used to secure the radio in it's transit case, can also double as a vehicular mount. It's combination headset/mic is very similar to that used with the WW-II U.S. Navy TBY. A handset could also be used that is virtually a copy of a WW-II German type, & looks much like those used on U.S. EE-8 field telephones. Other accessories include a long wire antenna, & a 50 watt mobile amplifier is also known to have been built, both intended to increase the basic radios range. The R-105M is the most common of the series, & was intended for use by infantry units. Operating in one continuous band on 36-46.1mc, with an intended channel spacing of 25 or 50kc. RF power output is rated at 1 watt, FM. Power is derived from two internal nicad batteries. Differences between the R-105 & other radios in this family can be seen below. R-108M, R-109M, R-114 The R-108M, R-109M, & R-114 are identical to the R-105M with the exception of frequency coverage, & the intended branch of service they were to be used by. In similar fashion to U.S. allocations in the 50's-early 60's. The VHF frequency spectrum was sectioned off, the different types of combat units having there own frequency range. To this end we have the R-108M being operated by artillery units, between 28-36.5mc. The R-109M, by anti-aircraft artillery on 21.5-28.5mc. And the R-114 20-26mc for command & liaison at battalion level. Though the R-105M series had been reported to be out of production before 1987, the following provided by one of the members of the Military Radio Collecting Group, would tend to indicate it was produced longer than officially thought. Further, it might reflect the build up of all armaments, due to the hostilities between Iraq & Iran. "One interesting fact: I have an R-105M Russian set that came from the Gulf, the wood transit case has a contract number and date on it. The date is 1986, this is consistant with the other equipment I have seen that seems to have been purchased in the early 1980s. The BCC-349s have a similar production date on them."Documents that were included with my set indicate it entered service in 1982, & had a last inspection date of 1990. Note, these documents are present in both Russian & German." Production of this radio series has taken place in many of the former Warsaw Pact countries. Today, East German examples in nearly new condition, with all their accessories & in the transit case, can be had from a west coast surplus dealer. Only the Russian variants of the R-105D, M, & R-108D, M have been confirmed as in use by Iraqi forces. [ed) The above was originally written by myself and included in a series of articles entitled "Desert Storm Trophies". The complete text is available from our "Backmail" files. The "D" model radios were only mentioned briefly in that series as they were not known to have participated in Desert Storm. While the author did not see fit to elaborate on it here, it should be noted that the only similarities between the "M", and the earlier "D" model radios were their intended mission and frequency coverage. The radios are completely different in size, cabinet construction/materials, and internal design.] Base/Fixed Station Radios: R 102, R 103, R 104 The R 104 is a high/low power Amplitude Modulated (AM) vehicle or Man packed transceiver. It consists of : a transceiver, an antenna matching unit, a battery pack, a vehicular power supply and related accessories. The transceiver is housed in a metal case, 36 x 22 x 50 Cm, weighing 55 lbs. with a removable front cover. the cover protects the various knobs and controls that operate the radio. It has a leather carrying strap on top . The matching unit is also housed in a metal case with a removable top which protects the cable connections and the two 2.4 volt DC batteries. . The set is capable of AM/CW and covers the frequencies from 1.5 to 4.25 MHz. It has continuous tuning and a transmitting range of 50 Km. It can be powered by 12 VDC from two 6 volt batteries or 4.8 volts from rechargable wet cells In low power operation the power output is 1 watt for AM voice mode and 3.5 watts for CW. In the high power mode, 10 watts are provided for AM voice and 20 watts for CW. In the high power mde and with the proper antenna, etc the set has a range of 50 Km (31 Miles) The continuous tune characteristic of this set makes it possible to tune up to 275 fixed frequencies by using the graduations on the frequency dial.The set is designed to use a wide range of antennas to include a 4 eter whip, a log wire, a 50 meter wire, dipole and an 11 meter telescopic mast and an inverted “L”. The set can be remotely operated from 300 meters away using a field telephone. This set can also be utilized as a re transmission unit. It is used in a variety of configurations and often with other pieces of equipment, such as the R 125T to form a complete radio station. There is also a R 104 D version and an R 104 M. These sets are found in Division, regiment and battalion radio nets. R 104M The R 104M is an Amplitude Modulated (AM) vehicle or Man packed transceiver. It consists of : a transceiver, an antenna matching unit, a battery pack, a vehicular power supply and related accessories. The transceiver is housed in a metal case, 35 x 42 x 24 Cm, weighing 25 Kg with a removable front cover. the cover protects the various knobs and controls that operate the radio. It can be recognized by a leather carrying strap on top and a large beveled frequency window.. The matching unit is also housed in a metal case with a removable top which protects the cable connections and the two 2.4 volt DC batteries. The top also stores the 4 meter whip antenna. The vehicle power supply is housed in a metal case and has two cable connector jacks and two wire connectors for power. The accessories consist of two power cables, a handset/headset, a CVC helmet. a repair kit and the various antennas. The set is capable of AM/CW and covers the frequencies from 1.5 to 4.25 MHz. It has continuous tuning and a transmitting range of 50 Km. It can be powered by 12 VDC from a vehicle battery or 4.8 volts from rechargable wet cells The matching unit is 17.8 x 6.3 x 6.3 and weighs 2.2 Kg. , The Battery pack is 35 x 15 x 20 Cm and weighs 10.5 Kg. , and the vehicle power supply is 10 x 16.5 x 21 Cm. and weighs 9 Kg. The set can be remotely operasted from 300 meters away using a field telephone. This set can communicate with the R 102, R 103, R 112, R 118 and the R 130 systems. The set is used in Motorized Rifle and Artillery Regiments and also is used by the Reconnaisance, Signal, and chemical elements of a tank battalion. It has been replaced by the R 104 M which has an expanded frequency range of 1.5 to 4.5 MHz. These sets have been replaced by the R 129 for manpack operations and by the R 130 for vehicle operations. R 112 The R 112 Radio set is a high frequency. medium power, amplitude modulated transceiver used primarily in soviet command vehicles and was first introduced in the Soviet Army in the late 1950s. The R 112 has a frequecy range of 2.8 to 4.99 MHz and is manually detent tuned in 10 KHz increments. It has two modes of operation, voice (AM) and continuous wave (CW). A complete R 112 consists of the transceiver, receiver and transmitter dynamotors, antenna tuner/coupler, antenna and the standard Soviet CVC helmet.. there are two types of antenna used with this set. A 4 meter whip antenna which is used when the vehicle is in motion and the 10 eter whip, used when the vehicle is operating as a stationary command post. The unit has a power output of 50 watts in voice and 90 watts in the CW mode. It is a rugged set with recessed controls and can withstand rough treatment it receives when mounted in an armored vehicle. The set can be netted with the AN/GRC 9, AN/VRC 34, AN/GRC 19 and the AN/GRC 106. R 118 R 130 See R 130M listed later. Receivers R-250, R-250M, R-250M2, R-250, R-250M, R-250M2 Were the most prominent and remarkable Russian short wave receivers. The receiver line was produced and modernized from 1948 until 1981(appr.) The designer was Anton Antonovich Saveliev, Yuri Alexandrov (U1SX) and others. Yuri was still alive in 1998. It was designed at the Red Banner Military Academy of Communication named after Marshal Semyon Budenny(VKAS) First thought of in 1940 after reading radio amateur publications and short wave ham magazine. The project was finalized in 1946-1949. First named AS-1 and AS-2( Author's initials) The set took the Stalin Premium in early 50's. While working on the design numerous other developments were taken into account, but no examples were actually obtained, so it is basically an original Russian design. Weight is about 80-90 kG(depends upon mod) The design very rugged.The set comes in a cabinet with two compartments and is made from Aluminum castings which are used on chassis etc The set covers a frequency range of 1.5 to 25.5 MHz(later versions 1.5-33.5 MHz) in 12 bands; 2 MHz width ea. The 1st IF is tunable 1.5-3.5 MHz, the 2nd IF 215 kHz. Tunable bandwidth 1-14 kHz in the later versions. A large drum is used as bandswitch. The set has an Optical projection dial for frequency readout. Accuracy of the first sets was 2 kHz, in later sets it was increase to 1 kHz divisions. The early set used octal metal tubes, later sets used miniature tubes. The set has a separate AC/DC supply 127/220 VAC, and can also be powered from a 12 VDC Source. KMPU(Two R-250M in a case) KMPU-M(Two R-250M2) It is interesting to note that the Soviet Navy also had the same set. The naval nomenclature for these sets was: R-670 (Navy R-250M), R-670M (Navy R-250M2) R-671, R-672 or 2GLK(LW-MW version of R-250) R 311 AM Receiver The R 311 AM Receiver resembles a repackaged WW II German Torn E. b set and I suspect that captured German sets influenced this sets design as well as the R 250 sets. The German set came in two cases, the receiver and the accessory case which housed the wet cell battery and the vibrator power supply, connecting cables and the head set. It was a regenerative receiver used mainly for intercept work. The R 311 is an AM, manpacked or vehicular - mounted set. The receiver is housed in a Gray colored metal case with a removable front cover. The case has a handle on the top and a storage compartment on the left side.. The storage compartment houses the power supply and the headset. To the rear of the storage compartment is a separate compartment for the accumulator. The power supply cable terminates in a bakelite panel with spade lugs that connects to screw binding posts on the receiver. The set can be operated from another power source if necessary. On the front of the receiver are the minimum number of controls. There is a large tuning knob in the front center above which is the frequency display window, To the right is a band selector switch. The set operates from 1 to 15 MHz with a continuous tuning system. It requires an 80 volt plate supply and can make use of a whip antenna, a Long wire antenna or a directional antenna. Obsolete at ths time and has been replaced by several newer radios. R 312 AM Receiver This set is one of a series of radios that include the R 311. This set is the same set but covers 20 to 60 MHz. R 313 AM Receiver This set is one of a series of radios that includes the R 311 and R 312. This set is presumably the same general layout as the first two sets but covered 60 to 300 MHz. R 313 M AM Receiver This set is one of a series of radios that are modifications to the basic series. The front panel is redesigned. In this set the 60 to 300 MHz spectrum is covered in four bands, marked in red, yellow, green and white on both the coil turret indicator on the right sde of the set and in the large coarse frequency scale on the left side.. A more precise indication of the frequency is projected onto a frosted glass panel in the center of this scale. Tubes are used throughout witha separate mains or vibrator power supply unit connected at the rear of the set. THE WILLIAM L. HOWARD ORDNANCE TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE MUSEUM e-mail wlhoward@gte.net Telephone AC 727- 585-7756 With major contributions from Vlad Dvorkin KB9OLM ex. UA3ACR *********************************************** SPECIAL EVENT REPORT; Gathersburg Maryland Hamfest, 12-13 September. BACKGROUND AND INTEL- Gathersburg is one of the largest Hamfests on the East Coast. The host is F.A.R. The Foundation For Amateur Radio. It is held at the Montgomery Fair Grounds North East of Washington D.C. It is sort of turning into a two day ham fest as hundreds of vendors and private individuals arrive on Saturday to bivouac and stake out there outdoor space claims for the next day. Historically there has been a lot of Green Equipment available on Saturday the day before the hamfest. TERRAIN AND GENERAL LAYOUT: Rolling hills and trees to the South and a very flat expanse to the North. Hundreds of Acres. Basically think of the layout as a barbell shape. Main buildings and hundreds of spaces in the South Ball and a winding road connecting to the North Ball. A large parking area for the civilians near the South Ball.Traditionally many outdoor vendors locate in the South Ball area and it is considered the prime area. It is located near phones, real latrines and hamfest food. Tailgating will be everywhere, along the road is good, the Johnnny Come Latelys will wind up in one of the rows that parallel the main road. ATTENDANCE:Thousands, hard to estimate, the hamfest is moving location next year. The rumor was the cost was $14,000 a day for two days to rent the fairgounds, security, porta potties etc. Tickets $5.00, Flea markets spaces$8.00 , vendors paided more. Lots of folks, big hamfest. So many folks and such a large expanse that you can deposit your tickets in 4 differnet locations for the drawings and the hosts with the yellow hats and golf carts go around to each location and pick it up. WEATHER- forecast excellent for both days, possible light showers early Sunday. Large temperature dew point spread. Sunrise is scheduled for 0647. COMMUNICATIONS: 51.0, 145.500. NARRATIVE:I usually team up with Nick N3YMS, he has been trained to spot green things and to report via our radio link to me. We planned to go on both days. Ray KA3EKH the Grid computer King and trainee N3IOC will go on Sunday. Nick calls me late Friday, his truck is having problems, Early Saturday he calls and reports that he found a carbon track on the distributor so changed it .I hate having vehicle problems on the Washington Beltway, not good. We press on Saturday, 10 minutes out of Dover Delaware we get the first surge in power and slight back fire. . . we press on looking for parts stores on the way and then we will change the plug wires. Great , will be exciting driving in Washington traffic. Probem with the ignition seems to go away. Got on the Beltway, and in the thick of the traffic and the ignition problem came back about 15 seconds after we got into heavy traffic. Press on and made it to the Fest. It was around 1300, it is Saturday the day before the real hamfest, could see many camo hats, all ready there again like Sharks on a feeding frenzy. Talked with Tom Bryan, he wasnt wearing a cammo hat and appeared to be calm. told me we did not miss much but we hang round anyway. Watch people set up,buywire and small parts for my mom and pot communictions businesss, overall attendance was low. No Green stuff and a truck that was weird when it gets into heavy traffic. Back to the home station in Dover Delaware and looking for parts store on the way back. Plan: Work on truck and depart at 0300 Sunday, beat the civilians set up early , and get out the flashlights and start poking around. Sunday AM , departed at 0322, truck had new plug wires, thirty minutes out of Dover it starts raining, not a good sign but we press on, at least the truck is running and running good. The rain showers stop and a quick check on the NOAA weather channels gave us a good forecast. We arrived at the site at 0505 got a good spot on the road and staked out a additional spot for Ray KA3EKH. Everyone was all ready out with flashlights, coffee and bacon smells were in the air, the hamfest was waking up. A lot of the stuff was covered up , you could sort of peak under the tarps to get a preview. I spot a box of Motoral MX350s model R and note there location but no body was minding the store, I noted their locationand press on. The Sun came up on schedule, another good sign. The hamfest is really alive now. Vendors pulling the tarps off. Saw the same TA-12 aircraft transmitter.Saw the same nice lady, who eyes me, screws up here mouth tight and gives me the same answer the price is$100 and with her lips tight and says through clinched teeth that the price is firm. I have to wonder . . . does she talk like that all day. The radio is mint, I want it but not for a $100 and not at the beginning of the day, not 5 minutes after sunrise. Saw some R1518/UR , price was $150 in the bag and $75 for some loose fair conditions ones. Table full of new PP-1703/U vibrator inverters for converting 28VDC to 115 AC were going for$75.00 BC-640 was $325 with a manual was complete but missing the usually meter. Used to run these in the fiftys, like the radio but dont love it that much, it stayed there all day, the price was firm(did that guy know the woman with the clinched teeth?) CCT 52358 transmitter (says "target transmitter" on side went for $60.00, were several of em. Ray KA3EKH arrives on scene and sets up. He sets up ghe RT-70 using the 12 volts vibrator module. I look at the radio, showing signs of wear, it used to be mine, pull it open and the smell was sweet, the condition was perfect inside We will meet on 51.0 later. I brief him that I am looking for a GRC-9 etc. Nice microwave broadcast truck/van complete with 35 foot hydraulic antenna and dish for was going for a paulty $25000. BC-669 for $100.00. Reminds me of story, years ago(1956) I helped a friend set one up on the local Civil Air Partol frequency. . .We haul it up the stairs to the second floor of his house and set it up. Nice installation etc, Had another rack with the 639receiver and other stuff. Anyway the friend leaves for the week end and comes back to the house Monday evening. The rack mounted BC-669 is no longer on the second floor, it is now on the first floor stuck in the floor and on its way to the cellar. Guess it didnt like it on the second floor. Back at my site , Nick is setting up it, is now 11:15, and we are selling plenty of stuff, cash is collecting in my pocket. Radios are on 51.0, sun is shining , all is well. . Going down the rows saw a PRC-77 in a rack mount with slides with the metal placard telling me that it is a Q-114 test set. weird, price was $250.00. keep my cash in my pocket. Saw whats his name with the mint HUMV. VOLNA-K HF receiver that covered 12 cycles to 24 megacycskies went for $0. A slew of URC-4 were going to $.00 with battery cables. HRO-50R $750 BC-348 with AC supply excellent was going tyo $0. PRC-6's for pair for $150. Hamfest is really coming alive now, its 1030, lots of civilians are clogging the main road, and more paralled lines of tailgaters are forming . I decide to get on the side where the late arrivals are setting up, want to beat the other sharks with the camo hats, . . . We dont set up to sell until later, because we are on the main road, everyone will have to pass up to go up to the buildings, foods etc. I love it when a plan comes together. Its not raining , the truck didnt break down, going to be a heck of a day. Want to go mobile with the PRC-77 but forgot the back pack so start looking for something to strap it down to my cart. Ray decides that he wont haul the RT-70 around, it is too heavy and he doesn't want to take the battery out of the truck. Tom Bryan stops by, says he has been on 51.0 but didn't hear anybody, we advise that ray doesn't have tone, will have to put a tone board in the 70 , I guess. Everyone wanted to buy the 70 and my PRC-77 so I put $500 price tag on the 77 to stop the questions, and who knows maybe someone will fall in love with it. Go up the hill to the premo area. Nice GRC-106 with amplifier, all cables, mounts etc for $600, would like it for my M-151 but not for $600. Saw some more Motorola MX,s then realize that I did not go back to where I saw the MX-350Rs at 0530, big screw up, slight panic sets in, I am now in the other ball of the bar bell, up the hill,couple of clicks away. Hell with it, going back down the hill, down the road back to the MX location that Imapped out earlier, they were gone of course, went for $ a piece and sold about a dozen of em. All right back up to the GCC-106 area but the price is firm. Then broke my number one rule, dont eat hamfest food. Lookup up Surplus Al, talked about his son. He looks a little ragged but in good spirits. Sells me a GRC-9 manual cheap, has hundreds of manuals, will look through em late. Ask AL if I can mind the store while he goes and get some food, but then Jake his pardner shows up. Al says Jake is 86 and Al was wondering where he had been hadnt seen him for about and hour. They both spent the night there, under the trees. I decide to myself that I want to be just like Al when I grow up. Back down the hill, Ray is on 51.0 talking to Tom. I get on and decide to go find Tom and look at his stuff. He was talking on a German SEL SEM52-S, repeat it was a S model. neat radio. Drags out a spare PRC-126 which I drool over etc etc, and then I take the 126 and get off aways while he manually tunes his Russian R-126, probably the first time that a Russian 126 talked to a US 126, anyway gets the russian thing on frequency and Ray breaks in hear is LC. I look at all the Russian stuff and remember that day, years ago, that I saw tons of it overseas in Egypt, could have taken all that I wanted but didnt. Oh well. Nick is calling me on radio found more MX's R"s for 60 dollars, I think to myself, someone bought and is now reselling them. Go find em and they are rought,not like the ones I saw earlier. What a bust. Left hamfest with cash in my pocket, nice for a change, will use the cash to work on my jeep this month. ADDTIONAL NOTES: This is the last year for the "Gathersbury Hamfest", it is moving next year to the East Side of Washington DC and on a later weekend in September. Nice for me as it will cut out the Washington Beltway excitment. And will only be an hours drive, make mental note to take the M-151 and spend the night. 73 Breck K4CHE/ AB1 *********************************************** MEMBERS WRITE; Thanks to this list, I now have the R-1051 manual. I even got two and am probably supplying the second one to Sam Timberlake. Thank you Rich Baldwin KD6VK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RBA, RBB, G-43? Dennis, Could you shed some light on the following radios for me? I looked thru Tom Norris' web page but couldn't find these. Maybe I just looked at wrong spots. RBA1 CFT46154 RBB4 CFT4696 What freq range do they cover, etc....... Also, I found a Generator, G-43/G. Will it power an Angry 9? I know the literature calls for a GN58, I do not have tech info to tell me the difference. Hope the Angry9 project comes through. I think they would be one nice radio to restore to working condition. Thanks in advance. 73 de KF4LYF, chuck ed)The G-43 was indeed intended to operate the GRC-9,GRC-109, RS-1, and RS-6. It is the functional equivalent of the GN-58 though it's completely different both cosmetically, and mechanically. The RBA, and RBB receivers are completely different in design, and mission. The RBA is a shipboard or shore station TRF type, ops from 15-600kc in four bands. It's size/weight(less external power supply) is 18.25"W x 17.5"D x 14"H, 95lbs. They were built by RCA($3000), and Federal Telephone & Radio($2900) and had a last contract date(RBA-7) of 1952. The RBB was part of a receiving system which included the RBC. Together they operated .5-27mc(RBB .5-4mc/four bands). They could be operated with an external Pan-adapter, or FSK converter. It was 14"H x 18"W x 17.5"D(excluding it's external power supply), with a weigth of 82 lbs. They were built by RCA at a cost of $2,700. This info from SHIPS 275 1944, and TM11-487 1958. *********************************************** NEW MEMBER; Glenn Finerman I am interested in participating in your group...... I currently hold an amateur Radio Extra class license. My call is K2KL. My interest in Military Radios grew out of an extreme interest in vintage amateur communications gear, (mainly Collins ) I've been restoring and using this gear for about 5 years now, but like many others I originally used "vintage" gear when I was first licensed 28 years ago. I've always been fascinated by Mil radios and recently my interest has changed in that direction to the point where I have sold most of my amateur gear, completely reworked my shack to create a semi-large mil radio only section.(what I call the "Mil Wall") My main interest is electrically and cosmetically restoring Mil radios for actual use on the air on the amateur radio bands. Communicating on the air, with other Mil radio operators is a prime concern. I am very anxious to learn as much as I can about this gear. My collection consists of; (2) ART-13's TCS-9 TCS-13 BC-375E (W/ 5 TU'S) BC-223 (W/ 1 TU) BC-348J R-648/ARR-41 R-392 WANTED: 016 & 017 oscillators for ART-13 TU-17 for BC-223 R-648/ARR-41 receiver Original manuals for ART-13, R-648, BC-223 & BC-348J Have to trade for the above: ART-13 shock mount. ART-13 original calibration book. TU-7 Tuning unit for BC-375 & BC-191 73 Glenn Finerman K2KL *********************************************** (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 conserning this group contact Dennis Starks at, military-radio-guy@juno.com) ***********************************************