From: Patrick Jankowiak (recycler@swbell.net)
Date: Thu Apr 21 2005 - 17:52:47 PDT
Ok, so now that the cons have been discussed, here are the pros
on the RT246:
1. rugged
2. hi/lo power 8/30 watts
3. 50KHz tuning steps (sorry, not 25KHz)
4. built in weatherproof speaker, LOUD!
5. selectable 150Hz/noise (regular) squelch
6. uses cheap military surplus handsets, mikes, and phones.
7. It's green.
8. tough front end and tube final for EMP
9. final is rated something like 100 watts, -never wears out.
10. has a neat light that comes on when unsquelched
11. has a whining ducted blower that comes on when you key it.
12. conduction/external forced air cooling system
13. fairly weathertight unit.
14. hard to steal (68 Lbs)
15. hard to pawn (seen the power connector??)
16. stays in mount after vehicle is hit my RPG.
17. wide bandwidth, maybe +/-15KHz?
18. armored BNC connector for antenna
19. 24VDC 8A power, easy to come by.
20. Easy to fix or Steve Haney can fix it for you.
21. almost no plastic
22. fascinating interpolation type frequency synth. mostly discretes.
23. picks up channel 2, 3, and 4 TV audio
24. the front handles actually can be used for carrying it.
25. you can hang your gear or decon kit from the front handles.
(like here as I have done in the S-280)
http://vmsone.com/~opcom/commotruck_20031031_1.JPG
26. It's a manly man's heavy metal radio set.
27. When 6 meters is open, it does not matter what frequency you
are on, people will find you. Most commonly these are used on the
100KHz intervals, like 51.1, 51.2, etc.
28. compatible with RT-246, PRC-77, PRC-25, PRC-68, RT68, Racal
TRA-967, and many other mil sets.
Please! before I get flamed all over, -- check the band plans to
see where it might best fit.
lets see, I've used mine on:
50.30
50.35
50.45
50.50
50.55
50.60
51.0 DX
51.1 DX
51.5
51.6
52.0
52.2
53.0 (base FM simplex - the best freq..)
53.5
Certainly some of these run afoul of the "band plans" which are
after all "suggestions". However, if no one is using the
frequency, and you have checked the local beacon/repeater/etc.
data and monitored, there is no reason why you should not be able
to use these, or in fact anything, from 50.1 to 54.0. Do first
consider where things like beacos and DX are being done, however,
because you may end up interfering with someone you can't hear. I
always try 53.0 first since the arrl repeater book says it's for
base simplex, and operators are often looking for the
large-antenna, higher powered base units when the band is poor.
License? almost anyone can pass the tech license, and everyone is
welcome, hopefully...
PJ
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