Military Vehicles, June 1997,: Re: [MV] Radio help

Re: [MV] Radio help

RobRatt@aol.com
Sun, 22 Jun 1997 14:15:45 -0400 (EDT)

In a message dated 97-06-19 06:41:05 EDT, pwrwgn@eaglequest.com (Matt and
Kathy Oliver) writes:

<< Hi Rob & Greg, You sound like you might know a thing or two about
radios. We have a 3/4 ton Carryall (WC53) and I am trying to find out
what ragio set up would have gone in it. We have the info for the rear
radio table, the power connections, the antenna and antenna gaurd but I
don't know what radio we should be looking for. Any ideas would be
appreciated. Thanks, Kathy
-- >>

Kathy -

Just to make sure, I looked this up in the original WW2 manual, AND contacted
a friend who deals in WW2 radios and such.

Because you have a WC-53 (WW2 Signals Corps Vehicle), you would be using WW2
radios, and not current issue (including Viet Nam) gear.

Therefore, the proper radio designator would be SCR and not RT or VRC.

The proper radios for your vehicle is the standard vehicular radio of the
period - either the SCR-508 or the SCR-524. Either of these radios is
correct.

Also note that both of these radios transmit in the 27 MegaCycle (MHz) to the
30 MegaCycle (MHz) range, and not the 50-54 MHz range of later sets
(late-Korea to now). The SCR-series of radios transmit in that part of the
electromagnetic spectrum that is closest to the CB range. I don't know what
the closest amateur radio band is. It may be 10 meter.

However, keep in mind that CW (Morse code) was used in WW2 to transmit over
long distances. Voice, however, could only go short distances UNLESS the
frequency was low enough and the atmospheric conditions were just right. In
most cases, however, Voice communication was good only to about 5 miles. To
go further required a better antenna than was usually available, and a more
pwerful (output) radio.

Anyway, back to your question of which radio set-up is correct for your
vehicle. Either the SCR-508, the SCR-524, the BC-1000 (walky-talky back pack
radio), the BC-611 (handy-talky), and their respective power supplies,
microphones, telegraph keys, etc.

For further information, contact Robert Downs 103012.2130@compuserve.com
He is a collector of WW2 radios and has advised me in the past. Mr. Downs is
also a ham, so he can best advise you of all the legalities of operating the
radios.

Hope this helps. If it doesn't, I am prepared to chow down on some
French-fried Crow. Or even, Old Crow.

Robert Ratliff
Denton, Texas
RobRatt@aol.com

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