K6ERO Portable and pedestrian mobile amateur radio
PRC-132 & M50B
To the left is a Loral Terracom M50B
made in 1988 Serial#19 . Its 10 inches tall
with out battery box or external power
box , 3.5 inches wide and 5.25 inches
deep, weight 6.9 lbs .
A lot of HF radio for such a little package
made in 1988 Serial#19 . Its 10 inches tall
with out battery box or external power
box , 3.5 inches wide and 5.25 inches
deep, weight 6.9 lbs .
A lot of HF radio for such a little package
The M50B is the early issue version of the
PRC-132 special operations HF Radio
(SOHFRAD). Front panel programable, 100
memory channel in 100 Hrz steps. Scanable in
groups of 11 memory channels. 5,10,20 or 50
watts PEP on LSB ,USB , AM , CW and Data, in
A frequency range of 1.60 - 50 Mhz
VOGAD speach processing and slip in card cage
construction. Uses 12V dc power from special
battery box or external power adapter box
PRC-132 special operations HF Radio
(SOHFRAD). Front panel programable, 100
memory channel in 100 Hrz steps. Scanable in
groups of 11 memory channels. 5,10,20 or 50
watts PEP on LSB ,USB , AM , CW and Data, in
A frequency range of 1.60 - 50 Mhz
VOGAD speach processing and slip in card cage
construction. Uses 12V dc power from special
battery box or external power adapter box
For some reason, the M50B was built with 6 pin
UK clansman type audio connectors instead of
the more common (in the US) U-229A audio
connectors. The M50B I have came with a "T"
adapter with two U-228 connectors and one 6
pin clansman type. It works fine that way.
Maybe Loral Terracom was trying to a get a
contact with The UK MOD for these radios?
UK clansman type audio connectors instead of
the more common (in the US) U-229A audio
connectors. The M50B I have came with a "T"
adapter with two U-228 connectors and one 6
pin clansman type. It works fine that way.
Maybe Loral Terracom was trying to a get a
contact with The UK MOD for these radios?
PRC-132 SOHFRAD
PRC-132 with special variable inductance base loaded whip antenna, This tunable base
is topped by either a 9ft whip or shorter tape whip depending on the frequency used.
Notice reverse power meter for tuning. The antenna mount clamps onto the body of the
transceiver , which is by the way milled from a solid billet of aluminum and comes with
top and bottom covers for waterproof specs of up to 100 ft.
is topped by either a 9ft whip or shorter tape whip depending on the frequency used.
Notice reverse power meter for tuning. The antenna mount clamps onto the body of the
transceiver , which is by the way milled from a solid billet of aluminum and comes with
top and bottom covers for waterproof specs of up to 100 ft.
I worked out a friendly trade for this full PRC-132 kit , made in 1992. Its a bit
different design thinking than most military manpack radios. Its waterproof
to 100' with both covers or the top cover and battery box on. The TM claims
that the manually tuned screwdriver antenna was chosen over an autotuner
and 10' whip because of better efficiency. The Antenna can use just the top
28" tape whip at frequencies above 15 Mhz and the folding 7' whip topped
with the tape whip below 19Mhz
different design thinking than most military manpack radios. Its waterproof
to 100' with both covers or the top cover and battery box on. The TM claims
that the manually tuned screwdriver antenna was chosen over an autotuner
and 10' whip because of better efficiency. The Antenna can use just the top
28" tape whip at frequencies above 15 Mhz and the folding 7' whip topped
with the tape whip below 19Mhz
Example of mint condition complete PRC-132 owned by D. Cahn pictured below
PRC-132 set up with battery box on the left and powered with an
external SLA battery on the right. I've been amazed to make very
good contacts coast to coast on 18 Mhz with just the short tape
whip topping the antenna at 20 watts or less. Thats 48" of total
antenna length.
external SLA battery on the right. I've been amazed to make very
good contacts coast to coast on 18 Mhz with just the short tape
whip topping the antenna at 20 watts or less. Thats 48" of total
antenna length.
PRC-132 owned by Billy, WA4GKI with custom made brackets
holding a SGC SG-211 auto tuner loading up a AT-271 10' whip
antenna.
holding a SGC SG-211 auto tuner loading up a AT-271 10' whip
antenna.
PRC-132 owned by k6ero