K6ERO pedestrian mobile
& Portable amateur radio
& Portable amateur radio
k6ero@cox.net
VX-1210
The VX-1210 is a great "grab and
Go" Rig. 7 pounds with 4800mah
Li-ion battery pack internal and
has a great auto ATU built in.
There are no extra filters, or
other bells and whistles and the
radio is software controled with
500 memories and minimum user
interface. It is very easy to
program, with any of the memory
channels loaded into the VFO
with the flick of a switch. VFO
tunes in 5k or 100 Hz steps.
Go" Rig. 7 pounds with 4800mah
Li-ion battery pack internal and
has a great auto ATU built in.
There are no extra filters, or
other bells and whistles and the
radio is software controled with
500 memories and minimum user
interface. It is very easy to
program, with any of the memory
channels loaded into the VFO
with the flick of a switch. VFO
tunes in 5k or 100 Hz steps.
PRC-132 SOHFRAD
K6ERO/ kayak mobile
Hughes HC-191
PRC-104 prototype
PRC-104 prototype
Above is PRC-104 #M012 sitting on a
regular issue PRC-104. Its really an
HC-191 but the tag says PRC-104.
Must have been a factory demo unit. It
was sold as surplus from the Hughes
Ground Systems plant in Fullerton CA ,
when the plant closed in the mid 90's
regular issue PRC-104. Its really an
HC-191 but the tag says PRC-104.
Must have been a factory demo unit. It
was sold as surplus from the Hughes
Ground Systems plant in Fullerton CA ,
when the plant closed in the mid 90's
A basic and tough HF
manpack ,
The PRC-104 was one of the
first high density intigrated
circuit processor portable hf
radios designs. Developed by
The Hughes Ground Systems
Corp. in the Mid 70's and
fielded around the world As the
basis of the" IHFR" Improved
High Frequency Radio System.
Changes in the late 80's to the
prc-104, brought about the
PRC-104B, which included a
LCD display,the addition of 6
memories, with the ability to
scan though the memory
channels and a provision for
remote control.
The Swedish military adopted a
PRC-104 in the 90's modified
for ALE (automatic link
establishment) and remote
controlled by a PC.
They are very rugged and well
made, and seem to just keep
right on working even after
years of Navy Seals dragging
them around. After 30 years of
sitting in a box on a shelf. I
cleaned all the internal coax
connections on a Prototype
PRC-104 turned it on and it
works to specs. These radio
were build like space craft and
built to last!
manpack ,
The PRC-104 was one of the
first high density intigrated
circuit processor portable hf
radios designs. Developed by
The Hughes Ground Systems
Corp. in the Mid 70's and
fielded around the world As the
basis of the" IHFR" Improved
High Frequency Radio System.
Changes in the late 80's to the
prc-104, brought about the
PRC-104B, which included a
LCD display,the addition of 6
memories, with the ability to
scan though the memory
channels and a provision for
remote control.
The Swedish military adopted a
PRC-104 in the 90's modified
for ALE (automatic link
establishment) and remote
controlled by a PC.
They are very rugged and well
made, and seem to just keep
right on working even after
years of Navy Seals dragging
them around. After 30 years of
sitting in a box on a shelf. I
cleaned all the internal coax
connections on a Prototype
PRC-104 turned it on and it
works to specs. These radio
were build like space craft and
built to last!
Over the past four years of pedestrian mobile and
Kayak mobile HF operation I have become fascinated
with backpack/ manpack HF radios that are outside of
the usual amateur radio retail market.I operate most
often portable or walking mobile using one of several
military or commercial hf backpack radio. I have
great fun walking and operating on the hf bands from
the Ozark ridgetops and lakes in my folbot kayak.
Pedestrian mobile operations in the High Utah Desert,
Rocky mtn. Peaks and beachs along the Straits of Juan
De Fuca were highlights of the year for me .In March
of 2004, I worked my first transatlantic pedestrian
mobile QSO from AR to Northern Ireland with
GI0EJU was while walking the shore of Beaver Lake
in the NW corner of AR. I was Using a VX-1210 at 20
watts , 10ft military whip and 11ft drag along wire.I
have worked a number of countrys while walking
with the VX-1210 . I worked Tom G0SBW in the UK
twice within one week on 17M while we were both
pedestrian mobile, once with the VX-1210 and a week
later with the British Military backpack set the
BCC-39B
Kayak mobile HF operation I have become fascinated
with backpack/ manpack HF radios that are outside of
the usual amateur radio retail market.I operate most
often portable or walking mobile using one of several
military or commercial hf backpack radio. I have
great fun walking and operating on the hf bands from
the Ozark ridgetops and lakes in my folbot kayak.
Pedestrian mobile operations in the High Utah Desert,
Rocky mtn. Peaks and beachs along the Straits of Juan
De Fuca were highlights of the year for me .In March
of 2004, I worked my first transatlantic pedestrian
mobile QSO from AR to Northern Ireland with
GI0EJU was while walking the shore of Beaver Lake
in the NW corner of AR. I was Using a VX-1210 at 20
watts , 10ft military whip and 11ft drag along wire.I
have worked a number of countrys while walking
with the VX-1210 . I worked Tom G0SBW in the UK
twice within one week on 17M while we were both
pedestrian mobile, once with the VX-1210 and a week
later with the British Military backpack set the
BCC-39B
PRC-132 (Special Operation High
Frequency Radio) Even though the
PRC-132 is odd looking and has
some less ham friendly features
than some military packsets
It was easy to get full technical
manuals for and I was able to find
a complete set of spare circuit
boards for back up. One of the
main considerations being superior
waterproof qualities for my kayak
mobile hf adventures.The PRC-132
has a very good receiver and
excellent TX audio compression
often making contacts with 20
watts that would take 100 watts
with uncompressed audio. Instead
of an automatic antenna tuner the
PRC-132 has a clamp on base
loaded "screwdriver" type whip
antenna. This takes more time to
adjust than an auto tuned antenna
but can make better use of the 50
watts that the radio can produce on
its high power setting. Since most
of my kayak operating is at 14MHZ
and above this makes for a very
solid and water proof package in
the boat.
Frequency Radio) Even though the
PRC-132 is odd looking and has
some less ham friendly features
than some military packsets
It was easy to get full technical
manuals for and I was able to find
a complete set of spare circuit
boards for back up. One of the
main considerations being superior
waterproof qualities for my kayak
mobile hf adventures.The PRC-132
has a very good receiver and
excellent TX audio compression
often making contacts with 20
watts that would take 100 watts
with uncompressed audio. Instead
of an automatic antenna tuner the
PRC-132 has a clamp on base
loaded "screwdriver" type whip
antenna. This takes more time to
adjust than an auto tuned antenna
but can make better use of the 50
watts that the radio can produce on
its high power setting. Since most
of my kayak operating is at 14MHZ
and above this makes for a very
solid and water proof package in
the boat.
Hughes PRC-104
PRC-104B
LCD display, 6 memories,
memory scan , FUN RADIO!
memory scan , FUN RADIO!
PRC-104 Evolution
Sure is fun to often spend an hour or two walking in the hills and working the
world with a radio on my back or relaxing with a long piece of wire tossed up in
a tree
73/72
John Cook
K6ERO
Fayetteville AR
EM26wb
world with a radio on my back or relaxing with a long piece of wire tossed up in
a tree
73/72
John Cook
K6ERO
Fayetteville AR
EM26wb