PRC-64 (Delco 5300) Long Range Portable Radio Transceiver

Background

This is a small (10 x 5-1/4 x 4-1/4") and light weight (7.5 pounds) HF transceiver that can work manual CW, high speed CW using the optional GRA-71 or AM voice.  The frequency coverage is compatible with Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) propagation, but not other DX modes, i.e. about 2 to 8 MHz.  Since the RF power ouput is low (5W Cw, 1.5W AM) an externall wire antenna that's tuned to the frequency of operation is needed for long range operation.

Description

The PRC-64 (Delco 5300) has some similarities to the GRC-109.  Both are low power man portable NVIS HF radios.
The PRC-64 & Delco 5300 both have a 4 channel crystal controlled receiver and a 4 channel crystal controlled transmitter, so 8 crystals are required to populate all four channels.
This unit came from eBay and includes two main chassis assemblies, but not the round head black 4-40 x 3/8" panel mount screws. 
Pan head 4-40 x 3/8" screws on order.
One of the main chassis has broken wires.

Included with the radio is a photo copy of the Delco 5300 manual.  I'm not sure about what the differences are between the PRC-64 and Delco 5300 radios.
The 5300A covers 3.0 to 8.0 MHz and the PRC-64 covers 2.2 to 6.0 MHz.

Label reads:
Radio Set AN/PRC-64
2.2/6.0 Mc  Serial 1094
Delco Radio Div. G.M.C
Stock No. (blank)
Australian Army 1965

Photos

Fig 1 Closed Box	Fig 2 Open Box	Fig 3 Front Panel (chassis removed from box)
Fig 4 Front bottom	Fig 5 Top bottom	Fig 6 back inside

Battery

There is a compartment on the front panel for a battery supplying 4, 12 and 28 Volts.  The BA-1000 series batteries contained Mercury and are long gone.

BA-1509/PRC-64
1-19/32 x 4-5/8 x 4-5/16" and uses a Cinch No. 13649 socket (also used on the BA-48 used with the GRC-109, or the BA-399 used with the PRT-4)
Tube Radio: Making a BA-1509 for a PRC-64 -

Audio Accessories

The pair of earphones each use common 1/8" phone plugs as does the dynamic microphone.
The connector for the GRA-71 is wired as follows:

Pin	Function
A	RF gnd
B & H	+12 V
C	-12V
D	Positive Key
E	n.c.
F	negative Key
H & B	+12 V

Note pins A & C & F are tied together.

Related

AS2259 NVIS Antenna and NVIS in General
BC-611 SCR-536 HF Radio set Signal Corps
Cubic R-3030 Dual VLF-HF Receiver
AN/GRA-50 Antenna, HF NVIS Dipole w/reels at the ends
AN/GRC-109 HF Set (Spy, Special Forces)
HF Propagation
ICOM 706 Transceiver
Micom 2 HF Radio, Motorola Mobat vehicle or base HF radio
NRD545 - NRD545 General Coverage HF Receiver & Related
PRC-104 HF Receiver Transmitter man portable, but much larger and heavier than the PRC-64
RT-1694/PRC-138 HF Receiver-Transmitter - man portable, but much larger and heavier than the PRC-64
PRC47 HF tranceiver - 2 man lugable HF radio, but similar in application
PRD1 HF Direction Finding Radio jeep mounted
RF3200ET Harris RF-3200ET Portable Transceiver - suitcase size
SORAK Special Operations Radio Antenna Kit OE-452/PRC Five Configurations HF through VHF coverage
TW100F/AT Transworld Datron Fly Away H.F. Radio - suitcase size
Wire Antennas - mainly about Camouflage Netting Mast Kits, including antenna line launchers CSV17 Tennis ball and EZ-Hang Slingshot, TCI 651T

Links

https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP78-05462A000100020005-8.pdf - Agenda Equipment Board, 10 March 1965 - Mostly about the RS-100 replacement for the RS-1 (GRC-109)
"...the RS-69 (former AN/PRC-64), which is due soon,..."
"Special Forces is holding out for the AN/PRC-70 which is not due until 1970, saing that they will use the AN/GRC-109 (RS-1) as an interium set until then, fearing that if they go for another set on the basis that it is also an interim set, they will never get the AN/PRC-70.

Army Radio Sales - Delco PRC-64 Battery Adapter -

Back to Brooke's Products for Sale,  Military Information, Electronics, Personal Home, PRC68.com , alphanumeric index of web pages

page created 15 Oct 2013.