From: military-radio-guy Full-Name: Dennis R Starks To: military radio collectors#1 Fcc: Sent Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 07:42:13 Subject: MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Feb.26/99 Message-ID: <19990226.074108.15863.0.military-radio-guy@juno.com> X-Status: Sent X-Mailer: Juno 1.49 MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Feb.26/99 Index: MOTOROLA'S MX PROGRAMMABLES; Part I, by Dennis Starks MEMBERS WRITE; ART-13 Output, Flushing Adds, PRC-66 Buzz, HUMOR; *********************************************** Don't forget to have your data in by tonight for Saturday's "Paper Trail", and Sunday's "Wants/Trades". *********************************************** MOTOROLA'S MX PROGRAMMABLES; Part I, by Dennis Starks Forward: Before we get started, let it be known that I am absolutely not a Motorola affectionate. In fact, I really can't stand the company or it's practices either in it's early days, or now. As far as I'm concerned they have corrupted history to conform to their own marketing ideals, and claimed exclusive credit for achievements they had little to do with. On the other hand, they were responsible for some of the most innovative ideas, and heroic front line action during WW-II, but these they've chosen to ignore in favor of untrue propaganda they think to be more glamorous in the eyes of the public. Their long standing marketing practices, and treatment of their own dealers is appalling. Their equipment throughout their history has indeed been good, or even very good, but for any date and specified item of Motorola radio equipment, I can sight that of a competitor that was better, usually more advanced, and cheeper. In my almost twenty years of servicing this type of equipment, Motorola radios have proven the absolute most difficult in every way to repair. I'm most thankful that they at least didn't require servicing very often. Now with that off my chest, I must give credit where credit is due. The MX series of Motorola Handie-Talkies were good, in fact, they were very good! They survived in production in various forms longer than any other radio produced by them. Expensive they were, very expensive, only the most prolific of public service organizations usually on a State level, or Federal government agency could afford them. Even though they have been out of production now for ten years, it is these radios that viewers most often see in television news clips containing law enforcement personnel and their exploits(specifically those TV shows devoted to such activities). The MX was Motorola's top of the line, they had no better to offer until the advent of the Saber series, and even then they lingered in production for some time. But there was a step above, a radio line that was even more expensive, even more advanced than the standard MX, and they entered production very shortly after the standard MX types. These were the 'S' and 'R' series(MX-300 S etc). So expensive that only the most well supported federal agencies with seemingly unlimited funds could afford to purchase them. It is these that will be the focus of our story. Though never assigned official military nomenclature(that we know of) most of the radios you'll encounter came from military sources where they were used in capacities that we are only now becoming aware of. Those radios that did not come from military sources did come from various elite federal agencies such as the DEA, FBI, Federal Marshals, and Secret Service(and who knows who else). While there are some topics I'd rather have devoted this space to at this time, extenuating circumstances centered on typical Motorola bull shit(which will become apparent later) mandated that we do it now. MX's In the Beginning: The basic MX series of HT's entered production in approximately 1974. They featured a very rugged case design which included cast aluminum front and back panels(usually chrome plated), and a high impact plastic case/frame. Standard features included compatibility with a very long list of external audio accessories, like speaker/mics, headsets, and surveillance kits(made famous by the Secret Service when you see their agents talking to their rest). A mobile conversion kit was available that was compatible with any standard radio(called a "Converticom") that instantly transformed these hand helds into a mobile radio simply by dropping the basic radio into it's well. There was no need to make any manual connections to the radio. Versions were built for the VHF bands between 130 and 175mc, and UHF bands between 330 and 512mc, though no single radio will cover these ranges inclusive. These ranges were, as usual, divided into sub-bands, or "splits". Even a lowband(30-50mc) version is rumored to exist but I have never seen one. Output power levels ranged from an optional 1 to 7 watts making them the most powerful hand held available in their day, and even very respectable by today's standards. But most attractive to it's potential users, especially the military, was their modular design which allowed service in the field by personnel with a minimum of training. One current complaint from users, and support personnel, is the fact that these radios used channel elements(module) which contained the radios discrete channel crystals(basic MX series radios were crystal control) and oscillator along with the netting components. This makes changing or adding channel frequencies by those not within the supply line, a bitch, and impossible if you don't have the module. But there was a reason for this! These channel elements were pre-aligned at the factory(or subcontractor) when ordered. When the user received them for installation, there was nothing to be done but plug them in. There was no alignment at all required unless the radio in question was not within the specified frequency range. Even then, the often tedious task of adjusting the crystal frequency had already been done. Identification: The variations of the MX series, both standard, and 'S' or 'R' types could fill several volumes. This is because of the thousands of options or possible combinations of options, that were available. To add to this, Motorola was very happy to custom build radios with oddball features for those with enough money. The front panel of all these radios will be marked with a very BASIC model number, this might be MX-300, MX-310, MX-320, MX-330, MX-340 etc. This model number does nothing to actually identify the radio. It is basically the case style(size) which is affected by the options the radio might include. An MX-320 for instance is smaller than an MX-340, the former being maybe a one channel radio without tone squelch, and the later being a four channel radio with tone squelch. An MX-360 was rather large but might have included a front panel touch tone pad, or a very large channel capacity. Power level, channel capacity, audio, and squelch options all affected case size. As can be seen, the size of these radios was kept to an absolute minimum by this practice. The real model number will be on the radio's data sticker located in a recessed area on the back panel. Each digit or character of this number is significant and will identify every aspect of your radio. As with most earlier radios produced by Motorola(beginning in the early 1960's and the introduction of the HT-200) the basic MX chassis was repackaged into other forms to include lunch box type portables, and for maybe the first time, a miniature full blown repeater, complete with tiny duplexers, all contained in a briefcase. I have spent this time telling you these basic features of the standard MX series radios even though they are not the subject of this story(though they do enjoy most of the same historic aspects of the subject radios). This is for one simple reason, they are externally identical to the 'S' type. The only external difference between the standard MX and an 'S' type is a small red S located on the top panel near the antenna connector. Even when an internal inspection is made, the untrained eye, and sometimes even the expert, may not be able to tell the difference. This is no doubt because the standard and 'S' models share many of the same RF, IF, and audio modules. But this is where the similarities begin to fade, as the MX-S radios are programmable, and the standard types are not. The next instalment of this series will deal with the early history of the MX-S and 'R' type radios, and progress another 10 years to their real hay day. Maybe/hopefully by then we might have some input from members as to the various types, how they were used, when, where, and by whom(believe me, I don't know it all!). The series will conclude with technical characteristics and programming information. The later is some very hard to come by material as these radios saw very little civilian use, and as a result even the most prolific of Motorola affectionate's, dealers, or service centers had any contact with them. Those people that did, were nearly always government contractors taxed with thier maintenance, and they were seldom, if ever, affiliated with Motorola in any way. These experts are very few and far between. Not even Motorola regional depo's are of much help when it comes to the obtaining information about these most exotic radios. Dennis Starks; Collector/Historian Midwest Military Communications Museum email: military-radio-guy@juno.com *********************************************** MEMBERS WRITE; ART-13 Output, No need to modify the output of the ART-13. Like most aircraft rigs, it was not designed for a 50-ohm output. It was designed to work into a short,capacitive antenna of 20-60 feet with a low impedance. It's got a bad second harmonic because the output tank is not properly tuned. This mistuning is where the incorrect preception of mil rigs causing TVI came from. A Drake TR-4 will cause TVI if you mistune it. There are two solutions: First is to build a 4:1 "UNUN" transformer using a good toroid to step-up to 50 ohms. This will present a 12-ohm load to the transmitter, which it will match handily. This will cost a few watts in loses but is the easiest and simplest way to go. Second is to put an external variable capacitor in series with the antenna lead. It should be about 150 pf at 160, 100pf at 80 and 50 pf at 40. I haven't tried 20. Will need to be able to handle high voltage. If you have a vacuum cap that's great. If not, use a wide-space variable. Put this in series with your coax and your problems will disappear. The vast majority of modification "improvements" suffered by mil rigs were born of misunderstanding. The ART-13 is a great transmitter as-is. You just gotta tune it right. Good luck with it OM. 73 Dave Stinson AB5S ed) the answers Dave outlines above are the best fix for most military radios designed to operate into an antenna that's physically short in regard to frequency. The most notorious being the TCS(another Collins marvel). Of the two alternatives, the balun is the best, the wide spaced air variable is a pain in the ass, and will look like shit in your shack, but it does work. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flushing Adds, Dennis, Good idea to flush out the ads, they were getting stale and smelling bad... Ralph Hi Dennis, Re: your posts, I think a month or two at most would be sufficent then purge...Buzz ed) I hadn't thought of making it SOP to just purge the adds once a month or so as a mater of practice, but this idea does have some merit. What say we do this the first weekend of each month? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRC-66 Buzz, Dennis, Both the PRC-66 and its circuit similar twin the PRC-75 have internal DC-DC converters to generate +5 Volts and +24 Volts. This is the source of the earphone whine. Perhaps some of the electrolytics are aging and need replacement. Alan *********************************************** HUMOR; One thing that has always bugged me, and I'm sure it does most of you, is to sit down at the dinner table only to be interrupted by a phone call from a telemarketer. I decided, on one such occasion, to try to be as irritating as they were to me. The call was from AT&T and it went something like this: Me: Hello AT&T: Hello, this is AT&T... Me: Is this AT&T? AT&T: Yes, this is AT&T... Me: This is AT&T? AT&T: Yes This is AT&T... Me: Is this AT&T? AT&T: YES! This is AT&T, may I speak to Mr. Byron please? Me: May I ask who is calling? AT&T: This is AT&T. Me: OK, hold on. At this point I put the phone down for a solid 5 minutes thinking that, surely, this person would have hung up the phone. Much to my surprise, when I picked up the receiver, they were still waiting. Me: Hello? AT&T: Is this Mr. Byron? Me: May I ask who is calling please? AT&T: Yes this is AT&T... Me: Is this AT&T? AT&T: Yes this is AT&T... Me: This is AT&T? AT&T: Yes, is this Mr. Byron? Me: Yes, is this AT&T? AT&T: Yes sir. Me: The phone company? AT&T: Yes sir. Me: I thought you said this was AT&T. AT&T: Yes sir, we are a phone company. Me: I already have a phone. AT&T: We aren't selling phones today Mr. Byron. Me: Well whatever it is, I'm really not interested but thanks for calling. When you are not interested in something, I don't think you can express yourself any plainer than by saying "I'm really not interested", but this lad was persistent. AT&T: Mr. Byron we would like to offer you 10 cents a minute, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Now, I am sure she meant she was offering a "rate" of 10 cents a minute but she at no time used the word rate. I could clearly see that it was time to whip out the trusty old calculator and do a little ciphering. Me: Now, that's 10 cents a minute 24 hours a day? AT&T: (getting a little excited at this point by my interest) Yes sir that's right! 24 hours a day! Me: 7 days a week? AT&T: That's right. Me: 365 days a year? AT&T: Yes sir. Me: I am definitely interested in that! Wow!!! That's amazing! AT&T: We think so! Me: That's quite a sum of money! AT&T: Yes sir, it's amazing how it adds up. Me: OK, so will you send me checks weekly, monthly or just one big one at the end of the year for the full $52,560, and if you send an annual check, can I get a cash advance? AT&T: Excuse me? Me: You know, the 10 cents a minute. AT&T: What are you talking about? Me: You said you'd give me 10 cents a minute, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. That comes to $144 per day, $1008 per week and $52,560 per year. I'm just interested in knowing how you will be making payment. AT&T: Oh no sir I didn't mean we'd be paying you. You pay us 10 cents a minute. Me: Wait a minute here!!! Didn't you say you'd give me 10 cents a minute. Are you sure this is AT&T? AT&T: Well, yes this is AT&T sir but...... Me: But nothing, how do you figure that by saying that you'll give me 10 cents a minute that I'll give you 10 cents a minute? Is this some kind of subliminal telemarketing scheme? I've read about things like this in the Enquirer you know. Don't use your alien brainwashing techniques on me. AT&T: No sir we are offering 10 cents a minute for..... Me: THERE YOU GO AGAIN! Can I speak to a supervisor please! AT&T: Sir I don't think that is necessary. Me: Sure! You say that now! What happens later? AT&T: What? Me: I insist on speaking to a supervisor! AT&T: Yes Mr. Byron. Please hold on. So now AT&T has me on hold and my supper is getting cold. I begin to eat while I'm waiting for a supervisor. After a wait of a few minutes and while I have a mouth full of food: Supervisor: Mr. Byron? Me: Yeth? Supervisor: I understand you are not quite understanding our 10 cents a minute program. Me: Id thish Ath Teeth & Teeth? Supervisor: Yes sir, it sure is. I had to swallow before I choked on my food. It was all I could do to suppress my laughter and I had to be careful not to produce a snort. Me: No, actually I was just waiting for someone to get back to me so that I could sign up for the plan. Supervisor: OK, no problem, I'll transfer you back to the person who was helping you. Me: Thank you. I was on hold once again and was getting really hungry. I needed to end this conversation. Suddenly, there was an aggravated but polite voice at the other end of the phone. AT&T: Hello Mr. Byron, I understand that you are interested in signing up for our plan? Me: Do you have that friends and family thing because you can never have enough friends and I'm an only child and I'd really like to have a little brother... AT&T: (click) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This little boy hid in his parents bedroom closet as he wanted to see what took place in their room when the doors were locked. As he peeked thru the slats of the closet door he saw his mother and her boyfriend going at it. Suddenly the boys father comes home. The wife wisks her boyfriend off into the closet - the same closet her son is in. After several minutes the boy says to the man, "Boy it's dark in here." Shocked, the man just nods his head in agreement. After a few more minutes the boy says: "Wanna buy my baseball glove?" The man asks "How much?" In reply the boy says $50. The man agrees. Several more minutes pass when the boy asks the man if he'd like to buy his baseball bat for $50 as well. The man reluctantly agrees. After the father departs, the woman takes her boyfriend out of the closet, and too upset to continue she sends him on his way. The next morning at the breakfast table the little boy pulls out a roll of money and begins counting it. The mother asks "Where did that come from?, to which her son replied "Can't say." The mother asks again and upon his refusal to tell she tells her son to get in the car. The mother takes the boy to church and tells him to get into the confessional and tell the priest where he got the money. When the priest slid the door over the boy said "Boy it's dark in here, to which the priest replied, "Don't start that shit again!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You must sing this to the tune of the Oscar Meyer Baloney song His baloney has a first name, It's "I did not inhale." His baloney has a second name, "I wasn't getting tail." He loves to sing it every day, And White House people all just saaaaaaay... That Billy Clinton has a way, Of making bullshit sound OK! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Things That Make You Go Hmmm... - Whose cruel idea was it for the word "lisp" to have an "s" in it? - If it's zero degrees outside today and it's supposed to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold is it going to be? - Why do you press harder on a remote-control when you know the battery is dead? - Why do banks charge you a "non-sufficient funds fee" on money they already know you don't have? - Why is a carrot more orange than an orange? - Why are there 5 syllables in the word "monosyllabic"? - Why do they call it the Department of Interior when they are in charge of everything outdoors? - Why do scientists call it research when looking for something new? - How much deeper would the ocean be if sponges didn't grow in it? - Why do we put suits in a garment bag and put garments in a suitcase? - Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard? - If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes? - Isn't Disney World a people trap operated by a mouse? - Before they invented drawing boards, what did they go back to? - Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery? - How do I set my laser printer on stun? - How is it possible to have a civil war? - If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting? - If God dropped acid, would he see people? - If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular? - If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do both? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A judge was interviewing a woman regarding her pending divorce, and asked, "What are the grounds for your divorce?" She replied, "About four acres and a nice little home in the middle of the property with a stream running by." "No," he said, "I mean what is the foundation of this case?" "It is made of concrete, brick and mortar," she responded. "I mean," he continued, "what are your relations like?" I have an aunt and uncle living here in town, and so do my husband's parents." He said, "Do you have a real grudge?" "No," she replied, "we have a two-car carport and have never really needed one." "Please," he tried again, "is there any infidelity in your marriage?" "Yes, both my son and daughter have stereo sets. We don't necessarily like the music, but the answer to your questions is yes." "Ma'am, does your husband ever beat you up?" "Yes," she responded, "about twice a week he gets up earlier than I do." Finally, in frustration, the judge asked, "Lady, why do you want a divorce?" "Oh, I don't want a divorce," she replied. "I've never wanted a divorce. My husband does. He said he can't communicate with me." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DEAR ABBY: A couple of women moved in across the hall from me. One is a middle-aged gym teacher and the other is a social worker in her mid-twenties. These two women go everywhere together and I've never seen a man go into their apartment or come out. Do you think they could be Lebanese? DEAR ABBY: I've been married for six years and have five kids. No twins. My husband still wants to have sex every night and sometimes in the morning too. I told him he should get himself a hobby, and he says that is his hobby. DEAR ABBY: I have a man I never could trust. Why, he cheats so much I'm not even sure this baby I'm carrying is his. DEAR ABBY: I am a twenty-three-year-old liberated woman who has been on the pill for two years. It's getting expensive and I think my boyfriend should share half the cost, but I don't know him well enough to discuss money with him. DEAR ABBY: I suspected that my husband had been fooling around, and when I confronted him with the evidence he denied everything and said it would never happen again. DEAR ABBY: Will you please rush me the name of a reliable illegitimate doctor? DEAR ABBY: Our son writes that he is taking Judo. Why would a boy who was raised in a good Christian home turn against his own? DEAR ABBY: I joined the Navy to see the world. I've seen it. Now how do I get out? DEAR ABBY: My forty-year-old son has been paying a psychiatrist $50 an hour every week for two-and-a-half years. He must be crazy. DEAR ABBY: I was married to Bill for three months and I didn't know he drank until one night he came home sober. DEAR ABBY: Do you think it would be all right if I gave my doctor a little gift? I tried for years to get pregnant and couldn't and he finally did it. DEAR ABBY: My mother is mean and short-tempered. I think she is going through her mental pause. DEAR ABBY: I met this nice guy who was in the service. He's the chief petting officer. DEAR ABBY: I've been going steady with this man for six years. We see each other every night. He says he loves me, and I know I love him, but he never mentions marriage. Do you think he's going out with me just for what he can get? -GERTIE- DEAR GERTIE: I don't know. What's he getting? DEAR ABBY: My husband hates to spend money] I cut my own hair and make my own clothes, and I have to account for every nickel I spend. Meanwhile he has a stock of savings bonds put away that would choke a cow. How do I get some money out of him before we are both called to our final judgment? He says he's saving for a rainy day. -FORTY YEARS HITCHED- DEAR HITCHED: Tell him it's raining. DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend is going to be twenty years old next month. I'd like to give him something nice for his birthday. What do you think he'd like? CAROL- DEAR CAROL: Never mind what he'd like. Give him a tie. DEAR ABBY: Are birth control pills deductible? -KAY- DEAR KAY: Only if they don't work. DEAR ABBY: Our son was married in January. Five months later his wife had a ten-pound baby girl. They said the baby was premature. Tell me, can a baby this big be that early? - WONDERING- DEAR WONDERING: The baby was on time, the wedding was late. Forget it. DEAR ABBY: Do you think about dying much? -CURIOUS- DEAR CURIOUS: No, it's the last thing I want to do. DEAR ABBY: Is it possible for a man to be in love with two women at the same time? -JAKE- DEAR JAKE: Yes, and also hazardous. DEAR ABBY: I know boys will be boys, but my 'boy' is seventy-three and he's still chasing women. Any suggestions? -ANNIE- DEAR ANNIE: Don't worry. My dog has been chasing cars for years, but if he ever caught one, he wouldn't know what to do with it. DEAR ABBY: I have always wanted to have my family history traced, but I can't afford to spend a lot of money to do it. Any suggestions? SAM IN CAL.- DEAR SAM: Yes. Run for public office. DEAR ABBY: What inspires you most to write? -TED- DEAR TED: The Internal Revenue Service. DEAR ABBY: When you are being introduced, is it all right to say, "I've heard a lot about you"? -RITA- DEAR RITA: It depends on what you've heard. DEAR ABBY: I am forty-four years old and I would like to meet a man my age with no bad habits. -ROSE- DEAR ROSE: So would I. DEAR ABBY: What's the difference between a wife and a mistress? -BESS- DEAR BESS: Night and Day. *********************************************** (The preceding was a product of the"Military Collector Group Post", an international email magazine dedicated to the preservation of history and the equipment that made it. Unlimited circulation of this material is authorized so long as the proper credits to the original authors, and publisher or this group are included. For more information conserning this group contact Dennis Starks at, military-radio-guy@juno.com) ***********************************************