AN PRC 515 Radio Sets

JD Baillie · #1 30-10-05, 19:24

Hi all,

Ashton Armouries museum here in Victoria has inherited two almost complete 515 sets. Missing are the hand generators, AC battery charger, morse keys and operator's manuals. If anyone knows of the whereabouts of any of this that may be available and donatable, please drop me a line.
jdbaillie (at) shaw.ca

Cheers
JD

Jon Skagfeld · #2 31-10-05, 04:39

Hmmm...AN/PRC 515 sets in a museum. Does this mean that there is no longer a long range tactical HF radio in the DISO/CELE inventory?

I can't imagine the current 511 and 512s of the TCCCS system being equally operable and applicable.

BTW, JD...got your package, thanks, didn't need the maple leaf which was enclosed...I've got 583 gazillion of the buggers on my lawn right now!

JD Baillie · #3 31-10-05, 05:21

Jon,

I would say that you would be correct in your surmise that the CF has dispensed with TAC patrol HF. Satelite telephone don't you know. Pity. When working the 515 was really one of the best radios the CF had. Of course there is no need for CW either.

Hope you can find use for the other inclusions they were just clutter looking for a better home.

Thought you could well use another maple leaf from out west. Are they similar to eastern maple leaves? Sorry for the delay sending the package. Had to wait until the leaves turned red...

Rgds
JD

Craig Tanner · #4 01-11-05, 22:11

Yes the army has an HF replacement for the old 515. They are an excellent HF radio, that have been in service for several years....a lot more reliable than the 515.

Craig Tanner

Burton NB

Craig Tanner · #5 01-11-05, 22:18

Here is some general info on the HF radio from the internet.

http://www.milspec.ca/radspec/prc-138.html

http://www.milspec.ca/radspec/prc-138.html

Craig Tanner

JD Baillie · #6 01-11-05, 22:57

Craig,

Thanks for the replies. I always found the 515 (besides being awfully heavy) usually had battery problems as its main defect. And that was usually due to the poor understanding for care and maintenance of NiCads. Otherwise they seemed to me as quite a good set. I'll take a very keen look at the links you've posted. Thanks.

Cheers
JD

Jon Skagfeld · #7 02-11-05, 00:12

Quote:

Originally posted by Craig Tanner
Here is some general info on the HF radio from the internet.

http://www.milspec.ca/radspec/prc-138.html

http://www.milspec.ca/radspec/prc-138.html

Craig Tanner

Thanks, Craig...brings me a little bit up to date.

Are you at liberty to describe the compatibility of Vinson and Nestor in the "old" X-mode WRT to the FSK capabilities...and does TCCCS mate with the 138?

...or, is all of the above redundant with new technology?

Craig Tanner · #8 03-11-05, 13:34

Hi Jon! sorry not to get back to you sooner with your questions, but here is what is on the go regarding the TCCCS:

Old Equipment TCCCS

ANPRC 521 (small hand held)

ANPRC 77 (manpack) ANPRC 522 (manpack)
RT847/77PRC (veh mount 77) ANVRC 513 (veh installation)

515 HF (manpack) ANPRC 138 (HF manpack)
106 HF (veh) ANVRC 516 (HF veh installation)

PRC 66B (Air Ground Air) ANPRC 113 (manpack AGA)
ANVRC 83 (veh installation AGA)

Now the 522 and the 523 use the frequency hopping technology
when used for secure communications thus replacing the Nestor and Vinson.

Hope that this helps if not just let me know and I will see what else I can dig up in the "ok for general public information category."

V V V

Craig Tanner
Burton N.B.

JD Baillie · #9 10-01-06, 09:35

Jon,

Find myself remembering two radio masts used on the M152: one a sectional thing with lots of guy ropes where the pipes stored between two plates holding the pole sections in a rectangle and the other a telescoping afair that either stood free or was placed on a hinged pipe mounted on the side of a 3/4... a mast that would happily pinch the skin off your fingers.

Which one of these was the "Clarke" mast?

JD

Jon Skagfeld · #10 11-01-06, 07:24

Quote:

Originally posted by JD Baillie
Jon,

Find myself remembering two radio masts used on the M152: one a sectional thing with lots of guy ropes where the pipes stored between two plates holding the pole sections in a rectangle and the other a telescoping afair that either stood free or was placed on a hinged pipe mounted on the side of a 3/4... a mast that would happily pinch the skin off your fingers.

Which one of these was the "Clarke" mast?

JD

Hello, JD:

AFAIK the only mast used with M152 IKEEs was the old trusty 20 or 34 foot mast of 19 set fame.(The one that would happily pinch your fingers.)

AFAICR the AT 292 ground plane had to be part of the mast installation, for static ops, otherwise the 16' whip was used for mobile ops.

So, are we talking VHF or HF here? Many variables apply.

If, in an M152, you were on a C42/C45, then we're looking at VHF antenna arrays. HF arrays are totally different.

M152s could, for example, have a C42 (VHF), and a WS No 52 (HF).

That means you have to have two different antenna arrays in order to Rx/Tx.

We're into a situation where, with antennas, there is raging conflict, both civilian and military.

The military seems to go with such as Jamaica, Shirley, log periodic, centre or end fed dipole, or even discone, sloping Vee, and Yagi.

Civilian amateurs seem to have have advanced past that point with neat stuff that, of course, is not field expedient, but functionally superior.

WRT the Clarke mast...got me! Dunno the reference. More details so that I can do more research?

Apologize for length of post, but, hey, this is sorta my territory.

Thanks, and regards

Bruce MacMillan · #11 11-01-06, 15:47

Hi JD.

The info I have only shows the standard 20' or 34' antenna/mast assemblies. This is the same issue as the 19 set. Stores on top of the inside stowage rack on the left side. These masts could be used to support a long wire or with the additional "F" sections and base insulator be driven as a vertical. The 152 came with ground mount kit, a base for mounting on the roof and hardware for attaching to the side of the truck just behind the drivers door for use as a mast only.

Having said that mine has a 3 piece steel mast that attaches behind the driver's door but the mast is sectional and on a swivel base, not pop-up. I suspect this is for the C42 set antenna as the MP68 ground plane base could attach to the top giving it needed height.

I wonder if local mods were done by units to suit their needs?

Bruce