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The Hamateur
United States
เข้าร่วมเมื่อ 17 มี.ค. 2006
My journey through Amateur Radio the hard way, with 50-year old British Army PRC-320 Manpack radio.
PRC-320 HF MANPACK: NEGATIVE CONTACT
This is how it happens: you spend earnest hours charging batteries, testing peripherals. You might solder a bit here and there. You pack for bugout. You tell family and friends and bosses “Gee I’d like to … but I’m deployed elsewhere…” You grab a GPS, some jerky, your tough boots (you know the ones), say goodbye to the pup, grab the car keys and you’re off!
You make the infil and it’s empty-you planned it that way!
It’s coming on grey-line, and the bands will be hopping.
That tingly DX sensation hits, readies the mind. “Today,” you say to yourself, “I’ll work that Cape Town station…”
And you sit on frequency, waiting out the pileup.
You keep calling. Tide’s coming in. The sea is swallowing your counterpoise, but the saltwater amp is dead. And no matter how many times you press the button, or how many tweaks you make to the tuning, no matter which mic you use, it’s just not happening. And crows gather to laugh and caw: “NEGATIVE CONTACT! NEGATIVE CONTACT!”
Some days it’s just not on, is it?
You make the infil and it’s empty-you planned it that way!
It’s coming on grey-line, and the bands will be hopping.
That tingly DX sensation hits, readies the mind. “Today,” you say to yourself, “I’ll work that Cape Town station…”
And you sit on frequency, waiting out the pileup.
You keep calling. Tide’s coming in. The sea is swallowing your counterpoise, but the saltwater amp is dead. And no matter how many times you press the button, or how many tweaks you make to the tuning, no matter which mic you use, it’s just not happening. And crows gather to laugh and caw: “NEGATIVE CONTACT! NEGATIVE CONTACT!”
Some days it’s just not on, is it?
มุมมอง: 42
วีดีโอ
PRC-320 HF MANPACK: FIRST POTA
มุมมอง 1175 หลายเดือนก่อน
There are plenty of milestones in the life of a Ham operator. The first is passing the test to become a Ham, and making your first Contact. Let’s not forget learning to solder, or building your station piece by piece. Or your first Hamfest, where you meet like-minded crazies just like you, and spend all that money on boat anchors you don’t need and can’t fix. Good times! But how about your very...
PRC-320 HF MANPACK: P.L.O.T.A.
มุมมอง 889 หลายเดือนก่อน
Another in my occasional series of adventures with an old, heavy and extremely capable PRC-320 HF Manpack radio. As a military rig, the PRC-320 has to work for wherever it's deployed. So it comes with a lot of extras: whips and wires, headsets and hand-mics; pack frames and gas masks(!), and as many beefy peripherals as you’ll ever need for …. you know … fighting a war. It’s built for peak effi...
PRC-320 HF MANPACK: MISSION-CRITICAL ACCESSORY
มุมมอง 8311 หลายเดือนก่อน
During its service life, the RT/UK PRC-320 Manpack HF Transceiver deployed wherever the British Army was sent. That likely ran from frozen wilderness to scorching desert (as well as surviving underwater for a time; but that’s another video). So the radio was built to handle extremes with stable operating ranges from -37ºC to 52ºC. This video short pays homage to life in the upper range. Another...
PRC-320 HF MANPACK: PICNIC-BENCH BEACH HEAD
มุมมอง 30811 หลายเดือนก่อน
My adventures with an old, heavy and extremely capable military radio: the RT/UK PRC-320 “Clansman” Manpack HF Transceiver, built for the British Army, and dating from sometime in the early 80’s. Sometimes you just want to operate comfortably, with a park bench to yourself, a little DX-ing fluid at the ready, and a sunset for company. Helps if the bands are open and stations are listening. MILS...
PRC-320 HF MANPACK: LOGBOOKING
มุมมอง 5311 หลายเดือนก่อน
My adventures with an old, heavy and extremely capable military radio: the RT/UK PRC-320 “Clansman” Manpack HF Transceiver, built for the British Army, and dating from sometime in the early 80’s. Amateur Radio operators keep logbooks of the stations they’ve contacted for a few reasons. A) They’re handy if you have to prove you aren’t creating interference with neighbors, a business or governmen...
PRC-320 HF MANPACK: BEACH OPS
มุมมอง 6111 หลายเดือนก่อน
Welcome to an occasional series of adventures with my old, heavy and extremely capable military radio: the RT/UK PRC-320 “Clansman” Manpack HF Transceiver, built for the British Army, and dating from sometime in the early 80’s. This time, a visit-in warmer weather-to a nearby beach to test propagation and a new antenna, the Chameleon MPAS 2.0 The antenna is a complete system for deploying manpa...
PRC-320 HF MANPACK RADIO: THINGS I LEARNED
มุมมอง 75311 หลายเดือนก่อน
Welcome to an occasional series of adventures with my old, heavy and extremely capable military radio: the RT/UK PRC-320 “Clansman” Manpack HF Transceiver, built for the British Army, and dating from sometime in the early 80’s. So I guess this is a Vintage Radio channel, with a twist: You won’t see a lot of tear-downs or hacks or feature run-throughs, though I will link to others in the Militar...
Wonderful filming! You are PRO! Brilliant
Very interesting, a shame it's such a short video. More please!
More to come! Hope to have something from Summer Field Day. 73!
... nevertheless it makes us try the harder. And already a new plan starts morphing in our head... ❤ 73
Being that you’re on the east coast, I usually make contacts out that way on my PRC-320 as well as Texas, Utah, California. I’ve also made contacts to Belgium and the Caribbean with the rig and the 5.4M antenna. It’s an awesome radio, and you’ll grow to love this radio in the long run, despite its weight, bland features, and age. Be sure to check out the 17m Activity Group also. 73!
Right you are! I did manage to make the Activity Group log with an end-fed wire up 30 feet. My next video will be "3 Watts, a Whip and a Prayer." {;-) 73!
It’s a heavy radio but a lot of fun to work with 😂
Great stuff. A nicely told tale of unrequited radio love.
I really enjoyed this on several levels, thank-you. I liked the park history and commentary, the use of a PRC320 as I have one which I intend using for POTA and shooting in B&W is near to my heart as I've been a working photographer for 50 years this month. 🙂
Ah cheers mate-we're cut from the same cloth! Thanks for the kind words, and well done on the long career behind the lens; we're not far apart. 73 de K2WNW
Tres magnifique!
Fabulous - I give it a 5-9
Very handy. Many a parking lot is a battlefield.
The 320 was my first manpack. After mess with some other manpacks i can say: A realy rugged radio, no bells and whistles. And if You improve Your CW-skills: Its one of i mean the best military radios for cw. I love the radio! Cheers, Thomas - DG1PY.
This is brilliant. There's almost no noise floor on that thing. Stop tempting me! -Thos.
Well, as you like to say, Thomas, "J'enable, donc je suis."
I have one new full set..I have communication with the whole world with this device no limit range!!