Early Straight

Want to put radios in your jeep? Discuss it here.

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Early Straight

Unread post by Surveyor » February 7th, 2018, 11:59 pm

From a purist standpoint, what date or time frame would all of the original straights been finally taken out of service? Trying to confirm that an an/vrc-53 would have been a reasonable possibility. I see a vrc-12 in Nam on one in Doyle's book so I would assume a 53 would not be a stretch.

If a 53 is feasible, what would be the correct antenna and mount be for early?
1960 M151 Run #1
"There is one nut on a M151 that is very difficult to remove....." - K8icu
"She ain't a Cadillac and she ain't a Rolls, But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio" - Aaron Tippin
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Re: Early Straight

Unread post by rickf » February 8th, 2018, 11:25 am

Well this is where purist and realist may vary. In a wartime scenario like Vietnam you used the vehicle till it was used up and then you used it some more until it stopped moving. It was possible that a straight could have been in service all the way through the conflict if it was real lucky. That is not likely but I would bet there were a fair number of them still running around in the late 60's. That radio fit in the 1029 mount so it could go into any available vehicle with a mount. Probably not the answer you are looking for but yes, I would say it was entirely possible.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Early Straight

Unread post by Surveyor » February 8th, 2018, 2:45 pm

Thanks Rick. Curious though as to antenna and mount. I could be wrong but the picture in Doyle's does not appear to be sugar scoop setup. Was there an earlier mount and antenna used for the vrc-12 series?

NM - I think I found my answer here ... http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=35460

Anybody have a good picture of this type of setup they could share? Thanks.
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by muttguru@aol.com » Tue Jan 04, 2005 8:01 am
Dear Listers,

Here's some information that you may find useful if you plan to add a radio to your early mutt and want to ensure that the antenna setup is configured to a correct age-related spec.

From 1960 through to mid-1966, the AN/VRC-12 series of radios used the much-discussed "Box-Base" antenna. You've seen the photos, now hear the components (-:

The box-base antenna setup was designated as the AT-912, NSN 5820-897-6357 and the appropriate tech manual covering the components was TM11-5820-402-20P

The setup consisted of :-

Matching Unit MX-2799/VRC (the actual box-base), NSN 5820-897-6356
Antenna Support Base AB-719/VRC, NSN 5820-856-2729 (this is the springy bit)
Antenna Whip (Lower) AT-1096/VRC, NSN 5820-856-2730
Antenna Whip (Upper) AT-1095/VRC, NSN 5820-856-2728
Reflector Plate SC-C-48637, NSN 5820-00-875-0905 (seldom used).

The upper part of the whip is the same as that used on the MX-6707/VRC unit (the most recent type of spring-base, also known as the AS-1729/VRC-series antenna), however, the lower whip is NOT interchangeable with the one used on the MX-6707/VRC because the threads are different. Needless to say, if you have the AT-1096 lower whip, you have an increasingly hard-to-find item.

If you haven't nodded off by now, you may also like to know that the first mention of the pending introduction of the MX-6707/VRC type antenna (and the phasing out of the box-base setup) was in August 1966.

Yet another service provided by Ken's Insomnia Cures
1960 M151 Run #1
"There is one nut on a M151 that is very difficult to remove....." - K8icu
"She ain't a Cadillac and she ain't a Rolls, But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio" - Aaron Tippin
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Re: Early Straight

Unread post by rickf » February 8th, 2018, 4:18 pm

there was an early antennae matching unit and it was a rectangular box. I doubt they would still be using that later on though. They would be using the 1729 antennae and the 6707 matching unit. Then again, I am not a radio guy.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Early Straight

Unread post by Surveyor » February 21st, 2018, 4:56 pm

Make that a an/vrc-64. Doubt anyone will care about 53/64 round here. Working for less than $300 but of course the shipping was a *&^%&. Adding Tech license to the other 1000 things I need to do to/acquire for this m151.
Last edited by Surveyor on June 22nd, 2018, 8:47 am, edited 2 times in total.
1960 M151 Run #1
"There is one nut on a M151 that is very difficult to remove....." - K8icu
"She ain't a Cadillac and she ain't a Rolls, But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio" - Aaron Tippin
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Re: Early Straight

Unread post by m75 » February 22nd, 2018, 2:02 am

Great find for the price.
Jim Peterson
SGM, 31B Retired 2015
1961 M151 -Sold
1974 M151A2, Working It!

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Re: Early Straight

Unread post by Surveyor » April 6th, 2018, 12:12 am

Update - passed the Tech exam tonight with no problem. :D

Didn't study at all for the General but they talked me into trying anyway. Took an edjumicated guess on half the general questions but missed passing it by one. sigh. :(
1960 M151 Run #1
"There is one nut on a M151 that is very difficult to remove....." - K8icu
"She ain't a Cadillac and she ain't a Rolls, But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio" - Aaron Tippin
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Re: Early Straight

Unread post by rickf » April 6th, 2018, 10:30 am

Since they talked you into taking the test and the fact that there are fewer and fewer HAM's out there they should have let you slide on the one missed!
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Early Straight

Unread post by Surveyor » April 6th, 2018, 2:20 pm

No worries. The tech covers what I plan on doing for now.
1960 M151 Run #1
"There is one nut on a M151 that is very difficult to remove....." - K8icu
"She ain't a Cadillac and she ain't a Rolls, But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio" - Aaron Tippin
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Re: Early Straight

Unread post by Surveyor » June 11th, 2018, 12:55 pm

One step closer to running a dual antenna setup. Picked up an angry5 yesterday. Makeshift coax antenna and I could only pick up a couple channels in the morning but it really opened up last night. Radio Havana Cuba, tons of Spanish language stations, oldies playing out of Florida, Japanese language station, and I'm pretty sure a Vietnamese station. Asian language interspersed with French throughout the broadcast.

I had found US Army picture of one mounted on a back fender of an early m151 months back but I'll be danged if I can find it now. Edit -found it, third pic down appears to be one mounted on driver side with early corner bracket on driver on i think an early (dual rear window). Can't tell what bracket is on pass side.

https://translate.google.com/translate? ... 3Ft%3D4749

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Looks like the Hollywood Military Advisor was sick the day this was filmed. :P

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From Kong:Skull Island
1960 M151 Run #1
"There is one nut on a M151 that is very difficult to remove....." - K8icu
"She ain't a Cadillac and she ain't a Rolls, But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio" - Aaron Tippin
Image

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Re: Early Straight

Unread post by Surveyor » September 12th, 2019, 11:01 pm

Little update on the Angry 5...

Not much in the way of music broadcasts on shortwave these days but I always liked the idea of having the fender radios work and usable. I found these finished transmitters on ebay. They are approx. $15. There are instructions on the internet if you want to build your own, kits, videos etc.

Usually labeled 3 channel am transmitter 1, 3, 5mhz.
Image

Requires a 18650 battery. I saved up enough Bing reward points to buy a knock off tac light with a 18650 battery and charger included for free. Moonbeam comes with a triple AAA adapter so I'm still able to use the moonbeam and use the bigger battery for the transmitter. The 3.5mm cable allows me to connect my Samsung phone to the transmitter and play music, etc. Note - the battery holder on the board looks like it's made for a flat top style battery versus the button tops but a pair of pliers can fix that. :D

Future plans are to move everything into some type of container, ammo box, dummy m18 smoke, etc. and better antenna setup. Also plan to do a similar setup with a different transmitter that will work down in the PRC77 fm range.

Probably get a Bluetooth receiver next. Something like this

https://www.amazon.com/TaoTronics-Bluet ... NrPXRydWU=

or similar so I can ditch the 3.5mm cord. Note- on/off controlled by insertion of a 3.5mm plug into board.

Angry 5 played music tonight on 5mhz for a couple of hours with no problems. Needs further testing to see just how long the battery will last. Transmitter range was about 50 feet.
1960 M151 Run #1
"There is one nut on a M151 that is very difficult to remove....." - K8icu
"She ain't a Cadillac and she ain't a Rolls, But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio" - Aaron Tippin
Image

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Re: Early Straight

Unread post by Surveyor » April 25th, 2020, 7:41 pm

Been awhile since I've been here. Finally got the last cable I needed in to test out the prc77/am2060 setup with the old box style antenna. Was able to transmit and youngest picked me up on a prr-9 at 51mhz. Sounded great. Another small victory.

As I stated before, I think I've found a cheap device that fits FCC's Part 15 for low power FM so I can play music through the setup. Have a few other things I need to get to before then but still on the to do list.
1960 M151 Run #1
"There is one nut on a M151 that is very difficult to remove....." - K8icu
"She ain't a Cadillac and she ain't a Rolls, But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio" - Aaron Tippin
Image

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Re: Early Straight

Unread post by Surveyor » March 29th, 2021, 4:25 pm

Found another picture currently on ebay. "Controllers" mutt in Vietnam with what appears to be a grr-5 mount sitting on top of two support brackets. I may have to redo my mounting. :D
grr mount.jpg
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1960 M151 Run #1
"There is one nut on a M151 that is very difficult to remove....." - K8icu
"She ain't a Cadillac and she ain't a Rolls, But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio" - Aaron Tippin
Image

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Re: Early Straight

Unread post by rickf » March 29th, 2021, 5:47 pm

OK, Who were the Controllers and explain the guy in the drivers seat. Jeans and shirt? He DOES have the military birth control glasses though.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Early Straight

Unread post by Surveyor » March 30th, 2021, 12:13 am

A number of pics on ebay right now listed under 3RD PLATOON CO. B M.P. BN CONTROLLERS.

Best I can tell an Army Military Police unit in Vietnam most likely part of the !8th MP Brigade. The insignia on the windshield appears to be theirs. Iy also appears on one of the soldiers uniforms in another pic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_Mili ... ed_States)

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1960 M151 Run #1
"There is one nut on a M151 that is very difficult to remove....." - K8icu
"She ain't a Cadillac and she ain't a Rolls, But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio" - Aaron Tippin
Image

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