andym 29 Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Does anyone know anything about the UK/PRC-346? There's a couple on eBay and they look quite interesting, if pricey! Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
g0ozs 10 Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Andy I assume they are the ones at TDM electronics ? I note the label says they are from a very early Bowman contract (CB/BOW/02 01/99) so may not be quite the final version. They were intended to replace UK/PRC-344 in the forward air control role - some limited evidence at http://www.ptsnorfolk.co.uk/cdata/66117/docs/5408834_1.pdf There is a video of one in use at starting about 2'30s (not mine) ! The owner reports that they are 2W low and 7W high power and demonstrates operation on 2m and 6m HTH Iain 73 de G0OZS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
g0ozs 10 Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 The front panel looks similar to AN/PSC5 family also by Raytheon: http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/psc5c/ I guess they fitted a modified battery plate and audio connector to make a UK version ? What is odd is the lack of recent references - I have read elsewhere that FACs in recent years have used Harris sets (AN/PRC-117) so it may not have been bought for long or in large numbers Regards Iain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andym 29 Posted September 25, 2016 Author Share Posted September 25, 2016 Thanks Iain - I think it's based on a Magnavox product known as TacGA but as you say, modified for a Clansman 351 battery and 7-pin audio. They went out of service some time ago, which makes it odd that there's very few of them around and no information about them, even an operator's manual. It's the latter that worries me most, especially if they're a substantial investment. Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Liberty 10 Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 LR Series were selling a manual at one point, but it wasn't the operators manual.... some kind of servicing/troubleshooting thing... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Surveyor 17 Posted February 8 Share Posted February 8 30 minutes ago, Liberty said: LR Series were selling a manual at one point, but it wasn't the operators manual.... some kind of servicing/troubleshooting thing... They have most manuals for the Clansman Radio kit Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andym 29 Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 Thanks both - I've only just seen the replies to my old thread. I currently have both a working 346 and the operator's manual (AESP 5820-F-299-201). The service manual is a bit of a joke - basically if it goes wrong, send it back! Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fv1609 32 Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 Andy perhaps that service manual is a Level 1 publication rather than a Level 3 or 4 perhaps? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andym 29 Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 27 minutes ago, fv1609 said: Andy perhaps that service manual is a Level 1 publication rather than a Level 3 or 4 perhaps? It's the only one, Clive. As the radio is of US origin I suspect that's the nature of the original contract. Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
64EK26 13 Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 Hi I have one and it is a nice set and works well, covers 2m,4m & 6m in the amateur bands, the only manual I could ever find is AESP 5820-F-299-201 , which you now have. I use it standalone and have never found the harness that it can fit into, think I have a spare stubby antenna for it somewhere (there is a nice label on it stating stand 0.2m away due radiation hazard) Like some of the other recent military radios they will be virtually impossible to repair. Cheers Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andym 29 Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 I've only ever used mine on 2m as I've got plenty of other 4m sets such as 352/VRM5080 etc. Here it is in the back of my RB44, alongside a PRC138 with Ptarmigan CNRI and subset below. Andy 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fv1609 32 Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 What modes does it do Andy? Just FM or CW & USB? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andym 29 Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 FM and AM as it's intended as a ground to air unit - it's also known as TacGA. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fv1609 32 Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 Ok thanks Andy well that's saved wanting to look for one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andym 29 Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 They seem very few and far between. Rumour has it that Raytheon discovered that MOD were selling them off and promptly asked for them back. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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