On Thu, 6 Dec 2001 20:50:37 -0800 (PST)
Duane Grotophorst <n9dg@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I’ve seen several references in various places about
> how light weight and empty the newer Tec Tec radio
> boxes are.
I agree...light weight and roomy don't mean "bad". For
instance... the Racal RA6790/GM military/government HF
receiver. These babies are amazing receivers. They cost
well over $10,000 each to the Gov't (inflated...yes) when
the last one was delivered in 1994 (actually the LF/VLF/HF
version was $21,000). They weigh 32 lbs, are as roomy
inside as a Montana open range having been built in "board"
style like the Ten-Tec Omni series and other Ten-Tec rigs.
They are beautiful receivers (I own one). A consideration
in building them was whether to make them a small half rack
size... or a full rack size (5.25" tall, 19" wide, 18.5"
deep). They would fit in a very small package easily
however many ships/aircraft (and several civilian contracts
like ATT and including the shhhh ! NSA) would use these
receivers in the rack space of the old R-390A's etc they
were replacing... so the were built to fit existing rack
space. Ther radios sure could have been built much smaller
but existing conditions drove the specs. Personaly I like
all that room... with my fat fingers it makes service oh so
much simpler <grin>.
Mike, W9WIS
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