What's in MIP's Shop?

Here's a few of things I've got laying around that I'd just as soon put in the hands of someone who will use it.

Page updated 11 March 2025

Motorola MT1000 VHF portable

So this is an interesting one. It's a typical, functional sixteen channel MT1000 in VHF, presumably in the 146 - 162 MHz cut. It seems to have a 2 watt transmitter in it (VHF MT1000s came in 2 watt or 5 watt transmit power variants). It develops reasonable TX power, about 2.3 watts, and seems to have reasonably good sensitivity. This radio is not legal for use in anything except the Part 97 Amateur Radio Service, as it operates in legacy wideband FM (25kHz channel spacing). These days anything working in VHF high band in virtually any service that isn't amateur radio needs to be narrowband FM (12.5kHz channel spacing). So not a big market for these guys, I admit. But they're solid and strong, ask any old guy who worked with one.

On top of that, this is what could be called a "ghost" radio. As you may see from the lower of the two images above, this radio has no builders plate on it. It's not stolen, I can testify to that. As I recall, this radio was a collection of spare parts, "manufactured" in a radio shop in order to provide a radio to "the new guy" (i.e.: me). It was made of sub-assemblies and parts found in the shop "junk box," left-overs from radios removed from service for one reason or another. I think the only new parts used were the case assemblies and keypad. So working with it may be challenging, as there is no model number to tell you what it is or what options are in it.

BUT ...

This radio is equipped with two new batteries and a new antenna. How do I know? I bought them.

And as you may see from the upper image above, the radio also comes with a functional desktop battery charger and the Programming / Servicing Assembly consisting of an RLN4008B RIB, the RTK-4205B Program / Test Cable, and the computer interface cable (which connects to a DB-9 serial port). Please note that while the Programming / Servicing Assembly appears intact and serviceable, I cannot swear as to it's functionality. Why? I don't own a PC that is old enough to run the software! The factory software was designed back when IBM 386 computers were king (at least that's what I remember running it on). You need a PC that will run the DOS 6.X operating system and which has a hardware serial port. While I've been snooping around looking for one, I have yet to find one that actually is operational. So ... it is what it is.

Not shown in the images, but also supplied with the radio, is a 68P81067C40-A Instruction Manual with the FMR-1506A-1 Manual Revision dated November 1990.

The radio was last programmed in the 160 MHz FRA railroad channels band, plus two channels in the 150 MHz local government band. I can provide you with detail on what frequencies are programmed in it, if you like.

And a disclaimer: There is a problem that I have no way of troubleshooting at this point. The radio has an issue with reception. On every channel except channel one, the received audio sounds like it's being heard through a long tube. I don't know any other way to describe it except to tell you to hold a mailing tube up to your ear. That hollow sound you hear ... that's what this radio mixes with received audio on every channel except channel one. Channel one is totally clear and perfect.

So yeah, an interesting one, and maybe challenging.

Daniels Electronics MT-3 Modules

I have a surplus of various VHF high band and UHF MT-3 modules for Daniels Electronics base station / repeater systems.
They are:

Notes on table:
1) The cover on this module is not the original cover.
2) This unit has audio processor board part # 43-911913. I can supply limited documentation on this assembly if you desire.

Most transmitter modules can be supplied in either wideband (+/- 5 kHz) or narrowband (+/- 2.5 kHz) modulation bandwidth.

Please also note that I am open to trading for other MT-3 gear. Specifically, I am looking for wideband MT-3 receivers in VHF and UHF, as well as power amplifiers in VHF and UHF. If you've got some you don't know what to do with, and need something I have, let's talk!

Hewlett Packard HP63917F 14.5V 20A switching power supply

Believe it or not, this switching power supply was for years the only power source for a 220 MHz repeater in southern California. I cleaned it up from that use, tested it to make sure it does what it's supposed to do, and kept it for my own use.

This supply has adjustable output voltage (+/- 5% from 14.5 VDC), remote voltage sensing capability, adjustable current limiting, and over-current shutdown capability.

No manual ... sorry.

I was using this as my work bench DC source up until a couple of years ago. It is stable, quiet (electronically ... the cooling fan is somewhat noisy in an otherwise quiet room), efficient, and reliable. I never had any trouble with it.

What's in the pipeline?

Kenwood TK-630/830 dual band mobile radio system.

Stay tuned!

Questions? Drop me a line. I will consider trades on any of the equipment that appears on this page.

E-mail Paul KB6MIP