Home R-392 radio in M37?
Moderators: Cal_Gary, T. Highway, Monkey Man, robi
R-392 radio in M37?
A friend of mine has several R-392 radios that are now gathering dust. I was considering getting one of them and installing it in my M37. I know they're both from the same time period but I can't find anything about them being used in the M37. Does anyone know if they were. Does anyone have a picture of how they were mounted or, better yet, a TM for that combination?
The R-392 is a great short wave receiver. The problem with mounting them in any vehicle is A: finding the proper mount and B: finding the proper plug for power. Since the R-392 was meant to go with the T-195 transmitter the power and the mount were a set. So finding the stand alone items are more difficult, but not impossible.
The only way I've seen pictures of one mounted in a M37 is in the S-250 commo shelter mounted in the truck. Again using the T-195/R-392 (I forget the number they make when together) and the Westinghouse Teletype machine that goes with it. I've never seen a picture of it mounted stand alone, but hey if you can find the needed parts go for it! I would think you would mount it in the bed much like any other radio mounted. If your truck is a M42 you might be able to say it was for command and control...
Oh and if your friend wants to get rid of any of those dust collectors let me know I'd love another R-392 to put in my shack....nothing like listening to the ball game on a tubed radio...
The only way I've seen pictures of one mounted in a M37 is in the S-250 commo shelter mounted in the truck. Again using the T-195/R-392 (I forget the number they make when together) and the Westinghouse Teletype machine that goes with it. I've never seen a picture of it mounted stand alone, but hey if you can find the needed parts go for it! I would think you would mount it in the bed much like any other radio mounted. If your truck is a M42 you might be able to say it was for command and control...
Oh and if your friend wants to get rid of any of those dust collectors let me know I'd love another R-392 to put in my shack....nothing like listening to the ball game on a tubed radio...
M37s are HMMWV in my world!
I visited my buddy yesterday and he was NOT interested in parting with a 392 
I couldn't even get him to dig them out and show them to me!! He still has two and they're out gathering dust and spider webs in an old shed and he loaned the third one to someone else and it's sitting in an old rotting mobile home where things are falling through the floors! I asked him about getting that one back and letting me take it but no dice!
BUT I did get an AN/VSS-3A Searchlight with the control boxs!!!!! Just gotta make cables for it and add 100 Amp generator, etc to the truck! Anybody know when the VSS-3 lights came out? I think they're a bit late for my '51 M-37 but....
I couldn't even get him to dig them out and show them to me!! He still has two and they're out gathering dust and spider webs in an old shed and he loaned the third one to someone else and it's sitting in an old rotting mobile home where things are falling through the floors! I asked him about getting that one back and letting me take it but no dice!BUT I did get an AN/VSS-3A Searchlight with the control boxs!!!!! Just gotta make cables for it and add 100 Amp generator, etc to the truck! Anybody know when the VSS-3 lights came out? I think they're a bit late for my '51 M-37 but....
Historically, there appears to have been at least one vehicle mount for just an R-392. I have seen cases of people taking the combined R-392/T-195/GRC-19 mount and cutting it down, but that seems like a shame.
You could rig something up to mount an R-392 in the back of the truck - I'd want to mount it down lower and pretty solidly, otherwise in an accident it becomes a missile that will come through the pass compartment.
The good news about R-392's is that they were designed and built to be weatherproof, so your buddy storing them away isn't likely doing any additional harm to them provided they are closed up and have their meter in them. Most R-392's have pristine interiors because of this weather sealing. They float and are also designed to be mounted to a vehicle that is air dropped.
The only two special things about installing one are the power and audio connectors, both of which show up on eBay fairly often - the audio connector is a U-77 - I don't remember the designation for the power connector. They are 28V, and run around 2 amps, if I recall correctly, so no problem to run off the vehicle power system (even in a non-radio truck).
R-392's were available more readily a few years back after being surplused wholesale, but are still available for $250-$450 ish at least on ebay... less for a complete unit would be a good deal, the upper end would need to be for a known working, clean unit, IMHO. Some have sold for higher prices, but that's not the norm yet.
The one's I've worked on are repairable, but require knowledge of the inner workings. Information is readily available, most parts are probably available as well. These days, due to age, you can't really expect one to survive shipping to you and still be working. One could totally overhaul an R-392 to be able to handle it, but as far as I can tell, several of the electrolytic capacitors are prone to failure, and no doubt other components are as well (not to mention the tubes themselves).
You could rig something up to mount an R-392 in the back of the truck - I'd want to mount it down lower and pretty solidly, otherwise in an accident it becomes a missile that will come through the pass compartment.
The good news about R-392's is that they were designed and built to be weatherproof, so your buddy storing them away isn't likely doing any additional harm to them provided they are closed up and have their meter in them. Most R-392's have pristine interiors because of this weather sealing. They float and are also designed to be mounted to a vehicle that is air dropped.
The only two special things about installing one are the power and audio connectors, both of which show up on eBay fairly often - the audio connector is a U-77 - I don't remember the designation for the power connector. They are 28V, and run around 2 amps, if I recall correctly, so no problem to run off the vehicle power system (even in a non-radio truck).
R-392's were available more readily a few years back after being surplused wholesale, but are still available for $250-$450 ish at least on ebay... less for a complete unit would be a good deal, the upper end would need to be for a known working, clean unit, IMHO. Some have sold for higher prices, but that's not the norm yet.
The one's I've worked on are repairable, but require knowledge of the inner workings. Information is readily available, most parts are probably available as well. These days, due to age, you can't really expect one to survive shipping to you and still be working. One could totally overhaul an R-392 to be able to handle it, but as far as I can tell, several of the electrolytic capacitors are prone to failure, and no doubt other components are as well (not to mention the tubes themselves).
Paul Anderson
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T. Highway
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Have you guys ever talked with the people here? https://www.fairradio.com/ They have tons of stuff thats not listed on the website.
1952 M37 W/W Rebuild @ 59% complete
Engine rebuild @ 95% complete
1985 M1009, 1990 M101A2, 2008 M116A3 Pioneer tool trailer
MVPA # 24265
NRA Life Member
NRA Cert. Personal Protection Pistol Instructor
NRA Cert. RSO
Class III RSO/KCR
Engine rebuild @ 95% complete
1985 M1009, 1990 M101A2, 2008 M116A3 Pioneer tool trailer
MVPA # 24265
NRA Life Member
NRA Cert. Personal Protection Pistol Instructor
NRA Cert. RSO
Class III RSO/KCR
Talk to them and have been to the shop....T. Highway wrote:Have you guys ever talked with the people here? https://www.fairradio.com/ They have tons of stuff thats not listed on the website.
M37s are HMMWV in my world!