Pre-HT days, the Motorola “lunch pail” radio

[emcomm]

A PDF with info on both radios:

http://www.mira-orca.ca/PFDFiles/VA7LCMotorola.pdf

PT300 and an early HT, the MH70

it also mentions the MX340 (NYPD) and MX350

enjoy...

 

[mancow]

They made a saber version too. DEA around here still has some. The saber slides into it with no battery attached and it powers the radio with external audio connections and antenna port. I've always wanted one but never have seen one for sale anywhere.

 

[n5ims]

I believe that the first was called "The Block" and the second "The Brick". This was due to "The Block" being about as heavy as a cement block (and nearly as large) while "The Brick" was about the size, shape, and weight of a common brick.

 

[zz0468]

Hernia-Talkies!

 

[kb4mdz]

First was the PT300. Based on the contemporary HT220; same basic boards, but with controls mounted off the board and on the case, and a bigger RF (and also audio) PA

There was later a PT400 (never saw one in person), and then the PT500, based on the MT500 portable, Again, same boards, just mounted inside that 'lunch-pail', and a bigger RF PA.

There was also a PX300; based on the MX-300 series.

The big bottom section on the bottom was the batterypack/power supply/battery charger.

The PT300 radios were (oddly, in my mind) built with 'positive ground'; woe to the technician that didn't know this to begin with, or forget it. He learned the hard way. Just don't ask me how I know.

Beside the handset you see in the article, there was also a regular hand microphone.

I know the radios were made in VHF-Low, and High. Never saw one, or even reference to one in UHF.

More info on Repeater Builder site:

http://www.repeater-builder.com/rbtip/mojoindex.html, & go almost to the bottom of the page.

 

[joekansas]

Those style of radios were issued to train crews on the MKT railroad many moons ago. I got one from an old railroader when I was younger~circa 1975. They had phased them out long ago and he kept one. It looked like the one on the right in the photo of the pair of "lunchbox" radios.

 

[BigLebowski]

They made a saber version too. DEA around here still has some. The saber slides into it with no battery attached and it powers the radio with external audio connections and antenna port. I've always wanted one but never have seen one for sale anywhere.

The ever-elusive Saber-X!

There are many times when you just need a lunchbox radio, whether for a portable base or to put in a car with no radio. I have two of these and boy do they get a workout!