Anyone have any experience working on the AN/TRC 170? I'm in school for it right now but am still taking the basic prep. courses. Any information would be great.

Multi channel microwave communications hasn't changed a lot since 1967 when the An/TRC 97 was introduced in Vietnam.

If you do a browser search you can find a lot of information on the An/TRC 170 specifically. I even pulled up a course outline. You can probably find the tech manual as well.

And if you are really, really serious, and determined, you ay even find one or 2 for sale at that.

Golly gee starz, do you mean midnite requisitioned?
Who'd want them, cell phones work better and you don't have big-a** an/10a"s blowing away or getting used for targets.

For me it'd be just for memorbelia, something to sit in the corner, collect dust, and bring back the fanstastic memories of my time in the Corp. Wouldn't trade that for anything in the world.

mmbika88 - the AN/TRC-97A is an analog Communications unit using two 12-channel FDM (Frequency Division Multiplexers) configured in a high/low bang group. It uses a 10-Watt TWT Amplifier (used as a tranmitter in LOS Mode, and as a PA Driver in Tropo Mode). It has a PLL loop Frequency Synthesizer (a highly accurate Synthesizer) and a dual diversity (2-Receiver) Configuration that feeds a dual diversity baseband combiner that uses a DC signal Combiner to attain a 3db noise figure gain when both receivers are on line.
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The AN/TRC-170 is a digital communications radio set. It uses a Time Division Multiplex Scheme and a digital reciever and transmitter chain. While an RF power Amplifier is primarily analog in nature, the Q- Adaptive Modulation and reception scheme gives a superior signal to noise ration. While the old analog world used an RSL (Received Signal Level) that is expressed in dB/SS the digital world gives the signal strength in a figure based upon the signal clarity versus the noise floor (expressed in BRT - Bert for short).
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I disagree with any comments that the Tropo and satellite world hasn't changed much since the introduction of Microwave Tactical gear in the 1960's - IT HAS RADICALLY CHANGED.
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I KNOW - I a lead member of the Tactical Communications Team that did the TRI-TAC Comparisson Testing of the AN/TRC-170A V-1, the AN/TRC-170A V-2, and the AN/TRC-170A V-3 Brass board and prototype production radios that were performance tested in Arizona in the 1980's (ft Huachuca, and Field locations including Casa Grade/Eloy AZ, Whickenburg, AZ and, Scotts Peak in Southern Arizona.
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I was also a Tri-Tac Program manager and System integration and Fielding Specialists to transistion from TRC-97A (Analog) to TRC-170 (Digital Syatems).
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In Desert Storm (the original Desert Storm) we took a Tri-Service State of The Art Digital Syatem to war. A "Complete" system that included the AN/TRC-170, TSC-94 Mobile SATCOM, and TDC-148 Digital Mux, and the TTC- (can't remember the actual designation) Digital Data switch that replaced the TSC-62 and TTC-30 Digital switch and the Radar data Transfer Radios with a dedicated "Networked" Data Switching center that provided both "Red" and "Black" data switching capabilities.
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We also used the TRC-92 Mobile Back Pack Microwave radios for quick and dirty short haul communications while Army and Marine Corps units were on the move.
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The TRi)TAC Communications Goal was to provide a Tri-Service (Army/Navy?Air Force) Communications package that was secure and reliable. I think we accomplished all that and more.
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In Desert Storm all Services were inter-connected and operated with high reliability, and yielded a seamless communications network that included more data and more data availability than had ever been accomplished prior.
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The SATCOM, Tropo, Microwave, Mobile Switches, and Digital Communications and Radar Switching was remarkable. Air to ground Communications, E-3A Radar data integration added to the TPS-43E Radar and the few TPS-75 Radars provided a seamless and overlapping Radar Picture to all commands as well as local command authorities that eliminated interpretation and translation errors.
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The Brass in the Pentagon, the Brass in Rhyad, and the NCM Command Center saw all radar data in real time.
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For a program that started as early as 1972 and went to the field in 1989 - it was an really interesting accomplishment.
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Good luck with your tour as a Wideband Technician. My 24-years were great.
Dave R. Mason,
USAF Retired CMSgt
dmason@phoenixcomputerlabs.com

I agree.
I started on the TRC-97A went to the TRC-97E, the only difference being the addition of 24 channels of multiplex. I thought it was some of the best communications equip out there. Once it was setup, the link established, and traffice flowing, there wasn't anything you couldn't send or receive. One of our high points was in an Operation in Korea, we had more visitors from higher up visit our commo van perched up on top the mountain with all there weather satellite equip,then I've ever seen in a field op's. At first I thought it was cause of the AF cook we had that made our breakfast to order every morning and the best chow in all of Korea!
But I can believe with all the work going on back then with the microwave dishes and communications work going on using the "dishes" that it has made a great impact on the way things are today, whether it's cell phones, or satellite TV. We may not have known it at the time, but we played a role in it, one way or another early on.
Note: The opinions expressed are those of my own personal beliefs, the hell with anyone elses!

Gee, Thanks CMSgt retired for all the information on comm and TRI TAC. Without your input the Corps would still be in the dark. Conversion from analog to digital is like a bunny hop forward. The job remains essentialy the same.

This a Marine Comm board.

MUX = SUX!

Semper Fi

John

2831? Oh yeah, I was a 2831 after we weren't 2761s any more. Had a wonderful time monitoring MX channels listening to Generals discuss their golf scores.

I was a 31 from '96-'99.

Most of the time was spent trying to look busy while in the rear. This was done by taking smoke breaks(never had a single cigarette), sneaking off to jack in the box, or wandering over to other sections to BS.

In the field time was spent reading, playing spades, or getting a tan.

Easy job that will drive you nuts if you don't find something to do.

some crap never changes

40 or so techs for 9(?) 170s and 20 or so mrc 142s that never broke at 9th comm led to alot of practice goofing off and avoiding the dreaded "do you need something to do Marine?".

Hell, I think we'd be lucky to do actual troubleshooting maybe once a week, the rest of the time the stuff was in the shop was just to order broken knobs or missing stuff.

We alleviated boredom by driving the tactical pickups (M-38s?) into the surf at San Onofre, then we could get yelled at by the Motor T Gunny and spend a couple of days taking the axles apart and regreasing the seals so the wheels wouldn't rust off.
We had a shop tech rotation so that crew techs would be inside about 2 weeks a year, sitting on our butts wishing we were outdoors, driving through the surf.
Get a clipboard, it has always been a sleaze pass.