Favorite "offbeat" rig?

[w2amr]

I love the low tech 48 volt supply on the bottom. Hope he keeps a window open.

[N4VGB]

I love the low tech 48 volt supply on the bottom. Hope he keeps a window open.

I dunno about that battery supply? There are actually 2 versions of this xmitter that are identical in every way except for the filament wiring, BC-191 is 12vdc & BC-375 is 24vdc. The BC-191 is for ground use and used a 12-14vdc dynamotor and the BC-375 is for aircraft use with a 24-28vdc dynamotor. The batteries could be 6vdc or 12vdc in that pic and being used to produce either 12vdc or 24vdc?

The BC-191 is designated for both ground and vehicular use and the desk in that pic might be original military also. I've seen the proper wooden box setup that was designated as vehicular use but never seen the ground designated setup.

[w2amr]

It is a slick looking station.

[N4VGB]

It is a slick looking station.

I gotta start doing a better job of labeling pics, need to add date and source info.

[W5GA]

The Tulsa Red Cross EOC has one of these to play with, once you beat the whackers out of the way.

[N4VGB]

The Tulsa Red Cross EOC has one of these to play with, once you beat the whackers out of the way.

Oh my, a bunch of emcomm whackers with a Signal One CX-11, excuse me while I hurl.

I always wanted a Siganl One, but I passed on some sick CX-7 sets, should have bought them. I kept thinking a CX-11 would turn up that I could afford, it never happened.

Then WB4KCG/Ronnie Milsap listed his one owner Signal One CX-11 on eBay and I pounced, I mean I could drive over to Nashville and pick it up! The price took off like a rocket and I was out of the bidding in no time flat.

I guess it wasn't meant to be.

[W5GA]

I know just what you mean, Mack.
The very first Fresno DX convention I went to (pre-dating Visalia) had a CX-7 as a frickin' door prize! I was the only Novice there.

[N4VGB]

I know just what you mean, Mack.
The very first Fresno DX convention I went to (pre-dating Visalia) had a CX-7 as a frickin' door prize! I was the only Novice there.

WOW! Thumbs up to the Fresno DX guys, that's a door prize!

Just took a look at the Siganl One CX-7 registry, about 850 manufactured and 154 are known to still exist. http://www.k5og.com/CX7%20registry.htm

The CX-11 registry says only 111 were manufactured and 44 are known to still exist. http://www.k5og.com/CX11%20registry.htm

I guess the really rare bird of the Signal One family would be the MilSpec 1030C, which was nothing more than an Icom 781 repackaged, but it looked great! I never heard on anyone finding one of them in any of the mil surplus sales? There are a couple of guys on the net who have them though. I dunno if these sets are mil surplus or surplus from Signal One?

My personal preference would be a CX-11B. :pray

[W3WN]

I'd always wondered what had happened to Signal/One, and after reading some of the history of the company, wow, what a mess.

I wonder how many people (besides the two mentioned) lost their IC-781's and a ton of $$ by sending them in for the upgrades that never happened.

[N4VGB]

I'd always wondered what had happened to Signal/One, and after reading some of the history of the company, wow, what a mess.

I wonder how many people (besides the two mentioned) lost their IC-781's and a ton of $$ by sending them in for the upgrades that never happened.

I think the Wikipedia article about them is spot on, failing to procure any large military contracts doomed them. I was told many times back then that the true purpose of the company was military contracts. Just like Collins, marketing to amateurs was a very secondary venture and barely worth the effort for the low production numbers.

I guess W4ETO/Dick Ehrhorn did OK in the deal? As I recall he started the Alpha linear amp line while still involved with the Signal/One operation, maybe he saw the handwriting on the wall there?