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| Reviews Summary for Harris AN/URC-119(V)2 Pacer Bounce |
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Reviews: 9
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Average rating: 3.8/5
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MSRP: $2500 in good condition
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Description: The AN/URC-119(V)2 (Pacer Bounce) provides simplex HF radio communications capabilities in the 1.6 to 29.999 MHz (10 Hz synthesized steps) frequency range. This system uses single sideband (SSB), amplitude modulation equivalent (AME), and carrier wave (CW) emissions. It provides 100 Watts normally, and up to 500 Watts of transmitted power with a power amplifier. The AN/URC-119(V)2 is designed to provide reliable, easily maintained HF voice for fixed, transportable, or mobile stations. Its primary uses are for command and control (C2) and engineering nets.
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More info: http://www.rfcomm.harris.com/products/tactical-radio-communications/
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KUADE
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Rating: 2/5
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May 5, 2009 17:32
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2009 and still fixing
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I maintain this radio, they are always breaking. The software sucks and the radio is overall junk. If you like trouble shooting, get one of these.
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KI6SZ
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Rating: 3/5
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Nov 7, 2007 10:39
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Not that great...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I don't actually own one of these but I did use one for over 12 months while a MARS Op stationed in Korea. This rig works fine if you have a clear frequency and you don't need to QSY. The radio lacks many conveniences found in most newer ham transceivers. Based upon my memory of having used it extensively, I believe that it has NO noise blanker, No pass-band tuning, NO notch filter (automatic or otherwise). If you have someone tuning up in the middle of your QSO, you have NO way to notch out the interference. We often had terrible problems with adjacent interference while in Korea. I think the receiver filter bandwidth is stuck at about 2.7kHz and there is no way to narrow that or shift it up or down. Some of the remote control features of the amplifier were nice, but due to its absolute lack of features needed to work effectively in the crowded ham bands, I wouldn't recommend this rig for amateur band use. It is generally good to use on the MARS freqs where there is often little/no interference. The transmitter is good, but since the receiver has no pass-band tuning, or notch filter, it really limits its usefulness. It might be OK with an external DSP filter like an NIR-12.
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N2CKH
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 7, 2007 08:54
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Excellent rig for MARS/SHARES
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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An excellent transceiver for MARS/SHARES or really and HF application.
I used my RT-1446/URC for MARS/SHARES use on Phone and Digital daily and find it to be an excellent radio for such operations. Even for Amateur Radio use the front panel keypad UP/DN allow for easy manual frequency changes allah VFO like.
There are a number of software packages that support this family of Harris transceivers these days, MARS-ALE and PC-ALE for ALE operations, AirMail for TNC/Modem only with or without WL2K and the AAR9WI/NJ7C control program for general PC control, which I use in conjunction with various Sound Card mode software.
/s/ Steve, N2CKH/NNN0WWL
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K7TUT
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 4, 2006 01:51
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Awesome but depends...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This one of those rigs that I would recommend only if you operate on specific frequencies. FOr MARS, ARES, and even contesting (if you can stay on one freq and not have to move alot) it is an awesome rig. Extremely sensitive, excellent filters for cw and ssb and the receiver is fairly light when the AC supply is removed (they have a tendency to die). I removed the AC unit and went to 13.8VDC and it is a lot lighter. There are good instructions on how to use the rig but its pretty simple and you do require a military microphone or rewiring is necessary. But there is no way I would buy one as a primary radio. Tuning freqs is tiring and annoying but it was never designed for that. The reason I rate it so high is that the noise level is so low when a signal comes in that those weak stations are not a problem. On SSB I have never had a bad report and CW works great. If you can get one for under 700 dollars today and it fits you within the parameters I describe; get one as you wont be dissapointed. Do a google search for the RF350 and look for the site that says Missoula in the address. Its informative.
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K9CTB
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 28, 2005 04:38
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Ya Gotta Wanna
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Most reviewers of military gear are fair and thoughtful. Lots must be considered when choosing to own military surplus communications gear. My personal experience with the RT-1446 is nothing but positive. It is very heavy, and at 85 lbs, it's comparable to an old R-390 with all the covers attached. If you plan to use one of these gems, the best place for it is on a pair of slides in a 19" rack with whatever parts of the Pacer Bounce system you can find. Being a MARS head, I find it very useful because MARS has pre-assigned frequencies and modes. These can all be programmed in the 99 memories, and there's really no need for a VFO knob. Just set up the memories with your particular Op plan, as well as with your favorite ham nets. Just plan on pushing the up or down arrows for those "plus or minus" net frequencies. I have NO idea why the price for one of these rigs is all over the chart, but I own a 1989 model that I purchased for $700.00 in VERY clean condition from a very honest e-bayer. He bench-tested each unit he sold and even offered to take it back if it didn't perform. How often do you see THAT on e-bay? Just keep your eyes open. Toronto Surplus will get the hint (eventually). One last comment would have to be about the rock-solid TCXO in this transceiver. You can get it close if you don't have a tin ear and can listen to WWV. If you have a chart recorder, you can zero it right in. Harris wants a zillion dollars for a tech manual, but they are available on the web and you can download the modules and burn a CD with just the components you need. What more do ya need (besides the space)?
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NE1R
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 8, 2004 20:43
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Solid [non-amateur] radio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have a Harris Pacer Bounce in my shack along with a Yeasu FT-1000. I have used the Harris for several months mostly on MARS frequencies. It is a solid, well designed rig, for its day. To give an idea of its technological vintage (c. 1985) the rig is controlled by an 8088 microprocessor, the same one used in the original IBM PC's (or their clones). It was not designed as an amateur radio and, in my opinion, based upon 30+ years in the hobby, it is not a very good ham rig -- though you certainly can use it. It is not suited for tuning across the ham bands in search of contacts. Microphone choices are limited. Receiver controls are limited (though simple).It IS quite good for use on established HF nets where a designated frequency can be programmed directly in via the keypad. It takes up a lot of room in the shack for a 100 watt rig. But, it's receiver, while simple to use and limited in it's ability to be customized by the user, is quite nice to listen to. For the price charged by the surplus houses you can do a lot better if you are looking for a ham radio.
NOW..if you're looking for a HF rig to put in your city's EOC, this might be a great choice. Simple controls, built in phone patch and AFSK connections, 100 watts, built-in 117VAC and 12 VDC power supply, very good receiver, very RUGGED. But, get the city to pay for it.
73, Tom NE1R/AFA1IR
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KB0PGO
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Rating: 1/5
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Jul 4, 2004 13:08
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Try before buying
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Being a technition I've always wanted to get my hands on one of these babies. For the amount they cost they have to be a great rig - don't they?
I started recieving these radios about 1.5 years ago for repair and within 30 minutes of operating the first one decided that I'd never own one. They are the most cumbersome radios to operate I've ever used.
The first and most annoying thing is that if you ever want to scan through a band looking for stations you'll be sorely dissapointed in this radio. With only one scan speed and its in 100hz steps you could sit there for hours.
It is very heavy and takes a lot of desk space and once you place it there you'll never want to move it again - Truely a boat anchor.
The filters are great but the reciever performance just does not come up the the performance of any modern tranciever I've ever worked with.
My final word on this tranciever is that for a couple hundred dollars it would be a great toy to play with but for $2000 - I can think of a lot better ways to spend that money - unless your a collector of cold war military electronics.
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WA2JJH
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Rating: 5/5
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May 25, 2004 07:11
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aka harris 350 or 1446u
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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This huge 85lb rig was used by the U.S.A.F for HF
It also served at sea. The one I have is a 1986 vintage.
This rig is 2-3X the sheer volume of any ham HF rig of today. It is a modern boatanchore!
However I have never seen a radio so well constructed. It will self diagnose itself down to a module/board level. The boards can be swapped out in minutes.
The IF filtering is like no civilian rig.
Seperate filters for USB and LSB. The filters are about double the size of a large Collins 8 pole filter. They are 2.7kc wide, however the skirts are much tighter than a ham rig.
Pre-ampless front end like a drake TR-7. However the RX is as sensitive as any rig today.
Most of the boards are in shielded boxes.
OK the bad news....NO VFO KNOB! One must punch in the frequency on buttons that will give you carple tunnle syndrome. Very hard to press.
The dual ultra large LCD display uses a high voltage inverter for back lighting. You may have to buy this new foil illumince material.
the rig has a 400hz CW filter as standard.
A phone patch is built in. It will work with plain old telephones.
Is this rig for you? For most hams it is overpriced and impractical to use. It has 100 memories. Many Mars men like this radio.
It would be a good radio for a ham that really wants to learn how to repair a radio.
Toronto scientific sells them working for $2500.
Beware of ebay for these. I did get mine for $1500
ON EBAY. I did have to work on it. The boards are available dirt cheap. Bought a final brick for $75.
The big problem is tuning the RX with the arrow keys. Top speed is 100hz/sec. You will spend an ultra long time just looking for signal.
If you always wanted to own a real mil rig that is modern, this is the least costly. I believe these radio's cost uncle sam well over $12000 when they were being phased out.
Hmmmmm that new ICOM 7800 comes close to that price.
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