Collins KWM-2A Time capsule

This is a Collins Military KWM-2A transceiver that was run thru DEPO back in 1988 and then boxed up and unused until I received it and was asked to check it out for the person who now owns it. One of the cleanest KWM-2 transceivers that i have seen and assuming that it was not used after being put in storage after its DEPO maintenance.
Thanks to Nick, K4NYW, Eugene W2HX and Tony N3KCB for taking part in the on air testing of the radio.

[@ElPasoTubeAmps]

I have a museum quality KWM-2A with power supply and speaker that I got at an estate sale from a good gentleman, SK. It has military contract numbers on it and apparently never used. The 5U4 and 5R4 and even the fuse holder was in a plastic bag. I use it with the 30S-1. Love it... I was asked the other day what was my "daily radio" and I told them it was this one. I have an iCom 7300 but nothing is like my Collins equipment. I can repair it as required. Some of my Collins equipment goes back to the 30K-1 made in 1947. It had been changed, before I got it in 1975 but the power supply components, even the capacitors, are original and I use it. I turned the 30K-1 into an RF amplifier project shortly after getting it and it has run a pair of 4-400A, 3-400Z, 3-1000Z and 4CX1000A projects. Love that Collins equipment. Thanks for posting. 73 WA4QGA El Paso

[@brianclements1014]

This what I had as an emergency radio at Casey Base in Antarctica in 1979. It also had an add-on 2Kw linear PA if necessary. I used it as my ham transceiver to ensure it was always in working order. Used a 20 metre 2 element yagi mostly bare back for schedule with Australia. Also used a rhombic with segment lengths of about 400 metres which put out a whopping signal. I was VK0BC then, now VK4BAC. Unit worked flawlessly.

[@grinch45]

In 1986, my signal unit at Fort Huachuca turned in 24 sets of these complete in perfect condition. Reagan turned around the Army and we trained and maintained in the 80s. So these probably went back to a depot. They worked well and after that we got new solid state 125 watts with automatic tuning couplers. Then I read in a HAM magazine, these solid states radios then failed in Desert storm due to static charges and heard they needed the KWM-2As again along with people who knew how to use.

[@Ken_K.]

Good job Ray, super clean example of a KWM-2A.

[@57Banjoman]

Enjoyed the radio time at the end-nice unit!

[@WA8QFE]

I used a KWM-2a for a year with a 30L-1 and had a 30S1 w/ 13 ele LP beam as HL9KY in the late 70's.

[@sleeve8651]

A friend of mine who spent time in Nam, said they dug holes and buried lots of these, before pulling out ! I remember back a decade or more, the Japanese world pay top dollar for these !

[@w2hx]

Sounds and looks great! And thanks for this, I rarely get to hear myself on the air. Not too bad! 73

[@624radicalham]

Seriously man? Just tune to an online SDR, of which there are hundreds all over the world (and have been there for a decade) and listen to your transmission. Why the resistance to do that? Why not even care how you truly sound in the air?

[@w2hx]

​@624radicalham no need. I get good audio reports from other hams. Don't confuse knowing your signal sounds fine and hearing yourself on the air. It was the latter I was commenting on.

[@624radicalham]

Don't confuse hearing your own voice on air with taking subjective reports from other operators, even those you consider friends, who have personal preferences and usually know nothing about audio. Ask 10 different hams how you sound and you get 6 different opinions on average. The only way to know what you sound like on the air is to hear yourself on the air. You should know that after so many years of being licensed. Why the reluctance to embrace tools that are your disposal that actually help? Do you dislike color spectrum scopes too? Unbelievable. @@w2hx

[@cw2gtc]

Drooling here.

[@fizickul71]

Wow! I'm having a envy attack. I used to work on R-390As in the 80s. Is the VFO on those a PTO like the R-390?

[@andrewsquires7230]

Well done 73 Andy VK3AS

[@robertmethia7080]

nice video

[@boknows3841]

Cb'rs and some Lid who was too lazy to actually call cq on an open frequency and make his own qso.

[@milcommguy5927]

Good job

[@spaceflight1019]

It doesn't have a lot of hours on it.

[@christine-z6d1t]

Definitely cool, but I wouldn't trade it for my DRAKE TR4cw/rit. My Drake audio is much better than the Collins. Just something about Drake's audio, but again the Collins is a beautiful rig for sure. FB

[@Rybachok513]

Good old radio, I am in UKRAINE 🇺🇦

[@cqdx1677]

Why people love non digital display radios i cannot understand 😏 .even 0.1kHz is important on HF bands ,these analog-mechanic displays mislead operators... Of course fully digital radios with bells and whistles are also not giving a radio sense to.me 🤓. Only Fm broadcast radios with analog display may be nostalgic for daily use 😏

[@christine-z6d1t]

Digital display's can be added to any boat anchor actually. Also, with all the ESSB on the Ham bands now, not to mention the huge amounts of "QRM'ers, I wouldn't worry too much about these old radio's being used on air. Most are on frequency anyway or just use your "rit". Sometimes it's nice just using these old rigs to give that feeling of what Ham radio "use" to be and not just operating a modern appliance. Not dissing new radio's as I have both. Bet you don't like classic cars either. LOL

[@Wa3ypx]

A buddy of mine, now a silent key, talked about seeing them in Vietnam. Wonder how many were left laying around the countryside?