A possibly possible project.... Motorola L43GGB
 

Got this crystal controlled VHF transceiver from the late 50s/early 60s from a friend of mine.

The picture isn't this exact radio, but one identical.

Powers up fine, and there's static in the speaker. Looks like the power supply was recapped at some point in the 80s. Crystal frequency in the radio is 147.735 MHz.

Now, what to do with such a thing? Well I'm glad you asked! :)

Of course, I could get a VFO and use it as a 2 meter ham rig, but I'm far too spoiled by digital and IC controlled transceivers. What I'd like to do with it is to get it to tune in 162.550 MHz and use it as the world's coolest weather radio!

The question is, is there a VFO that I can get that would do what I'm trying to do?

Just bung the proper xtal into it, and possibly tweak the channel bandwidth filter to the appropriate width.

Agreed, but where would I get one? I tried jumping a Uniden crystal, and nothing.

Same frequency our weather network is on. I probably shouldn't be surprised.

http://www.icmfg.com/
In the olden days we sold "crystal certificates" from these cats.
They were used when someone wanted a odd ball freq.
It was $6 back then IIRC.
Is the rig working with the current xtal ?
Also keep in mind the osc may be working on a
doubler & you dont use a 162.55, you need to know
the formula example
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index...anner_Crystals
Best to check with an old ham that converted these for
2M use.

73 Zeno:smoke:

Motorola L43GGB
 

Looks like an old desktop station set. I believe those have heated channel elements in them. You can disassemble them and replace the crystal. Kind of limited in Frequency range. Motorola called them Low Med and High. Lots of police departments used those frequencies years ago.

I am NOT a bog-standard Human..I'll go thru a very questionable collection of electronic ephemara, & take most of it home, as one never knows when one might need an oddball antennajack, or maybe somethin' else. At first, when I realized I HAVE this peculiarity, & thought I was likely the only person so afflicted. Y'all may not wanna admit it, but I'm pretty sure-Especially w/THIS bunch, I'm NOT the only one..

Pretty sure DavGoodlin ended up with this one :)