PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-611
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 611
OCTOBER 2003
That’s just the beginning of your
problems. Components begin to
burn up—like driver tubes, the RF
amplifier, frequency generating cir-
cuits and the transmitting section of
the duplexer.
In a desert environment, you
must check the filter before, during
and after every operation to make
sure it’s clean and stays that way.
Blowing sand might require several
“during operation” checks.
If the filter is sandy, remove it
from the transmitter by loosening
the captive screws. Use an air hose,
if you have one, to blow the sand
out of the filter. Direct the airflow
from the inside of the filter to the
outside. But don’t use the air hose
unless you have an air gun, NSN
4940-00-333-5541, to attach to it.
(The air gun limits the outlet pres-
sure to 30 psi, a safe level that won’t
damage the filter or injure you.)
If you don’t have an air hose or
the air gun, tap the filter and shake
the sand out. If your mission per-
mits, wash the filter in warm water
and a mild detergent. Let it air dry
away from blowing sand before
reinstalling it. If you install it wet,
sand will stick to it and cause even
greater problems.
Sand also collects on the
recessed area and the metal screen
where the filter fits on the transmit-
ter. Use a cloth to wipe them clean.
Also wipe down the transmitter
frequently to keep sand away from
the ventilation fan.
Sand clogging the air filter makes the
ventilation fan work harder and harder to
suck in cooling air. The transmitter over-
heats and the OVERHEAT lamp comes
on and stays on. The transmission signal
degrades or the signal goes out altogether.
PS 611
OCT 03
43
AN/GRC-103 Radio…
Sand can
grind
your
communications
to a screeching
halt.
…but it
packs a
big,
damaging
punch
when
it clogs the
transmitter’s
air filter
on the
AN/GRC-103
radio.
Sand may
seem like
a small
thing…
Remove
air filter…
…and blow out dust
Wash filter in
warm water and
mild detergent
Wipe dust off
transmitter
I’m here
with your
“cough
medicine”!
you
didn’t
do my
pm!
OVERHEAT lamp on? Inspect air filter!
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