First amateur radio project

I am still studying for the general class amateur radio license. For one reason or another I haven't focused a whole lot of time on it. My time with the ARRL license manual is usually limited to the bus ride to and from work. There is an exam in town in a couple of weeks so I may pick up the pace. If I don't the next exam isn't for another month.

Until I get the next class of license I can't really make the best use of my dad's radio. It is an HF tranceiver and so use with my technician license is a bit limited as I haven't learned morse code yet. The one and only rig in our little "shack" is a Kenwood TS-440S with a PS-50 power supply. I have spent quite a bit of time with it, listening to the different bands and learning to use the controls.


Regardless of license class, I live 3 hours away from that radio. Until I move to a place where I can put up the antenna, I can't use it on a regular basis. To keep myself busy and learn more about radios in the process, I have picked up my first amateur radio project.


Among Dad's radio equipment, I found an old handheld. It is a Standard Communications SR-C145B with its charging stand and leather case. This radio is a 2 meter FM tranceiver. The project is to make this radio work again so that I can hit the repeater on the hill behind my apartment. From what I can gather, the radio was made in the mid-70's. I have no manual and can't find one online. The closest manual I can find seems to be an SR-C146A, but similar model numbers do not necessarily mean similar radios. I don't even know how to tell what frequency this thing is on.

The first step will be to replace the battery. Luckily the power needs are spelled out on the backside of the radio. After that I have no idea. Like I said... its my first project. I'll figure something out.