This weekend I upgraded my 1970s-era PRC-320 HF radio to include new functionality for amateur radio use – adding an S-meter, correcting the military 2 kHz frequency offset, enabling LSB, and replacing a few tired components. Every time I open one of these sets I’m reminded how remarkable older engineering can be.

Built by Plessey in the UK during an era when maintenance and longevity were design priorities, the PRC-320 is a masterclass in thoughtful manufacturing: every cable numbered, every module accessible, every function implemented in hardware you can understand, repair, and even improve.

Today, many devices achieve new features through software updates – but that comes at the cost of user-serviceability, transparency, and long-term repairability. The PRC-320 shows the advantages of robust, modular, and documentation-rich engineering: decades later, it’s still upgradeable, maintainable, and fully functional.

There’s something to be said for technology built not just to work, but to last…..