HT200 "The Brick"

ashleyf751
Jan 15
2 min read

Meet the Motorola Handie-Talkie HT-200, better known by its legendary nickname: “The Brick.” Introduced around 1962, this chunky little powerhouse was a game-changer in the world of two-way radios. After cutting its teeth on military radios during World War II, Motorola brought that rugged know-how to the commercial market—and the HT-200 was the result.

This radio holds some serious bragging rights. It was the first handheld portable radio to wear the Motorola name and the world’s first fully solid-state portable radio. Built like a tank, the HT-200 featured a hard plastic front with a metal back plate and tipped the scales at over 2 pounds without the battery—earning its famous “Brick” nickname fair and square.

Don’t let the weight fool you. The HT-200 packed 2 watts of transmit power and ½ watt on receive, making it a reliable workhorse for police, fire, ambulance crews, soldiers in Vietnam, and other professionals who needed their gear to survive real-world abuse. Its toughness and dependability made it a favorite until it was eventually replaced by the smaller, lighter HT-220 in the mid-1960s.

Heavy? Yes. Legendary? Absolutely.

Technical Specifications: Motorola HT-200

Weight: 33 ounces (935 grams) – revolutionary reduction from 5-pound SCR-536
Dimensions: 8.5″ × 2.5″ × 1.75″ – genuinely pocket-portable for the first time
Frequency Range: VHF 150-174 MHz (later UHF versions available)
Channels: 1-2 crystal-controlled channels (later models offered more)
Power Output: 1-2 watts (significantly improved from earlier models)
Battery: Rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery pack
Battery Life: 8-12 hours of normal use (dramatic improvement over tube models)
Construction: Die-cast aluminum housing for durability
Antenna: Retractable helical antenna design

Innovation Features

All-Transistor Circuit: No vacuum tubes anywhere in the design
Modular Construction: Replaceable modules for easier service and repair
Weather Resistance: Sealed construction for outdoor commercial use
Ergonomic Design: Shaped for comfortable handheld operation
Professional Appearance: Clean, modern design appropriate for business use

Battery Technology Revolution

Nickel-Cadmium Battery Breakthrough

The development of practical rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries in the 1950s was crucial to transistor radio success:

Rechargeable Capability: Eliminated the expense and logistics of disposable batteries
Stable Voltage: Consistent power output throughout discharge cycle
Temperature Tolerance: Reliable operation in varied environmental conditions
Cycle Life: Hundreds of charge/discharge cycles before replacement
Fast Charging: Relatively quick recharge compared to earlier rechargeable technologies

Power Management Innovation

Transistor circuits enabled sophisticated power management features:

Low Battery Indicators: Visual and audio warnings of battery depletion
Power Saving Modes: Automatic power reduction during standby periods
Efficient Circuits: Optimized design for maximum battery life
Voltage Regulation: Stable operation as battery voltage declined

Antenna Design Advances

Helical Antenna Innovation

The compact helical antenna design became standard for handheld radios:

Space Efficiency: Coiled antenna provided good performance in minimal space
Retractable Design: Protected antenna during storage and transport
Frequency Optimization: Precisely tuned for specific frequency bands
Durability: Spring-loaded design survived repeated extension and retraction

Electromagnetic Performance Improvements

Advanced antenna design provided better performance in smaller packages:

Improved Radiation Patterns: Better signal coverage and reception
Reduced Interference: Design minimized pickup of unwanted signals
Impedance Matching: Optimal power transfer from transmitter to antenna
Multi-Band Capability: Some designs worked on multiple frequency bands

HT 200 were widely used by police.