TW100F/AT Transworld Datron Fly Away H.F. Radio

&

TW100UL Table Top

Background
TW100 Fly Away
    Connectors
    DC Power Supply
    AC Power Supply
        Power Supply Comments by Jeff
    Manuals
TW100UL Table Top
Related
Links

Background

TW100 Fly Away

This is a fly-away H.F. radio. The idea is that it can be carried onboard an airplane and setup at the destination using either DC or AC mains power. Works with a wire antenna by means of an included antenna tuner. Very similar to the Harris RF3200ET Fly Away H.F. Radio.

This radio has two U-229 AUDIO jacks, but the one shown in the manual for the TW100F has only one U-229 jack and adds 1/4" jacks for phones and a key. So there are at least two versions, and probably more based on which options are installed.



The backup battery tests 3.3 Volts. The A.C. power supply needs to be repaired.	The screws holding the near end of the incudtor stick came loose. The two wires closest to the near end were broken at their solder connections and have been repaired. The PCB and 3 large can hold down screws (as well as the 4 inductor stick bracket) screws were removed and reinstalled using Loctite 222.
Removing the large screws from the top panel
lifting up the AC power supply

Connectors

There are a couple of circular connectors on the front panel.
Accessory - threaded coupling, 14 socket contacts, core marked "20-27". Cable conn: MS3106A20-27P(SR)
12 Volts DC - threaded coupling, 4 socket contacts Cable conn: CA3106E12S-A10P (This is an odd connector that Bill P. hand makes or is expensive)

DC Power Supply

The stock DC power supply is for "12 Volts" DC. What is the mating connector? It's an odd duck. It can be made by turning down the diameter of a standard insert. Steve Hanney can custom make them.

A common car battery would work well.
There's an option for a "24 Volt" DC supply that would be compatible with military vehicles and some aircraft.
There's a warning in the manual to not use both the DC and AC supplies at the same time. It may damage everything.

The UPF7000 Power Supply is rated 13.8 V @ 30 Amps and it's PCB looks similar to this one. But instead of using TO-220 power devices it uses a couple of external boxed power devices.
I expect the technical info for this supply would be a big help in troubleshooting my AC power supply.
UPF7000 Power
Supply

J2 DC 4-pin connector

Pins
Function

A & B
+14 VDC

C & D
Ground

AC Power Supply

Dead, needs repair. If you have any documentation on this supply let me know.

Uses the common IEC line cord. Works with 50, 60 or 400 Hz and pretty much any line voltage in the world. This radio does not have a selector switch for the line voltage, so the AC PS module is truly universal. That solves the problem of selecting 115 VAC and plugging into a 230 VAC outlet and letting the smoke out.

Power Supply Comments by Jeff
The biggest problem with that setup, and I do like the concept, was the BNC interface cable. Transworld used a crimp type connector, and it had a tendency to short out, and when that happens it will blow the PSU in short order, it blows the output FET right off of the board.
I worked for Transworld when this unit was developed. The first revision of the PSU utilized a relay that would select the voltage Mains input. That relay was to sensitive to vibration and if it did happen to throw the contacts it would blow the PSU in short order as well. The later revision of the PSU, and I do believe we recalled all of the first revision units, was an auto sensing of the mains and the PSU worked very well after that.
So your problem most likely was the Antenna connection cable.

Inside the AC Power Supply

TW100F/AT
Transworld Datron Fly Away H.F. Radio AC Power Supply

Marked:
TWC 738168 Rev. A

Transformer marked:
TW100F/AT-006
W/.O 3514 Rev. B
ECN. 001 Seq. 01

Wiring Table

PCB	Wire	Component	External Wire
E1	Brown	Filter	-
E7	Grn/Yel	Filter	-
E2	Brown	Fuse	-
E3	Blue	Fuse	-
E4	Org	Feed through	white	On/Off Switch
E5	Blue	"	Blue	On/Off Switch
E6	Blue	Filter	-

E8	Red	Feed through	Red	E8=E9: +
E9	White	"	Red	E8=E9: +
E10	Black	"	gnd	E10=E11: -
E11	Black	"	gnd	E10=E11: -

Connecting to the 115VAC mains - there is no DC output (with a jumper between E4 & E5).

BR1 shows 122 VAC and 355 VDC.

ESR-Cap Testing

No.	Marked	Meas	ESR
C6	680 uF 250WV	681	0.07
C7	680 uF 250WV	677	0.45
C15	3900 uF 16 VDC	9600	0.03
C16	3900 uF 16 VDC	9610	0.04
C28	470 uF 35 VDC	450	0.47
C33	100 uF 16 VDC	105	0.40
(R30)	470 uF 35 VDC	455	0.15
(R17)	330 uF 16 VDC	137.4	1.02

3 March 2012 - 330 uF @ 25V caps on order. Replacing the cap next to R17 with a 330 uF 35V cap did not fix the power supply.
Maybe C15 & C16 have a problem since they show too much capacity? Probably in parallel with other caps.

RF Amp Transistors

Replacement for D310050: SD1487
Substitute transistors: MRF422 or SRF3503P

Manuals

I've found a couple of manuals on line. But neither of them matches this radio nor includes info on the TW AC power supply.

TW100 Microprocessor Controlled HF SSB Transceiver, Pub No. 990101, Apr 1987, 319 pages - includes technical info

TW100F Fly-Away HF SSB Transceiver Operator's Manual, TW100F-MSOP Pub No. 990160, Sep 1990, 69 pages - is for a fly-away radio that looks similar to this one, except there is only one U-229 AUDIO connector and has jacks for headphones and a Morse key. No technical info.

TW100F Fly-Away HF SSB Transceiver Technical Manual, Part No. TW100F-MS, Dec 1992, Rev H1 (3 parts combined = 216 pages)
The tranceiver covered has one U-229 audio connector and 1/4" phone jacks for a key and headphones. My radio has two U-229 audio connectors and no jacks.
The tranceiver covered has a very simple AC power supply. My radio has a complex AC power supply.

TW100F Fly-Away Transceiver Condensed Antenna Tuning Instructions, Pub. #990177, Nov. 1990 - seems to be for an antenna tuner that has controls.

TW100UL Table Top

This is a table top HF transceiver. Note there is no provision to tune to a frequency, the radio only has channels.
Pressing "C" then two digits sets the radio to that channel.
Pressing "F" displays the frequency of the current channel.

Fig 1 Front

It's not clear if the 1/4" jack is for a mike or speaker.

Fig 2 Label

Fig 3 Rear

It's not clear what the purpose or pinout is of the DB-9 connectors:
J3 (yel)
J4 (red)
J8 (yel)
J9 (blu)
and Moxex connector (model No.?) for 13.6 VDC power.

Fig 4 Audio Connectors

Mike 4-Pin Connector to make cable:
Mouser Part Number: 502-09CL4MX
Fair Radio Item 8817

Adapter Cable: TW100UL - U229

Fig 5 Top Inside

Fig 6 Bottom Inside

The memory coin cell battery is at 3.043 V which is like new.

Manual

TW100 Microprocessor Controlled HF SSB Transceiver Operators Manual, Publication #990139, December 1984

GM Delco mobile mike

Got a GM Delco mobile mike from Fair Radio in the hopes it would fit one of these radios, but alas it does not fit either of them.
The connector has 5 male pins.
The OD of the black mating tube is 0.519 and it's ID is 0.437"

Connector Pin Out

Violet
Gray
Orange
Green
Ground

Vio & Gry: PTT

Harris RF 3200ET Fly Away H.F. Radio
TW7000F Flyaway HF Tranceiver
ICOM IC706 Mk II G
ICOM R7000
NRD545 Receiver

Links

Back to Brooke's Products for Sale, Military Information, PRC-68 Family of Squad Radios, U229 Audio Accessories, Audio Connectors, Electronics, Personal Home, PRC68.com

page created 29 Feb 2012.

Fig 1 Front	It's not clear if the 1/4" jack is for a mike or speaker.
Fig 2 Label
Fig 3 Rear	It's not clear what the purpose or pinout is of the DB-9 connectors: J3 (yel) J4 (red) J8 (yel) J9 (blu) and Moxex connector (model No.?) for 13.6 VDC power.
Fig 4 Audio Connectors Mike 4-Pin Connector to make cable: Mouser Part Number: 502-09CL4MX Fair Radio Item 8817

Adapter Cable: TW100UL - U229
Fig 5 Top Inside
Fig 6 Bottom Inside	The memory coin cell battery is at 3.043 V which is like new.

	Connector Pin Out Violet Gray Orange Green Ground Vio & Gry: PTT