From: military-radio-guy Full-Name: Dennis R Starks To: military radio collectors#2 Fcc: Sent Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 09:09:50 Subject: Military Collector Group Post, Dec.12/97 Message-ID: <19971212.090855.8175.5.military-radio-guy@juno.com> X-Status: Forwarded X-Mailer: Juno 1.38 Military Collector Group Post, Dec.12/97 Index: IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME; R-467/ALR, by John Mackesy WW II TECHNICAL REPORTS ON JAPANESE RADIOS; Now available. HUMOR; **************************************************** IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME; R-467/ALR by John Mackesy VK3XAO mack@melbpc.org.au One of the more engaging aspects of the radio hobby is its diversity. Some of us specialize in a particular era; others a specific application, model or manufacturer. My interests are in aviation - not necessarily military - and amateur radio. Aviation radio in this context doesn't mean the astronomically expensive "black boxes" of the modern airliner/bomber/fighter; rather the devices of a bygone, almost forgotten era. An age when aircraft engines had a multiplicity of cylinders, swung impressively large propellers and shook the ground with their thunderous roars, even with them at 15,000 feet. Of the aircraft radio equipment from that era, little survives. Of the survivors, few are operational, even fewer unbutchered. This is the story of "one that got away"*. It started as quest for BNC panel sockets. This turned up a "black box", bearing 6 of them, brand spanking new, never used, original packing etc. for only ten bucks(thats about $7.50 US) - an offer too good to refuse. Unusually, the black box came with its matching remote control - this one looked like a useful source of switches and pots. According to the data plate, it was a C-1933/ALR-3; the front panel bore the legend "CM X RCVR" Detailed analysis of the black box (on the dining room table)* revealed that it was a "R-467/ALR" - an airborne electronic countermeasures receiver from the '50s, (according to its label) intended for use on Neptune ASW aircraft. Inside the box (127mm W x 165mm H x 330mm D*) lurked a forest of useful parts, including valves* like, 2 6X4's, 2 6AQ5's, 2 0A2's and half a dozen 5670's (2C51). The 5670 is an HF twin triode, and was widely used in VHF applications. There were also motor-operated rotary switches and a useful quantity of high quality resistors, capacitors and miscellaneous hardware. It was all most beautifully constructed, to the usual exacting MilSpec standards. Following some reflection, I decided that it was ethically unsound to convert this equipment to components. Which, logically, raised the thorny issue of what to DO with it. The usual tendency is to put things like this on an out-of-the way shelf, thereby avoiding the need to make a decision. Not this one! This was going to be a goer - after all, who else would do it? Lacking a schematic (or any other data) the interconnecting wiring between the control box and receiver was puzzled out. Each end of the cable terminated in the multipin circular metal shell connectors commonly known as "Cannon plugs"* - MS3106 24-28S in this case. A pair of these were found, and a wiring harness built - 26 wired - on the long-suffering dining room table. Not a difficult job, but rather tedious. On completion of this task, the R-467/ALR was ready to be powered up - for the first time in some decades. As is usual with aviation electronics, it required 28V DC and 115V 400 Hz AC. In my situation, the 28V DC source is a transformer/rectifier supply and the AC is derived from 28V DC input/115V output rotary inverter. But I digress... A multimeter was connected to front panel B+ test point, and the "POWER" switch moved to the "ON" position. Filaments OK, B+ OK, B- (!) OK, all functions OK. Seems like Murphy* took the day off. But what does it do, you may well ask. Good question. It appears to be a very broad band receiver - no tuned circuits, you can't get much more broad band than that. The circuitry is mostly classical video amplifier, the output video and demodulated audio - the 2 6AQ5's. There is one clue - there are 4 antenna inputs, the control box allows you choose any one of the 4, or accept input from all at the same time. I recently discovered that Neptune aircraft had 4 rod antennae spaced at 90 deg. intervals around the rear fuselage, which suggests the following scenario*. With the antenna input set to "ALL", a radar* signal would provide an output from the receiver. Thus alerted, you'd (quickly) switch through the antennae, thereby divining from which quadrant the threat was coming. With any kind of luck, this would lead to the avoidance of a potentially embarrassing triple-A/missile situation. What makes this workable is the fact that radar emissions are detectable from a much greater range than they can provide a usable return. So there you are, sitting in a large, slow moving target with an impressive radar cross-section and no defensive armament. What do you do? The short answer is - hide behind the horizon! Although it was an interesting project, there didn't seem to be any practical use for the beast. That situation changed recently when it was pressed into service as a preamplifier for my Panoramic Analyzer. This is used in conjunction with a Collins airborne HF transceiver... but that's another story. As for the BNC panel sockets, I found this piece of commercial junk, y'see, and it had these BNC sockets... Footnote: Electronic countermeasures, commonly abbreviated 'ECM', come in 2 forms. These are (1) 'active' countermeasures, i.e. jamming, chaff, and various sorts of decoy techniques, and (2) 'passive' countermeasures, which is basically maintaining a listening watch. This provides a basis for more effectively pursuing (1). It also lets you know when you're being illuminated by radar-controlled gunnery and missile systems, among other things! For more information on this fascinating subject, read "Instruments of Darkness" and 'The Radar War'. Finally - my feeling is that the equipment described is part of a more grandiose* system. If anyone out there has info - manuals, schematics, personal experience - I'd like to hear from you. ed)* "one that got away"*, a phrase normally associated with fish stories, so I suppose it does apply here. (on the dining room table)*, an elaborate diagnostic test fixture, normally only available to the most dedicated if scientist, or confirmed bachelors. "Cannon plugs"*, a term often synonymous with masochist, or masochistic, usually associated with an abnormal sex life, or tendencies. This conclusion can be confermed in the part numbers used with these devices,I/E "MS3106 24-28S" "mm*" is the abbreviation for millimeters, a unit of measure often use by foreigners when a good yard stick isn't available. "valves*" is Limy for tubes. I'm desapointed, he didn't once use the words "earth", or "aerial"! "Murphy*" is the butler, often blamed when things go wrong, as he had the day off, extra care was required in this project do to the lack of a scape goat. "scenario*", a pet word often used by the actor, Robert Culp, in the now defunct TV comedy series "Greatist American Hero", when planning the days commic events. "radar"*, A much love central character in the Movie, & later TV series "MASH". He was famous for his ability to detect flying aircraft at great distances, & his sleeping with a Teddy Bear. Until this time it was unknown that counter-measures had been devised to defeat these abilities. "grandiose*", a river separating the United States, & Mexico, I fail to see it's connection with this article. Dennis **************************************************** WW II TECHNICAL REPORTS ON JAPANESE RADIOS AVALIABLE FROM WILLIAM L. HOWARD Captured Enemy Equipment Report No. 27 Japanese Signal Light prepared by Signal Corps Ground Signal Agency, Bradley Beach, N.J. black pages with white print-Readable copy 9 pages.............................$5.00* ** Captured Enemy Equipment Report No. 31 Japanese Radio Set Type 94-6 prepared by Signal Corps Ground Signal Agency, Bradley Beach, N.J. white pages with black print-Excellent copy 37 pages...........................$ 8.00* Captured Enemy Equipment Report No 43 Enemy Dry Batteries prepared by Signal Corps Ground Signal Agency, Bradley Beach, N.J. White pages with black print-Excelent copy Has a sample of the type reports prepared by the 5250th Technical Intelligence Co. Equipment Report No 55. 72 pages...........................$12.00* Japanese Transmitters Type 55 (1939) & (1942) prepared by Signal Corps Ground Signal Agency, Bradley Beach, N.J. white pages with black print- Excellent copy 19 pages............................$10.00* Captured Enemy Equipment Report No. 60 Japanese Radio Set Model 97 prepared by Signal Corps Ground Signal Agency, Bradley Beach, N.J. white pages with black print- Excellent copy Compares the Type 97 to the Type 94-6 39 pages.set......................$10.00* Captured Enemy Equipment Report Japanese Receiver 1568 prepared by Holabird Signal Depot White pages with black print- Cover very dark but Readable copy 12 pages............$5.00* ** WAR DEPARTMENT TB’S TB SIG E -15 Description and Use, Captured Enemy Field Wire German and Japanese Black pages, white print, readable 9 pages........................................$5.00* ** TB SIG E 17 JAPANESE RADIO SET Model 94 Mark 6 Wireless Set Model 23 Type H Transmitter 10 DECEMBER 1944 Dropped in hopper copy........$20.00 Reformatted, two sided copy with Green Cardstock cover, like original................................$30.00 TB Sig E 18 Jap Type 97 Light wireless Set White pages, black Print, excellent copy 42 Pages.................$20.00* TB SIG E 19 JAPANESE RADIO SET Model 94 Mark 5 Wireless Set Model 32 Type Transmitter Mark 32 Type Receiver 6 DECEMBER 1944 Dropped in hopper copy.............$20.00 Reformatted .two sided copy with Green Cardstock Cover . like original.....................................$30.00 TB SIG E 21 Japanese Radio Mobile Wireless Set C Mk 1 Mk 305 Type Tx Black pages, white print, technical information readable photographs are OK but not good. You can recognize an item. 49 Pages...........$10.00* TB Sig E 22 Japanese Model 94 Mark 5 S.W. Transmitter Black pages, white print, technical information readable, excellent line drawings, photographs are OK but not good. You can recognize an item. 57 Pages...........$10.00* TB Sig E 23 Japanese Model 94- Mark 2B Wireless Set Black pages, white print, technical information readable, excellent line drawings photographs are OK but not good. You can recognize an item. 70 Pages..........$20.00* TB SIG E 26 Japanese Radio Set Model 94 Ground to Air Radio Set Black pages, white print, tehnical information readable, excellent line drawings photographs are OK but not good. You can recognize an item. 85 Pages..........$30.00* * Package Deal All documents marked by an asterik * done all at once $45.00 These are the documents that have never been in circulation before. Just obtained from the Library of Congress ** Any two items marked by a double asterik ** for $ 5.00 Price include packaging and postage. Available from: LTC William L. Howard 219 Harborview Lane Largo, Florida 33770 THE WILLIAM L. HOWARD ORDNANCE TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE MUSEUM e-mail wlhoward@gte.net Telephone AC 813 585-7756 **************************************************** HUMOR; Redneck Nativity Scene In a small southern town there was a "Nativity Scene" that showed real skill and talent had gone into creating it. One small feature bothered me. The three wise men were wearing firemen's helmets. Totally unable to come up with a reason or explanation, I left. At a "Quik Stop" on the edge of town, I asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets. She exploded into a rage, yelling at me, "You damn Yankees never do read the Bible!" I assured her that I did, but simply couldn't recall anything about firemen in the Bible. She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and ruffled thru some pages, and finally jabbed her finger at a passage. Sticking it in my face she said "See, it says right here, 'The three wise man came from afar'."