MILITARY COLLECTOR GROUP POST, Sept.23/98 Index: ANNOUNCEMENTS; NEW WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY; AM VERSES FM, & RUSSIAN RADIOS; MEMBERS WRITE; FR-78 Power Supply? Some R-390 Questions, Happy New GRC-9 Owner, SPECIAL EVENT REPORT; Peoria Ill. HUMOR; *********************************************** ANNOUNCEMENTS; *********************************************** NEW WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY; Bell Labs scientists shatter limit on fixed wireless transmission FOR RELEASE: WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 09, 1998 MURRAY HILL, N.J. - Lucent Technologies today announced scientists at Bell Labs, the company's research and development arm, have developed a breakthrough technology that may potentially boost the capacity of certain wireless links by 10 to 20 times. This innovation, known as BLAST, may allow so-called "fixed" wireless technology to rival the capabilities of today's wired networks, while also providing faster and more cost-effective deployment. One potential application would be for businesses, where wires no longer would be necessary to transmit data between desktop computers, notebook computers and hand-held devices. Another possible use would be providing phone service to remote and rural areas, where wireless networks would connect homes and businesses to copper-wired public telephone service providers. "Technologies that provide a 10-fold improvement in wireless capacity come along once a decade," said Bell Labs President Dan Stanzione. "This is a very significant scientific development with long-term potential impact on our wireless business." The BLAST technology is not well suited for mobile wireless applications, such as hand-held and car-based cellular phones, because multiple antennas - both transmitting and receiving -- are needed. In addition, tracking signal changes in mobile applications would increase the computational complexity. The inspiration for BLAST (Bell Labs Layered Space-Time) can be traced to a challenge from Rich Gitlin, chief technical officer and Data Networking Technology Vice President in Lucent's Data Networking Systems business unit. Gitlin asked the researchers to take a fresh look at a 50-year-old mathematical theory developed at Bell Labs, which is the theoretical foundation of today's high-speed communications systems. The end result was cramming roughly 10 to 20 times more information on the same frequency band by developing new signal processing techniques. "The breakthrough results prove the feasibility of a technology which leapfrogs what we assumed about the limitations of radio communications," said Jim Brewington, president of Lucent's Wireless Networks Group. "While there is still a great deal of applied research required before we apply this discovery, we are very excited about its potential implications for our future wireless systems." The BLAST technology essentially exploits a concept that other researchers believed was impossible. The prevailing view was that each wireless transmission needed to occupy a separate frequency, similar to the way in which FM radio stations within a geographical area are allocated separate frequencies. Otherwise, the interference is too overwhelming for quality communications. The BLAST researchers, however, theorized it is possible to have several transmissions occupying the same frequency band. Each transmission uses its own transmitting antenna. Then, on the receiving end, multiple antennas again are used, along with innovative signal processing, to separate the mutually interfering transmissions from each other. Thus, the capacity of a given frequency band increases proportionally to the number of antennas. The BLAST prototype, built to test this theory, uses an array of eight transmit and 12 receive antennas. During its first weeks of operation, it achieved unprecedented wireless capacities of at least 10 times the capacity of today's fixed wireless loop systems, which are used to provide phone service in rural and remote areas. "This new technology represents an opportunity for future wireless systems of extraordinary communications efficiency," said Bell Labs researcher Reinaldo Valenzuela, who headed the BLAST research team. "This experiment, which was designed to illustrate the basic principle, represents only a first step of using the new technology to achieve higher capacities." The advanced signal-processing techniques used in BLAST were first developed by researcher Gerard Foschini from a novel interpretation of the fundamental capacity formulas of Claude L. Shannon's Information Theory, first published in 1948. While Shannon's theory dealt with point-to-point communications, the theory used in BLAST relies on "volume-to -volume" communications, which effectively gives Information Theory a third, or spatial, dimension, besides frequency and time. This added dimension, said Foschini, is important because "when and where noise and interference turn out to be severe, each bit (of data) is well prepared to weather such impairments." Remarkably, the initial BLAST experiment designed by researchers Glenn Golden and Peter Wolniansky did not use the technology of error correction coding to correct signal errors, nor did the transmitter have prior knowledge of which signal components would propagate easily and which would be severely impaired. Also, BLAST research by Michael Gans includes determining the optimal placement and number of transmitting and receiving antennas. If, for instance, the distance between antennas on each end were further reduced, the number of potential applications, such as mobile communications, might increase. In addition, researchers are trying to boost capacity even further and exploring how to enhance BLAST for all wireless formats. Technical background Information about BLAST is available at http://www.bell-labs.com/news/1998/september. *********************************************** AM VERSES FM, & RUSSIAN RADIOS; Dennis, My basic comparison of AM versus FM has been that AM had greater range and FM had better quality of voice transmission. The US opted to use the AM sets when greater ranges were needed and FM for short range. The basic tank radios were the SCR 510 and SCR 508 which were FM and the SCR 506 was used by the Recon elements and the intelligence nets as they operated over greater ranges. I think the TMs say the AM-CW range of the SCR 506 is 125 miles while the range of the SCR 510s are about 5-10 miles. Since the Russian doctrine/organizational charts did not call for a radio in each tank, then greater range was required, hence AM was the preferred means of communication. One must also consider the great size of the Soviet Union and the strain on the industrial base so the tendency would be to keep on producing AM sets. I am certain the Soviets were aware of the advatages of FM communication but could not risk the change over to FM sets during the war. We had the luxury of almost 1 1/2 years of war in China and Europe to tinker and develop FM, standardize and issue purchase orders, get production lines started and had multiple contractors available before the war even started for us and then in the very early stages most of our sets were AM sets. The Europeans and the Orientals were deep into the war. Remember that the Japanese and Germans stuck with regenerative receivers until almost the last months of the war, even thought the super hetrodye circuits were know about.. Having "looked at" a number of AM/FM sets(Receivers) it seems to me that they both use basically the same parts, just wired somewhat differently. Now superimpose this on a completly inflexible manufacturing industrial base you have everything coming out as AM. Remember this is a system where when Stalin said to make an exact copy of a downed B 29(?) they made an exact copy to include the bullet holes.!! This does not foster innovative thinking. This is "informed opinion" on my part and I have nothing in the way of documents, etc to back it up. It makes some sense to me. If anyone has a different opinion or facts, I will be glad to change my thinking on the subject. William L. HowardTHE WILLIAM L. HOWARD ORDNANCE TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE MUSEUM e-mail wlhoward@gte.net Telephone AC 727- 585-7756 ed) as is usual, you make the mistake of combining, and confusing AM/HF with FM/VHF. This has been a major problem with non-technical persons in lofty positions for over 50 years. Even the writers of our WW-II bible, "The Signal Corps" made this mistake numerous times thus clouding the efforts of non-technical researchers to this day. Let me make several things very clear so that they are not again confused! AM and FM are modes of operation, I/E methods of modulation. They are not bands of operation, or a selected frequency range, and should never be confused or used as a synonym. THERE IS NO range advantage between AM, or FM. While both have their advantages, or dis-advantages, range IS NOT one of them. This distinction is very important as there were, and is still today, radios that are modulated by both AM and FM in the VHF spectrum. HF, and VHF are sections of frequency spectrum and as such do have certain range benefits. The common mistake is to refer to HF as AM, and VHF as FM. This is absolutely unacceptable, and usually the practice of ignorant persons that don't know the difference, or lazy persons who won't add a couple more letters, (AM/HF, FM/VHF). No organization past or present, foreign of domestic ever used AM for "greater range", or FM for "short distances". They used HF for greater range, and VHF for short distances! Again this distinction is VERY important. Would you say that the AM modulated BC-222, -322, TBY, etc had greater range than the FM BC-620, -659, -1000 ? If you did, you'd be wrong! All are VHF portables with comparable output powers, yet the former is AM modulated while the later is FM. As such, the SCR-506 did not have a range of 125 miles because it was an AM set, it did because it was an HF radio with 50 watts output. And the SCR-510 did not have a range of 5-10 miles because it was an FM set, it did because it was a VHF radio with about 1.5 watts output. In this light, the bulk of Bill's above statement is total bull shit, and perpetuates the confusion and myth. Bill's above dissertation was prompted by Tom Bryan's informed questions, and observations in regard to his recent article on Russian Radio Equipment as seen below. While Tom's question concerns FM and portable field equipment, Bill's account is centered on armored. And while he may have made some valid points, we don't know it because of his synonymous us of AM, HF, and VHF, FM. "Bill does not mention something very important about the R-116. It is an AM set, not FM. There is also a "Company/Battalion Radios" called the R-106 that is also AM. It is clear that these sets were replaced with the R-105 series radios. Does anyone have any idea why they were using AM?" Though Bill made no mention of the subject radio's frequency range, or modulation mode in his original article, the R-116 was a VHF set using AM modulation. Tom knowing this, asked the question, "why AM?" when the bulk of the world's military had switched to FM for VHF communications equipment of this type. Breck Smith addressing the subject offered the following viable explanation in a subsequent Group Post. It is obviuos that at least Tom, and Breck know the difference between AM/HF, and VHF/FM. My original editor's response follows Breck's input, and this opinion still stands with the addition of some possible reasons for the USSR sticking with AM modulation for this length of time. [Russian R-116 on AM? Reference your posting of T. Bryan reference to the R-116 , 16 Sept 98. The Russians were trying to "standardize" their modes of modulation. Aircraft traditionally use AM why not make everything AM. Use same amplifiers, audio sections etc. Breck K4CHE smithab1@bellatlantic.net ed) I'd sooner think that it was simply some leftover WW-II technology. Remember, the USSR do to the extreme distrust by the other Allied nations, was not privy to all our available technology.] Two things could account for the USSR's use of AM modulation for VHF tactical equipment well after WW-II. The first is the fact that Postwar Russian equipment of every type(not just radio's, or electronics) barrowed heavily from captured German technology, and where even manufacture on confiscated German machinery. The German's did not use FM modulation during WW-II even on their VHF tactical short range radio's which were AM. And has been stated, the USSR was not privy to all Allied technology. FM was purely a US invention of very resent discovery, supplied by the U.S. to it's Allies. As it has not been established that FM radios where supplied to Russia during the war, it would follow that they didn't have them to copy. This assumption is enforced by the fact that all other equipment supplied by the Allies to the USSR did see domestic production(cloning) during, and after the war. Again if they didn't have the radios to copy, they couldn't copy them, nor use their technology. The second possible consideration. Shortly before WW-II the U.S. military was split between AM modulation for their new VHF short range tactical radios(for tanks at the time) and FM. Many heated debates took place with the advantages or disadvantages of both types of modulation being considered. And numerous test, and demonstrations were conducted that would illustrate the advantages of FM over AM. These debates went on for several years with FM finally winning out over AM, and then, only by a very narrow margin. WW-II came along in short order to demonstrate that the choice of FM was the correct one. It is possible that in the USSR, FM did not win out by this same close margin in postwar years. Especially not having the experience of using this mode during the war. But instead FM modulation lost to AM in debates similar to those conducted in the Pre-War U.S. until such time as experience in the field proved out the mistake. ed) Dennis Starks; MILITARY RADIO COLLECTOR/HISTORIAN military-radio-guy@juno.com *********************************************** MEMBERS WRITE; FR-78 Power Supply? Hi Dennis, Thanks for the update regarding the group PRC-6 project. I recently aquired a pair of the FR-78's from Loadup that I read about on the list.The pair were in excellent condition and work surprisingly well.They are not identicle with the PRC-8, 9,10 tho.My PRC manual shows more tubes(unless ther was a more streamlined version).Do you know where I could get a schmatic for the DC-DC converter used in these sets? I purchased an extra converter in the hope of building a general purpose "field" power supply. Regards, Jay Coward ed) I've not had a chance to inspect an French FR-78 or it's power supply, while I had one promised to me, and supposedly on it's way, it never materialized. I'd still like to know how these radios came to be avail in the U.S. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some R-390 Questions, Back in the days I used R-390s at work for about six months. I don't know too much about them, but heavy as they are, what the hell is the PTO on it for? And why people say that they perform so well? Is it because they treat them like hot rods, 'cause ours never seemed special at the time (and I was into shortwave before I joined the service). Maybe it was because they never broke so the maintenence guys never had a reason to spend more time improving the alignment? How does a mechanical filter work? Anybody know where I can get a dash thirty-five for one? Amazing as it may seem, I do have a reason for all of these ?s: When I tune into 75 meters it seems like I'm hearing stations almost as well as the stations transmitting, but I never hear the West Coast Military Net on 3975. Sometimes I do hear stuff so far down in the noise that I figure it's just wishful thinking, then the next time I turn the radio on I go flying across the room because right that moment there's a strong signal coming in. I will give those afore mentioned R-390's that: Very little if any disernable noise from the radio. If were going to do this Military Collector's Group Net (and I really hope that we do), it seems to me that to be effective it will have to be planned around the cycles of the Geo-Magnetic field and whatever the Sun does to affect the ionosperic absorption. Of course, I have always wanted to set up a Beverage antenna in the park...It's about four acres square-shaped, I wonder if the fence would fuck with it. Thanks, Sean T. Kelly, sean_k@hotmail.com ed) I got no comments! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Happy New GRC-9 Owner, Dennis, Yesterday, I picked up the Angry 9 from Bill while attending the Cincinatti Hamfest. My thanks to you for helping me obtain one of these and of course a special thanks to Bill for all his hard work. Bill went one step further and brought many of the GRC-9 accessories from his personal collection to help me identify and locate items at future gatherings. My goal is to restore this fine set to working order and ultimately collect as many of the accessory items in order to replicate it completely. I plan to use it at a Field Day exercise and hopefully display it for others at various radio meets. Again, I feel very lucky and proud to own the set. Now, to begin the restoration process. Thanks again to you and to Bill for all the work and effort. KF4LYF Chuck Milton ed) very glad to see that things are comming together. *********************************************** SPECIAL EVENT REPORT; Peoria Ill. Well it has taken a couple days to recuperate from this trip. 400 miles and 7.5 hours of driving each way. Ike and I were to rondivues at a common point about 120 mile distant(Kingdom City Mo.) Ike didn't show exactly on time so I took the opportunity to gas up, check my oil etc. Lifted the hood on the old Power Wagon to find that a Pack Rat had takin up residence on my intake manifold. Building his home from rottin apples and shredded paper towels. The later he had robbed from kitchen area of the truck. After cleaning out the bulk of the mess, I found that he'd been using my ignition wires as midnight snacks, and several had been eaten on pretty bad. So the Old Wagon wasn't hittin on all it's cylinders the remainder of the trip, but evidently had enough left over as it still did a pretty good job. Attendance was way down which seems to be the norm with all hamfest in this part of the country for the last couple years. But there were some bargains to be had, though most weren't military radios. Ike was constantly dragging back arm loads of junk. I had received a call Wednesday from some old guy who wanted to know if I was going to be there. I said yes, he said good will bring you a truck load of stuff Saturday Morning(Peoria is a two day even). So I spend a considerable amount of time looking and waiting on him. Finally this old guy came up and asked if I wanted to see this old jeep radio he had in is truck, I thought, not another BC-620, but consented to go look. We walked every bit of a half mile to get to his truck, he opened it up, and there sat a like new BC-669 in the transit chest, with some vehicle mounting brackets. Me being the masochist that I am, said "I want it, How much", he said $60.00, I said "is that delivered?", he said right to your trailer, I said "done". It took three of us to lift it into the trailer. Come to find out, this was the guy who'd called me on the phone the previous Wednesday. He had come from Indiana, and indeed had a truck load. Some other treasures to be packed home where an RBV-2 Navy WW-II Panoramic Adapter, TRC-77, both purchased for $60.00. A couple command transmitters for $10.00 each. A really clean old Zenith Trans Oceanic missing it's 117 rectifier tube for $10.00. And the finds of a life time, two WW-I field telegraph sets. The first was a model 1914(dated 1917) miniature combination telegraph/field telephone, called a "Field Buzzer" in those days. It has a speaker/mic that serves as both the speaker, and mouth piece when used as a field phone, and a miniature CW key for sending code. All housed in a leather case about 5"sq x 3" tall. The second was a model 1917(dated 1918) combination field telephone/telegraph built by Kellog. About the sized of an EE-8 but made out of wood with metal hardware, it used and ancient type metal telephone handset and the same miniature key as the 1914 for sending code. Some other items to sell were an RBM-3 for $50.00, one R-1051 for $100, and another for $125. A PRC-10A for $125 (with ant, bat box, handset, and battery) this radio was being used on 52.525 with a PRC-68 and doing a fine job. BC-375 40mtr tuning unit, $25. A BC-1000 with handset, antenna, and battery box for $100, and an R-105M in the transit case with all acc for $100. And a GRC-215 for $1300 and change. Some of these Items I'd have bought myself, but when I inquired into the prices they were considerably higher. Some things that were there but didn't sell, about three BC-348's conditions from fair $55.00, to excellent $100. A slick ART-13, $150. The prettiest PRC-47 I've ever seen, in it's transit case with all acc $?. Hordes of new, or rebuilt PRT-4's and PRR-9's, $25ea. A really butchered BC-224, at $80. And a batch of Israeli PRC-6's, $45ea. Lastly, a trailer load of aircraft gun cameras and misc crap, $350ea. Ike and I drove through rain most of the way to get there. It stopped and we had great weather Friday, and Saturday. Sunday began to turn nasty, and by 10:00 the shit hit the fan. I felt a BIG drop of rain hit my arm, I yelled for Ike on the radio to "Get your ass back here fast", but he as usual ignored me. As the cloud burst hit, here come Ike a runnin, his tables, and junk were all exposed to the elements. We got soaked trying to cover it all up. We Figured then it was time to go home. We drove most of the way home in the rain. Your prayers must have done some good, as nothin broke down, no flat tires, weather was pretty nice, and we had a really good time. Dennis Starks; MILITARY RADIO COLLECTOR/HISTORIAN military-radio-guy@juno.com *********************************************** HUMOR; This diet is designed to help you cope with the stress that builds up during the day BREAKFAST 1/2 Grapefruit 1 Slice Whole Wheat Toast - Dry 8 oz Skim Milk ********** LUNCH 4 oz Lean Broiled Chicken Breast 1 cup Steamed Spinach 1 cup Herb Tea 1 Oreo Cookie ********** MIDAFTERNOON SNACK Rest of the Oreos in the Package 2 Pints of Rocky Road Ice-cream 1 Jar Hot Fudge Sauce Nuts, Cherries, Whipped Cream ********** DINNER 2 Loaves Garlic Bread with Cheese Large Sausage, Mushroom and Cheese Pizza 4 Cans or 1 Large Pitcher of Beer 3 Milky Way or Snickers Candy Bars ********** LATE EVENING NEWS Entire Frozen Cheesecake eaten directly from freezer ********** RULES FOR THIS DIET 1. If you eat something and no-one sees you eat it, it has no calories. 2. If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, the calories in the candy bar are canceled out by the diet soda. 3. When you eat with someone else, calories don't count if you don't eat more than they do. 4. Food used for medicinal purposes NEVER count, such as hot chocolate, brandy toast and Sara Lee Cheesecake. 5. If you fatten up everyone else around you, you look thinner. 6. Movie related foods do not have additional calories because they are part of the entire entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel, such as Milk Duds, Buttered Popcorn, Junior Mints, Red Hots, and Tootsie Rolls. 7. Cookie pieces contain no calories. The process of breaking causes calorie leakage. 8. Thing licked off knives and spoons have no calories if you are in the process of preparing something. Examples: Peanut Butter on a knife making a sandwich. Ice cream on a spoon making a sundae. 9. Foods that have the same color have the same number of calories. Examples: Spinach & Pistachio ice cream, Mushrooms & White Chocolate. NOTE: Chocolate is a universal color and may be substituted for any other food color. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE TOP TEN THINGS IN GOLF THAT SOUND DIRTY BUT AREN'T: 10. Nuts...my shaft is bent. 9. After 18 holes I can barely walk. 8. You really whacked the hell out of that sucker. 7. Look at the size of his putter! 6. Keep your head down and spread your legs a bit more. 5. Mind if I join your threesome? 4. Stand with your back turned and drop it. 3. My hands are so sweaty I can't get a good grip. 2. Nice stroke, but your follow through has a lot to be desired. 1. Hold up ....I need to wash my BALLS first. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A guy in a bar leans over to the guy next to him and says, "Wanna hear a redneck joke?" The guy next to him replies, "Before you tell that joke you should know something. I'm 6' tall, 200 lbs. and a redneck. The guy sitting next to me is 6'2", 225 lbs. and a redneck. The fella next to him is 6'5", 250 lbs. and a redneck. Do you still want to tell that joke?" The first guy says, "Nah. I don't want to have to explain it three times." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Beer Prayer: Our lager, Which art in barrels, Hallowed be they drink. Thy will be drunk, (I will be drunk), At home as it is in the tavern. Give us this day our foamy head, And forgive us our spillage, As we forgive those who spill against us. And lead us not to incarceration, But deliver us from hangovers. For thine is the beer, the bitter, and the lager. Barmen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Top Ten Clinton Campaign Slogans If He Were To Run Again 10. "The Other Candidates Are Close, But No Cigar" 9. "It Couldn't Possibly Get More Embarrassing" 8. "You Gotta Admit He Keeps You Interested" 7. "He's Through Fooling Around With Interns...Unless There's A Really Hot Crop Next Semester" 6. "Clinton--In Touch With America's Young People" 5. "Who Knows, Ladies, Maybe You'll Be Next" 4. "Come On, Haven't We All Had Sex With An Employee Young Enough To Be Our Daughter And Lied About It Under Oath?" 3. "Now More Like JFK Than Ever" 2. "Marv Got To Go Back To Work--How 'Bout Bubba?" 1. "Peace, Prosperity, And Big Daddy Lovin'" *********************************************** (The preceding was a product of the"Military Collector Group Post", an international email magazine dedicated to the preservation of history and the equipment that made it. Unlimited circulation of this material is authorized so long as the proper credits to the original authors, and publisher or this group are included. For more information conserning this group contact Dennis Starks at, military-radio-guy@juno.com) ***********************************************