J.H.

Durrer
Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories
Fort Monmouth, N,J,

In 194s the operation of vehicular and f i e l d e q u i p e n t s i n World I1

carefully analyzed and m i l i t a r y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s f o r a new series of ve-
hicular equipents established. The primary improvements over World II
equipents considered necessarywere: reduction i n t h e n m b e r of c r y s t a l s
m@ired; more f l e x i b i l i t y of channel assignment; c m p l e t e immersionproofing;
and capability of operating from storage batteries or from-hand generators
and dry battery sources in the field, The new equipments developed t o meet
these requirements, Radio Sets through 8, are comprised of various
assemblies of a group of major standardized components, Vehicular e q u i p e n t s
t o meet various comunication needs mky be assembled from these componentson
a building block principle, Eachof the components and the acoustic acces-
sories have been made h e r s i o n p r o o f , t h i s much-needed protection that was
found necessary t o a t t a i n r e l i a b i l i t y under tropical conditions, The equip-
ments a r e designed f o r operation an ambient temperature range from -4-m
t o up t o 65%.
The radio sets u t i l i z e d are frequency modulated and cover the frequency
range Shawn i n Fig. 1, Thisfrequencyrange is divided into channels:
20-27 80 channels f o rt h e Amor
27-38,9 120 channels f o r Artillery
384.9 170 channels f o r Infantry elements.
Ten overlap channels are provided i n each frequency range, The major item of
t h i s e q u i p e n t is the medium powered transceiver s h m i n Fig. 2.

This transceiver is r e f e r r e d t o a s t h e “Aft set, There is one. in each of

the frequency ranges used by Amor, the Artillery, and the Infantrg of
the Services, A l l of these transceivers are physically identical with the
exception of the frequency determining elements, the basic objective being
the simplification of maintenance, reduction in specialization in operator
training, and reduction i n t h e number of spare parts required to be kept in
stock. The u n i t is a transceiver i n order t o make possible m a x h utiliza-
t i o n of components,Both receiver and transmitter are placed on frequency by
the two front panel hobs. D i a l s affixed to these knobs read the frequency
directly. The so-called megacycle d i a l on t h e l e f t reads whole megacycles
and t h e b o b on the right, tenth megacycles, For 21.5 mc f o r instance, one
dial is set t o 2 1 and t h e o t h e r t o A detent mechanism is b u i l t i n t o the
tuning system that t h e knobs stop a t each 1oO-kc channel. This detent
system may be released to permit conthuous tuning between channels if desir-
ed, Operation of these hobs tunes all of the RF circuits, including t h e an-
tenna. The transmitter portion has an RF pmer output of -between 1s and 20
watts over the frequency range, The receiver has a s e n s i t i v i t y of 3/lOthS of
a microvolt f o r a 1 - signal-plus-noise-to-noise ratio. The IF’ bandwidth
is 80 kc a t t h e 6-db points. The unit uses one c r y s t a l f o r each-megacycle of
tuning range and a l l are self ccntained. The pmer supply not self con-
tained; but is provided as a separate component.

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 The next item is the auxiliary receivers Fig. 3). These of the
single conversion superheterodyne type and are equivalent in performance and
s e l e c t i v i t y t o the receiver of the WAW set previously mentioned. There
a l s o three of these items, one in each of the frequency ranges, and t h e re-
ceivers are i d e n t i c a l in a l l respects w i t h t h e exception of t h e i r frequency
determiningelements. They have self-contained vibrator plug-in power s u p
plies
The QAtr set and t h i s auxiliary receiver are connected in p a r a l l e l t o a
single antenna on the vehicle. An antenna relay in the transceiver opens the
receiver circuits while transmitting. 'Fhe receiver is continuouslytunable
from the front panel and has a built-in m e a n s f o r calibrating the dial, which
is accurately marked in 100-k~ channels.Three preset positions are provided.
They may be set up m e r e i n t h e frequency range through t h e waterproof
cover on t h e f r o n t panel. Slight adjustments t o the detented position.may be
made by Ldjustment of t h e knobs i n t h e upper right-hand corner. Correction
of a detented channel by these h o b s does not a f f e c t t h e accuracy of t h e
other detented channels o r the dial calibration. A squelch c i r c u i t f o r si-
lencing the audio output i n the absence of signal is provided. Adjustment of
the squelch threshold and s e n s i t i v i t y m a y be made at t h e f r o n t panel.

The next item is a o

w powered transceiver, the
l WBn s e t ( s e e
Fig. 4).
This transceiver covers the range 47 mc t o mc. It a l s o u t i l i z e s
frequencymodulation and is designed f o r 1 O b h channel operation. It has an
RE' p e r output of 0.3 of a watt and a highly sensitive receiver caaparable
t o the o t h e r receivers already mentioned. Two detented channels are provided.
These may be adjusted fram the front panel anywhere in the frequency range of
the set. A squelch c i r c u i t and a built-in calibrator, which gives' a calibra-
t i o n p o i n t a t each megacycle point, are also provided.
The next i t e n i s an interphone amplifier and power supply (see Fig. 5).
This unit is a threeehannel audio amplifier, one channel output being ap-
proximately 1watt and the others, 250 m i l l h a t t s . It is to proper-
l y andimpedancematch the radio equipents t o various control boxes within
the vehicle and t o provide an interphone systan by means of which the crew
members of tanks and other vehicles may carry on l o c a l communication required
for operation of the vehicle and other tactical functions. This u n i t includ-
es aplug-in type & m e rsupply f o r the previously mentioned IVB't set. T h r e e
types of vibrator supplies for 6,E-,and 24-volt 0 p e r a t i o n . m provided.
Both the auxiliary receiver m-d t h e interphone amplifiers ut,iI.i.ze the
same type of plug-insupply.

The next item is t h e "A" s e t Power Supply. Two types of nAw set power
supplies are provided, one f o r 12-volt input, and t h e o t h e r f o r 24-volt
Both use vibrztors exclusively a n d . include a means of regulating the filament
supplies of the set.
M i l i t a r y vehicles are now standardized on a 24-volt ignition system, and
most of the supplies being bought f o r the future are 24-volt type.

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 V a r i o u s types of shock mountings are provided which correspond to the
number ofccnnponents which may be required for the particular application,
t y p i c a l mounting f o r a complete radio set includes facilities for properly
clamping t h e e q u i p e n t s and a compartment with terninal f a c i l i t i e s f o r inter-
connecting the various items,
Fig. 6, shows acomplete set with a maximum nmber of components.
t i o n is provided i n t h e mounting base f o r plugging in a component kmwn as
the retransmission control. This control is designed t o provideretransmis-
sion facilities as follows: Since both the rtAtr set and R B N set have squelch
c i r c u i t s which operate in accordance with application of signal, these cir-
c u i t s are used t o operate sensitive relays in the retransmission control unit.
These relays are arranged to switch the output of one transceiver to the in-
put of t h e other and put the c a r r i e r on the air.

Pig. 7 is a b h c k diagram of retransmissionoperation. The unit in t h e

lower right-hand corner may be one of our small portable or pack equiphents
with a comunication range of one t o three miles. The middle equipment may
be mounted in a vehicle and t h e equipment in t h e upper r i g h t may be at a cam-
mand post 10 o r miles away. Then, by means of the retransmission system, 1s
t h e small pack equipment has the f u l l f a c i l i t i e s and range capabilities of
t h e high parer equipment mounted i n the vehicle, There are many requirements
f o r a unit of t h i s type when the vehicular equipents arrive a t a point from
which they can advance no further. Forward observers and scouting parties
having t h e lightweight equipment are then sent out, and cmmunication from
these far forward elements t o t h e command post may be effectedwithout lbss
i n time and the error often attendant to oral repeating of messages, since
the retransmission,after be- properly set up, is e n t i r e l y automatic.

A meter and suitable volume controls are provided on the retransmission

unit t h a t t h e audio modulation level may be properly adjusted i n both di-
rections. Lights on the front panel indicate the direction of retransmission.
Monitoring. and break-in f a c i l i t i e s are provided f o r a local operator.
Remote control facilities for operation of t h e complete radio set
b l y a t distances up to 2 miles are also provided,
The local control is plugged into the mounting base in the position no-
m a l l y occupied by the retransmission unit and t h e remote control unit is con-
nected t o it a two-;wire telephone line. Selection of e i t h e r HAH set or
WB* set transmission and continuous monitoring of t h e R A N set a r d R B R set is
then possible. Regular telephone communication between the radio set and t h e
remote location, w i t h ringing and signalling facilities, is also provided.
Control of the complete radio set a t various positions i n the vehicle is
achieved by m e a m of a standard control box. T h i s control box has three po-
sitions. A space is provided a b 0 6 t h e selector switch f o r m i t i n g or stamp-
i n of the actual f q u e m ies or code names of t he military organizations
i n the communication net.Ihch control box has connections and volume con-
t r o l s f o r two vehicular c r m members. Ekgardless of the position of the se-
lector switch, a l l crea members are i n interphone communication, Z i t h the
selector switch i n the mid position, the output of all radio receivers is

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monitored: in t h e left-hand position, the RAM set only; and i n the r5ght-
hand position, the nB* set only, Headsets and boaa aricmpbnes are pmmided
in the vehicles and a chest set is used f o r selection of either in-
terphone communication or the desired transmission,

As was mentioned previously, the equiptent was for

pmer input and weight that field operation with drg batteries a d hand
generator is v a c t i c a b l e .
The "AR set may be removed from the vehicle and carried t o t h e desired
field location with a suitable carrying bag which is pmvidsd, Coamanication
may then be established with approximately the same c a p a b i l i t i e s as ob-
tained in a vehicle. The battery supply operates the nxeiver on and
the hand generator is cranked t o generate proper voltages for trammito
In case of nonavailability of batteries, t h e equipment may be operated di-
r e c t l y from the hand generator on both Rreceive" and *transmit@.
I n addition t o the vehicular equipment already described, an intensive
program of developnent of portable equipments has been recently cancludd.
The most important of theportable type s e t s Radio 9, and
10, There is oneof these in each of t h e frequency ranges f o r Amor, Ai-til-
lery, and Infantry, as with the vehicular combinations. These r a d i o are
portable transceivers with a communication range of 3 to 5 m i l e s , They ueigh
21 pounds, complete with batterg and necessacllg Fig.
8
They, too, are identical i n each of the frequency ranges,
exception of t h e i r frequencydetermining elements. set is 18 high,
inches wide, and 3 inches thick, It is ccmtpletely lamersionproofed and its
form f a c t o r selected as being most adaptable for back pack

The radio set is completely sealed from t h e b a t t e r g bar and the batterg
box, in turn, completely sealed when fastened t o t h e both of the radio set
proper.
These equipnents tune the frequency range continnonsly and they
designed f o r 10CLkc channels, making netting w i t h the vahicnlar e q u i p e n b
possible. A built-in calibrator is provided and c a l i b r a t i o n points
a b l e a t each megacycle point. The equiplaent inclades squelch c i r c u i t
squelch operated and retransmission belareen is - B i b b relay,
by connecting two s e t s back-to-back an interconnecting cord which may be
attached onto the audio jacks. A l l of the contain8 rn tJrpe in+
mersionproofedaudio j a c k w i t h b u t t type contacts, dll connections of t h e
jacks have been standardized such t h a t it is possible to connect a handset,
single xdcrophone, single headset, chest set, o r the-praper con-
nectionsbeingautomatically made, The equipuent includes a anfenntr,
approxknately 36 inches long, f o r use when man packing the
antenna, approximately 9 f e e t long, is provided longer range from fix-
ed location is desired. A coaxial fitting is provided t h a t a loop
may be attached f o r h m i n g f a c i l i t i e s ,
The set contains 16 tubes, all being subminiatures, the exception

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of the transmitter stage, which is a jumbo miniaturetype. The u n i t is a
transceiver with a single conversion superheterodyne receiver and a s i n g l e
stage oscillator amplifier transmitter which is frequency modulated.

These equipments include plug-in IF' stages complete with their subminia-
ture tube. They a r e easily removable f o r maintenance, Easily removable
stages are a l s o provided for the individual transmitter oscillator, f i r s t RF
mixer, etc. Each of thesestages is individuallyconstructed and tested and
is connected into the equipent by approximately five solder connections.
Equipmentof t h i s type, which utilizes miniature construction, has made it
necessary t o make every effort t o improve maintenance capabilities, and i n
t h i s p a r t i c u l a r equipment, approaches t o t h i s b a s i c problem, u t i l i z m g of
unit stages, have been carried out, Bcperience t o d a t e i n both production
and maintenance has indicated very satisfactory results.

Fig, s h m s t h e s e t i n use on a soldier's back. The holster type bag

a t his side contains the operat- manual, the folded up long antenna, and
the handset when not in use.
In a d d i t i o n t o back pack type equipments, a hand held radio set is an im-
portant item i n our forward area cornmications scheme.The most recent unit
of t h i s type is Radio Set AN/PRC-~, shown in Fig. 10,
This is the complete radio set with self-contained battery and microphone
and earphone. 24-inch antenna i s furnished, The equipment has a comunica-
t i o n range of l m i l e . It is also Fhl, of the proper characteristic to net with
the portable and vehicular sets already mentioned, A standard connector is
provided f o r e x t e r n a l handset operation if desired,

The transceiver contains l.4 tubes. A l l a r e subminiature,except the

transmitter output tube, which is a miniature t T y p e . It is a transceiver type
circuit with a crystal controlled single frequency superheterodyne receiver
w i t h BFC controlled transmitter, It is preset onone channel, It may be s e t
t o any 100-kc channel in t h e frequency range 47 t o 55 mc, A k i t of c r y s t a l s
i s provided that the desired channel may be set Up p r i o r t o t h e t a c t i c a l
operations, The e q u i p e n t weighs 6% pounds, complete with a 24-hour battery.
It has a c a s t magnesium case and is completely immersionproof.
The equipment is tuned t o frequency by small plastic Geneva countemech-
anisms which a r e a t t a c h e d t o t h e RF' tuning elements. A calibration chart is
provided s o t h a t t h e u n i t can be s e t approximately t o frequency by the counter
numbers. A hermetically sealed Qiscriminator transformer is provided f o r t h e
c i r c u i t c o n t r o l l i n g t h e transmitter.
The equipment which I have s o briefly described is the result of the co-
operative efforts of the S i g n a l Corps Engineering Laboratories a t Fort Mon-
mouth, New Jersey and m a n y c i v i l i a n communication organizations and private
individuals, among them the Bell Telephone Laboratories, the E A Uanufactur-
Company, the Raytheon Manufacturing Company, and the Federal Telephone
and Radio Corporation,

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 I
I

1
1I
1

I
Fig. 1 Frequencyranges of comnunication equipnent,

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 Fig. 2 Eledim-panered transceiver.

3 Amiliary receiver.

Fig. Law-powered transceiver.

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 Fig. 5
Interphone amplifier
and power supply.

Fig, 6 Ccmplete' radio

Fig.
Block of
retransmission
operation,

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 Hand-held radio set.
Fig. 10
Portable set in
Fig, 9
Portable transceiver,
Fig. 8
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Authorized licensd use limted to: IE Xplore. Downlade on May 10,2 at 19:035 UTC from IE Xplore. Restricon aply.
Authorized licensd use limted to: IE Xplore. Downlade on May 10,2 at 19:035 UTC from IE Xplore. Restricon aply.
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