U-229 Pin Out by Function

© Brooke Clarke 2004 - 2009

Background
Audio
Fill
Data
Retransmit
Connector Types
Maintenance
Products

Background

There have been a number of audio connectors used on military and civilian equipment.  The U-229 family is the current military standard audio connector.  There are 5 and 6 contact versions of the connector.

This connector started out as just an audio connector since at the time radios were all analog in nature.  But with the advent of digital circuitry this connector started handling digital data in addition to the audio data.  Note that data can be transmitted over radio or wire line audio channels using tones in the range 300 to 3000 Hz, called Audio Data in the SINCGARS radios.

Note that I've been trying to figure out how this connector is used for many years.  My Audio Connectors page was started in 2000, the U-229 Audio Accessories page was was also started in 2000.  This page was done in 2004.

The different uses for the U-229 type connector needed to have been designed with the idea that although they all used the same mechanical connection, plugging in a device used for one task into a jack for another should not cause damage to either.  This seems to be working, an impressive design.

Audio

Pin A Common Ground

Pin A is used as the common ground for audio and is typically the same as chassis ground.  This applies for all audio applications that I know of.
Memory aid: All the grounds are on pin A.

Pin B Handset speaker

Pin B is used for the radio's audio output that is to drive a handset speaker.  In most radios with an internal speaker, like the PRC-68 family,  there is a DC signal imposed on top of the AC audio signal so the radio can detect if a handset/speaker has been connected and if so the internal speaker is muted. 
Memory aid: The capital letter "B" when rotated 90 degrees clockwise looks very much like the schematic symbol for headphones which are on pin B.

Pin C Push To Talk

Pin C is the Push to Talk release to listen line.  When grounded it puts the transmitter into transmit mode and when released into receive mode.  Note that this can not be considered as either an input or output, but rather as a buss line.  Any equipment connected to this line can assert (ground) it.

In radios that have a CW mode, like the PRC-70, PRC-138 and HarrisRF-5000 series you use the PTT line for CW keying.  If the radio only supports SSB modes you need to use pin E for keying CW since using the PTT line on a SSB mode does not turn on a carrier.
Memory aid: after you have accounted for pins A, B and D, pin C is the one that's left.  Only 4 pins are used for the audio functions.

Pin D Mike

Pin D is the microphone input to the radio. Dynamic mikes are used with the U-229 family whereas carbon mikes were the common military mike on earlier versions of the connector like the U-77 or 1/4" phone plug. 
Memory aid: Tthe capital letter "D" looks very much like the schematic symbol for a microphone which connects to pin D.

Pin E Not Standardized

For classical audio applications pin E is not standardized.  Different radios use it for different purposes.  For example:
PRC-68 Family of Squad Radios uses pin E for "12 Volt" vehicle power input.

The HF manpack radios PRC-74 and PRC-104 use pin E for the CW key input, and it's also used for high speed CW like from a GRA-71.  Note that the pin C PTT line can NOT be used for CW keying on a radio that supports SSB operation, since there would be no output.

The VRC-12 series Squad radios uses pin E as the loudspeaker line to drive the LS-454.

The PRC-25,  PRC-77 AUDIO and the RT-246, RT-524 & R-442 RETRANS use pin E as the retrans PTT to key the other RT with the Mk-456 Retransmission Kit.

Pin F Not Standardized

This is the center pin that is not present on a true U-229 connector.  Many radios install the 6 pin version of this connector, yet do not connect a wire to pin F.  Maybe it's done to allow a future modification, or maybe just to standardize the connector?  Some equipment does use this pin where the other pins are used in the above audio functions, for example:
The PRC-68 Family, except the PRC-68 and PRC-68A, use this pin for digital up and down loading of the channel frequency assignments and as the retransmission PTT output.  This supports a retransmission cable and cloning cable that are different than the Mk-456. 

Fill

This is the connector that's now used for filling the crypto keys into all kinds of equipment.  The SINCGARS AUDIO/FILL connector is probably the same as most U-229 family fill connectors.  The CV-4228 PC to SINCGARS Fill Cable uses these pins.  The SVM-68 (KYV-2) does NOT use this pinout.
Pin
 Function
 DS-102
 DS-101
 SINCGARS ID
A
 Ground
 gnd
 gnd
 -
B
 not used for SINCGARS fill na
 RTS
 CCD
C
 Fill Request-Acknowledgment from Radio
(might be the PTT button on a hand set connected to the radio)
 REQ
 Rx
 FILL REQ-N
D
 Fill Data into radio Data
 Tx
 FILL INFO
E
 Fill Clock into radio
(probably in the 1 kHz to 4 kHz range, to match manually pulling a paper tape)
 CLK
 CTS
 FILL INFO AVAILABLE
(FILL IA)
F
 not used for SINCGARS fill na
 na
 MUX OVERRIDE

DS-102 is a data protocol for Red keys and like RS-232 specifies the logic levels to be used.  The logic levels are 0 volts and -6 volts.
Note that the BA-1372 (now BA-5372) battery is "backwards", that's to say the the Tip is negative and the flat bottom is positive.

Data

The SINCGARS, and probably other radios, have a U-229 family connector marked ADUIO/DATA.
When an audio accessory is connected, like the H-250 handset, the above AUDIO pin assignments are active.
Note that the SINCGARS radio has two AUDIO connectors, one marked AUDIO/FILL and the other marked AUDIO/DATA.  So the digital functions for Fill and Data are completely different circuits.  Audio can be used on either connector, but the digital modes only work on the connector as labeled.

Analog

Analog data is like an FSK modem or FAX machine that uses audio frequencies between 300 and 3000 Hz.  The Tacfire and PSG-2/5 may use these tones.  This method can be used with either HF or VHF radios, depending on the baud rate and so is a popular way to send low speed data.  In the SINCGARS these are the AD2 (also called TF for TacFire) and AD1 modes.

Digital

Digital data is like form the UGC-74, a computer serial port, etc.  The upper speed limit for this type of data is 16 kb/s, which is the rate for the KY-57 and the maximum rate for the SINCGARS radios.  Baud rates are: RT-1439: 75, 150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 16000 and for the RT-1523 the rates are: 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 16000 bps.

MIL-STD-188-114, 6V polar, NRZ  differential.
Definition: (Formerly "RS-449") An EIA standard for a 37-pin or 9-pin D-type connector (functional- and mechanical characteristics), usually used with EIA-422 or EIA-423 electrical specifications.  RS-422, RS-423, and RS-449 - A Compatible Improvement of RS-232-C. 
Note that RS-422 is differential, but can be directly connected to an unbalanced RS-232 port and I expect that MIL-STD-188-114 works the same way.  So some interfaces use just one of the differential lines. When it's an output the unused line is left floating, and when an input the other line is grounded.

However when a data device is connected and the proper mode has been selected the pins have new meanings as follows:

Data Connector Pin Functions

For a SINCGARS radio:
A = ground
B = MIL-STD-188-114 Digital Data out of Radio
C = PTT to key radio (ground for Talk) [this is a buss and any device can ground it]
D = Analog Data Input for transmission or Digital Data Clock Out
E = Digital Data Mode Select - Gnd = Digital Data, Open = voice or Analog data (handset leaves this pin open)
F = Analog Data Mode Select - (ground for digital data) or Digital Data for Transmission input (handset leaves this pin open).

Possible Configurations (just a guess)

Mode
 Data Rate Selector
 Pin D
 Pin E
 Pin F
Voice1
 na
 Mike in
 hi open
 hi open
Analog Data (Tones)
 baud rate < 16000
 Tones in
 hi open
 gnd
asynchronous Digital Data
baud rate < 16000 n.c.
 Gnd
 Data In
asynchronous Digital Data2 any baud rate
 n.c.
 hi open
 Data In
synchronous Digital Data baud rate 16000
 Clock Out
 Gnd
 Data In
I think that when a baud rate is selected, other than 16 kb, that asynchronous data transfer is used.  But when 16  kb is selected the clock lines are needed. 

Note1 - Note that when both pins E and F are open (high) the AUDIO/DATA connector on a SINCGARS radio is expecting pin D to act as a mike input.  If low level digital data is fed into pin D there will be some strange modulation on the output, but it will not be usable by a receiving station.

Note2 -  Another possible way to differentiate between asynchronous and synchronous would be to leave pin E open.   If you know please email me.

Since the KY-57 would need to interoperate with a SINCGARS radio in both voice and data modes, I think it also responds to data on it's AUDIO connector using the above format.

Typically a special cable will need to be made up, see TM 09726-13.

Retransmit

Since the RT-1439 uses a seperate connector just for retransmit I'm making a new paragraph here for this function.  When a U-229 type audio connector is used for retransmit ground is on pin A, the audio out from the radio is on pin B, PTT on pin C and audio in on pin D just like a standard audio connector.  The special signal needed in addition is a squelch closed signal to drive the PTT on the other radio (note PTT is a ground true signal so I called the output signal squelch closed meaning not squelch open asserts PTT).  Pin E is used for the retransmission output on the PRC-25,  PRC-77, RT-246, RT-524, R-442 RETRANS with the Mk-456 Retransmission Kit.  The SINCGARS RXMT connector also uses pin E for the retransmission output and in addition uses pin F as an A/D select (Analog pin open and Digital when grounded).

The VRC-12 series radios may also use AUDIO pin F for the retrans keying output.

SINCGARS Missing Functionality

The PRC-68 Family, except the PRC-68 and PRC-68A, use pin F for digital up and down loading of the channel frequency assignments and as the retransmission PTT output.  As far as I know there is no way to load a SINCGARS radio with Single Channel frequency assignments, i.e. there's no cloning cable.  This seems strange that a more modern radio does not support cloning.  My guess is that there's a way to clone a radio but it's not documented.

Also it seems strange to me that there's no computer remote control function.  For example almost all modern test equipment that contains a micro processor has a remote control mode of operation where you can do anything that can be done on the front panel using RS-232 or IEEE-488 as the interface protocol.  Again I think there's a way but it's part of a "factory test mode" and not in the manuals.

Connector Types

There are plugs and receptacles.  Any plug will mate with any receptacle. 

Plugs

A typical use would be for an audio accessory like the H-250 handset.  The older plugs have a flat which should be pointing up just prior to mating.  The newer plugs have a "hump" that points up when the rotation is correct to mate with a panel receptacle.  The "hump" also gives you a longer lever arm for attaching and removing the connector.  The electrical contacts are fixed.


 Mounting
 #
Contacts
 GC
 PC
 Nx
U-229
 Cable spring
strain relief
 5
 U-229
 M55116/1, /3
 AP-125
GC 329 6 Contact Audio Plug
U-329
old stype with flat
Newer stype GC329 with Hump
AP-146 AP-126 Shell
new stype with hump
 Cable spring
strain relief		 6
 GC 329
 M55116/2, /4
 AP-126
AP-136

Cable Molded
 5
 U-182
 M55116/5, /7

Cable Molded 6
M55116/6, /8 AP-155
GC 729 6 contact Audio Recp MC-729/U
 Panel
 6
 GC 729

Receptacle

The electrical contacts are spring loaded.  A typical use would on the front panel of a radio like the three on the RT-1439.


Mounting #
Contacts		 GC PC Nx
U-183
 Panel
 5
 U-183
 M55116/9 na
GC 283 6 contact Audio Receptacle  MC-283/U Panel 6
 GC 283
 M55116/10 na
U-228
 Cable spring
strain relief		 5
 U-228
 M55116/11
M55116/13
 na
GC-328
 Cable spring
strain relief		 6
 GC 328
 M55116/12
M55116/14
 na
Drawings from General Connector web page

Maintenance

The most common problem is a dry O-ring.  This will make it difficult to mate and to uncouple.  I like Radio Shack Lube-Gel which is an oxygen free Silicon grease (PTFE).  There are other Silicon greases that probably work the same, but the ones I've found locally cost at least twice as much.

There is an O-ring lubricant sold for use on paint ball guns but so far I have not been able to find out what it is, so can not make a recommendation.  I have the bottle in a ziploc bag in the freezer to see what happens.  After a few days it's still a liquid.  But no MSDS from the maker.

(NSN 5330-00-905-6032)
NAME ITEM NAME O-RING
ADVN CROSS-SECTIONAL HEIGHT 0.055 INCHES MINIMUM AND
0.061 INCHES MAXIMUM
ADYT CENTER HOLE DIAMETER 0.605 INCHES MINIMUM AND
0.615 INCHES MAXIMUM
MATT MATERIAL RUBBER CHLOROPRENE CLASS CR

This has been reported as being a metric 1.5 mm by 15.5 mm OD Chloroprene (generic Neoprene).
A Buna-N version is available from McMaster Carr as p/n 9262K636

Cross Section
 Center Hole
0.061 / 0.055
 0.615 / 0.605
1.5 mm = 0.059055" 15.5 mm = 0.610236
This looks good. I reveived the O-rings and they do work.

U-229 Products

I have some new 6 Pin cable connectors and cable.  Looking into making custom cables.


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