From: military-radio-guy Full-Name: Dennis R Starks To: military radio collectors#1 Fcc: Sent Date: Tue, 9 Dec 1997 07:25:49 Subject: Military Collector Group Post, Dec.9/97 Message-ID: <19971209.072450.7903.2.military-radio-guy@juno.com> X-Status: Sent X-Mailer: Juno 1.38 Military Collector Group Post, Dec.9/97 Index: REMOTE CONTROL OF AVIATION ELECTRONICS; AN EXAMPLE, By John Mackesy VK3XAO WHATSIT? DAVE's WANT LIST; just a bunch of aircraft crap! MARK B's WANT/TRADE LIST; he likes radar stuff TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS; ************************************************ REMOTE CONTROL OF AVIATION ELECTRONICS; AN EXAMPLE, By John Mackesy VK3XAO (email, mack@melbpc.org.au) Part 1 Many of us will be familiar with Bendix Radio Compass/ADF systems, typically MN-26, SCR-269G, ARN-7 and ARN-6. These all shared a common heritage, and were rugged, reliable and easy to maintain. The ARN-6 (1950) was particularly reliable, due in part to the level of development of the technology, and to the use of 28 VDC B+ voltage. All these receivers used standard octal-base tubes, the *K7, *SK7 series tubes being common to all types. Radio Compasses (Auto Direction Finders - ADF) differ from much aviation radio equipment in that they need to be continuously and steplessly tunable over a wide range. In the Bendix systems, this was accomplished by a mechanical tuning drive cable (similar to a speedometer cable) between the control box and the receiver. Although successfully used for many years, this method has a number of disadvantages. These include friction, limited bend radius and limitations on length and layout. Passage through pressure bulkheads is another problem. One ADF system which didn't use mechanical tuning drive was the '50s Marconi AD7092. This was a rather novel device used in a number of British-origin aircraft, including Comet, Meteor, Canberra, Viscount and DH Dove. Compared to the ARN-6, it was lighter and more compact, but in some ways rather more complicated. It also required more wiring, and (in the writer's opinion) is not as easy to operate as the ARN-6. The receiver is a typical aircraft "black box", compact and featureless, 8" (20.3 cm) H x 5" (12.7 cm) W x 12.5" (31.7 cm) deep - about half the size of the ARN-6. At 15.7 lb (7.1 kg) it also less than half the weight. In the words of the AD7092 manual T2216/3 (undated) "The receiver case is strongly constructed of light alloy metal. Quick release side covers provide ready access to the valves and components, which are built on to small easily accessible sub assemblies". It's probably worth mentioning that these "sub assemblies" are not of the plug in type. The basic receiver circuit is a single-conversion superheterodyne with an IF of 110 Khz and a frequency coverage of 100 Khz to 2.0 Mhz, in 4 bands. Receiver circuitry is fairly conventional, with 1 RF stage, a separately excited mixer, oscillator, 2 IF stages, BFO, detector and reverse grid current suppressor (!), 1st audio and audio output stages.20 When operating as a direction finder, additional stages are brought into action - a loop amplifier, ADF rectifier and AGC diode stage, 1st & 2nd loop motor amplifiers, loop amplifier output, DF switching and a 2-tube DF modulator stage. All tubes (total of 17) are standard 7 or 9 pin miniature types, with 6.3V filaments wired in series groups of 3 - filament power is derived from a 19V (carbon pile) regulator. 250V B+ is derived from a small dynamotor, which also acts as a cooling fan. The AD7092 requires 22-29V DC at about 5A, and 115V or 26V 400 Hz AC at 6W Other features of note are variable selectivity (3 steps - 5 Khz, 1.5 Khz and 400 Hz), a silicon diode rectifier to drive the tuning meter and use of a vibrator to generate 110 Hz modulation (for the ADF stage) This would seem to be sufficient circuitry to take care of most radio tasks, but not for the AD7092. Associated with the basic receiver is a plethora of small black boxes, each with its interconnecting cable(s). The numbers vary (depending on the installation) but would typically include, in addition to the receiver: Receiver Controller Type 1274 Power Factor Transformer type 1571 19V DC Regulator Type 1555A Voice/Range Filter Type 1275 Junction Box Type 1629 Loop Controller Type 1342 Sense Amplifier Type 1571 DF Aerial Transformer Type 922 Loop Bearing and Tuning Indicator Type 1630 DF Loop Aerial Type 1324 Receiver mounting rack ... and a bloody lot of interconnecting cables, most of which are terminated by Pye "Multipol" connectors. The Pye Multipol is a square multi-pin connector, with pins in multiples of 4, something like a Jones plug. Unlike Jones plugs, pin arrangement is symmetrical, with a key at the edge of the plug ensuring correct orientation. As mentioned earlier, the AD7092 uses electric tuning - no mechanical drive cables. The 3-phase AC remote synchronous positioning and indication system, variously known as Autosyn, Selsyn or Aysynn, is used for both tuning drive and frequency indication. In the AD7092, a synchro "master" generator coupled through gearing to the tuning knob on the Type 1274 controller causes a "slave" motor coupled to the tuning gang to rotate in step with the master. A second synchro master transmits the position of the tuning gang to a slave in the controller, which drives the dial pointer. Band indication is accomplished by lighting the appropriate (270 deg.) arc of the dial. I know it all sounds horribly complicated, but in practice it's mechanically quite straightforward, and works very well. The synchro master/slave pairs require 26V 400 Hz AC power, and consume about 2W a pair. 8 wires are required for the tuning drive and indication system. A similar system is used for the loop position indicator. Two different types of loop aerial were available, Types 1324 and 1264. The 1324 is a flat recessed iron cored aerial intended for high speed aircraft (Comet, Canberra) where drag must be kept to a minimum. The 1274 is a more conventional air cored loop, usually mounted inside a streamlined housing or inside the aircraft canopy. From a mechanical point of view, both types are a work of art - the 1324 has 3 different types of position transmitter!20 Part 2 BUILDING AN AD7092 SYSTEM The obvious question here is why would you want to? In my case, there were 2 reasons. 1. The AD7092 seemed like such a strange and deviant device that I just had to do it. 2. Who else would do it? It all started when I came across this "black box" among the bones of a derelict Canberra jet bomber. The black box was labeled "MF-DF" - what the hell was an MF-DF? After some thought, and a peek inside the box, I realized that "MF-DF" meant "Medium Frequency Direction Finder" - a device better known as a Radio Compass or Automatic Direction Finder. Having had some experience using and building Radio Compass systems, my interest was immediately aroused. Coincidentally, I happened on a supplement to the manual for the equipment shortly after this, further firing my enthusiasm. To cut a long story short, I eventually wound up with 3 receivers, mounting rack, voice/range filter, power factor transformer, and a box of Pye Multipol connectors. Chasing up the other parts of the system was a saga in itself, but eventually I had enough parts to start getting it together. As is usually the case, the controller was the elusive bit. This was acquired from an old mate, who phoned one evening to say that he had this dial-looking thing with a "Marconi" name-plate, and did I want it? He expressed some surprise at how soon I got there - fortunately, the police weren't about. Although there is (as I said earlier) a bloody lot of wiring to do, the manual has very comprehensive and easy-to-follow cable guides. All I had to do was build the cables, a slow and tedious business... there are 28 wires in the receiver control harness, 12 wires in the loop aerial control cable, 12 wires in the receiver to loop cable, etc., etc.20 After everything had been checked, double-checked, and checked again as a system, I fired it up - and it worked first try! I later had some difficulties with the loop controller, but it certainly worked well as a receiver. That was 1981. Since then, it's had the very occasional workout, spending most of its time in storage. It's just too messy and awkward to set up permanently; I prefer my Bendix ARN-6, which is both much easier to live with and to operate. This situation changed recently, after I decided to redefine the cable setup and physical layout of the system. It's one thing to build a system that works, something different again to build a system for display. As far as I know, this is the only example of a complete and operational AD7092 system in Australia, and possibly in the world. If anybody else has one, (or parts) I'd like to hear from you. Like most projects of this type, this would not have been possible but for the assistance generously given by the following people: Bill Babb VK3AQB Kelvin Date VK3DBZ The late Harry Wallace, of A.E.O.S, Moorabbin Airport Lynton Hayres, also of A.E.O.S. The late Ted Wilkes, ex-VK3UU Postscript... No article of this type would be complete without a look at the evolution of the technology described. In 1959 Collins introduced the 51Y3 ADF receiver, a device slightly larger and 5 Lb heavier than the AD7092. This used both tubes (11) and transistors, didn't have numerous associated black boxes - and was electrically tuned, with digital frequency readout. And furthermore... I discovered that there is an electrical remote tuning system available for ARN-6. This is somewhat different to the AD7092 in that it uses a motor and a position transmitter connected to the standard ARN-6 tuning input. The control box has a frequency INC/DEC switch, which controls the PD14 drive motor. Aircraft which used this (that I know of) were the C130A and the RA3B. If anyone out there has any of these parts, I'd really like to hear from you. ************************************************ WHATSIT? A module from a radio, marked RF AMPLIFIER, 541 9727 006, includes tubes 5654, 5670, 5654, 5750; includes 3 motors that operate a multi-gang cap and some switches and a pot. What radio is it from? Thx, Pete mccollum@ssdevo.enet.dec.com ************************************************ DAVE'S WANT LIST; ARA Receivers 3-6 and 6-9 MC, exc. unmodified only. ARB Receiver CRV-23254 pilot's Control Box CRV-10081 shock mount. ARC-2 C-244 control box. ARC-4 RT-19/ARC-4 tranceiver, good/unmodified. J-23 junction box TS-80/U test meter ARC-5 Transmitters T-14, T-15, T-89, T-90 Receivers R-112, R-113 Control Boxes C-24, C-25, C-30A (A only), C-29, C-42. Junction Boxes J-17, J-28, J-34. Adaptor box MX-19 Knob 7491 Antenna Coupler TN-6 MT-159 shock mount Any unit with "X" appended to its model number. Any unit factory-built for over 9 MC other then R-28/T-23 ARC-type-12 M-11 shock mount A-12 antenna C-15 control box. L-10 loop antenna R-20 marker beacon receiver ARR-2 TS-24/ARR-2 test set ART-`13 CU-24 shunt capacitor SA-46 knife switch ATB Transmitter CRV-21724 dynamotor CRV-10082 shock mount CRV-10083 shock mount CRV-10084 shock mount CRV-23258 pilot's control box CRV-60025 metering kit RAT/RAV Anything whatsoever, in any condition. RBM Navy Receiver Parts units with the slide mounts on the bottom of the radio cases intact. Set of legs for transport case. RCA Light Aircraft AVA-126 power supply AVT-15 transmitter SCR-274N Transmitters BC-950, BC-961 Receivers BC-942 20-40 MC receiver Control boxes BC-461, BC-938 Anything marked in Cyrillic (Russian). Any unit with "X" appended to its model number. Any unit factory-built for over 9 MC. TA-12 transmitter MT-51 control box MT-53 antenna loading unit MISC. NEEDED Antenna switch BC-xx-408 Plugs PL-60, -61,-62,-63,-64, -75, -77, -104 Bendix MN-20 loop antenna. Shock Mount FT-141 Original ARC-1 manual. Original ARC-5 manual. Will negotiate for cash or trades. 73 DE Dave Stinson AB5S arc5@ix.netcom.com ************************************************* MARK B's WANT/TRADE LIST; I finally found enough free time to compile my want and trade list: Items wanted in good to excellent condition. Original manuals wanted (not photocopies). Local sources (Orange County, CA) preferred so I can examine before I buy. Will consider delivery or pick-up in Orange County if trade is interesting enough. Just because it's on the wanted list doesn't necessarily mean I can actually afford it right at this instant... some of these are sorta long-term wants, so I might be picky. The PP-4763A is probably my highest priority. Mil surplus electronics wanted: PP-4763A power supply ("A" model only, I plan to run it at 240V) (will this run a T-195, or will the dynos fry it with their startup current?) T-195 or T-195B transmitter GRC-19 minor components (shockmounts, cables, etc.) Mounting plate for AM-598 amp/power supply Shockmount for R-392 GRR-5 receiver PRC-68 transceiver PRC-77 transceiver PRC-119 transceiver (as if I could actually afford one! :-) VRC-12 series components such as RT-524, RT-246, R-446, etc. Parts for R-110 listed below in for-trade section Other late-model military comm gear that would work on a ham band might interest me, too. Army technical manuals wanted: TM 9-1005-303-14 Shotgun, 12 ga, Winchester Model 1200, Riot Type, 20" bbl. TM 9-1804B Power Train, Body & Frame, 1/4 Ton 4x4 M38 TM 9-1825A Ord. Maint., Electrical Equipment (Delco-Remy) TM 9-1825B Ord. Maint., Electrical Equipment (Auto-Lite) TM 9-1825E Ord. Maint., Electrical Equipment (Bendix-Scintilla) TM 9-1827C Ord. Maint., Hydraulic Brakes (Wagner-Lockheed) TM 9-1828A Ord. Maint., Fuel Pumps TM 9-1829A Ord. Maint., Speedometer, Tachometer & Recorders TM 9-1834A Ord. Maint., Equipment, Valve Grinding, etc. TM 9-2320-211-10 Operator's Manual, 3/4 Ton 4x4 M37 TM 9-2320-211-20 Org. Maint., 3/4 Ton 4x4 M37, M37B1, etc. TM 9-2320-211-20P Org. Repair Parts, 3/4 Ton 4x4 M37, M37B1, etc. TM 9-2320-211-34 DS, GS & Depot Maint., 3/4 Ton 4x4 M37, M37B1, etc. TM 9-2320-211-34P DS, GS & Depot Repair Parts, 3/4 Ton 4x4 M37, M37B1, etc. TM 9-2320-218-10 Operator's Manual, 1/4 Ton 4x4 M151, M151A1, M151A2, etc. TM 9-2320-218-20 Org. Maint., 1/4 Ton 4x4 M151, M151A1, M151A2, etc. TM 9-2320-218-20P Org. Repair Parts, 1/4 Ton 4x4 M151, M151A1, M151A2, etc. TM 9-2320-218-34 DS, GS & Depot Maint., 1/4 Ton 4x4 M151, M151A1, M151A2, etc. TM 9-2320-218-34P DS, GS & Depot Repair Parts, 1/4 Ton 4x4 M151, M151A1, M151A2, etc. TM 9-2851 Painting Instructions for Field Use TM 9-2853 Preparation for Deep-Water Fording TM 9-8014 Operational Maint., 1/4 Ton 4x4 M38A1 TM 11-2300-350-15-1 Installation of GRC-106 in M38A1 TM 11-2300-350-15-2 Installation of VRC-12 in M37 TM 11-2300-352-15-2 Installation of VRC-12 in M38A1 TM 11-2300-352-15-3 Installation of VRC-49 in M37 TM 11-2300-352-15-4 Installation of VRC-47 in M37 TM 11-2300-352-15-5 Installation of VRC-46, -53, GRC-125 in M37 TM 11-5820-295-10 Operator's Manual, AN/GRC-19 TM 11-5820-295-20 Org. Maint., AN/GRC-19 TM 11-5820-295-34 Field & Depot Maint., AN/GRC-19 TM 11-5820-295-34P DS, GS & Depot Repair Parts, AN/GRC-19 TM 11-5820-335-10 Operator's Manual, Transmitters T-195/GRC-19, T-195A/GRC-19 & T-195B/GRC-19 Items for sale/trade: MT-298 shockmount: Mounts two RT-66/RT-67/RT-68 transceivers, two PP-109/PP-112 power supplies, and one C-435 control box. Part of VRQ-1/VRQ-2/VRQ-3 repeater sets. In good condition, includes metal dust cover for C-435 connector, all cables, and all rubber boots on cable storage studs. Wired for 12V, easily converted back to 24V. Big and heavy; I don't want to ship this monster; you pick it up. Any trade interesting enough to convince me to deliver it would be worth several times the value of this mount. :-) Will consider trade for MT-297 shockmount, will sell for $20. USM-117 oscilloscope: Compact 5 MHz single-trace solid-state scope. In poor condition; lacks cover, case cut to allow replacement of power cord with standard "computer type" power cord, top cover glued in place (no, I didn't perform the butchery!). Has trace, but trace is badly distorted and unit has a loud high-pitched whine when turned on. Think low. Heath Apache transmitter: I kinda like this monster, but I _might_ consider a trade for something reeeeally interesting (make an offer, but don't get your hopes up :-). Amateur HF transmitter in fair to good shape. Operational on all bands, power output good, calibration not checked (I'm still a no-code tech, so I've only warmed up a dummy load with this rig). Only tested in CW mode. Knobs are non-shiny, but paint still looks good. This is a big 90-pound monster, so if you manage to talk me out of it, you pick it up in Orange County, CA. PRC-10 transceiver with AM-598 power supply: I like this rig and would hate to see it go, but I might consider a trade if it's interesting enough. Radio is functional but needs work. L2's coil core is broken (you know, one of the ones the manual says are fragile... guess what, they are!), AFC module may be bad. All tubes are good according to my TV-7. AM-598 works fine, but audio/control cable's strain relief spring is a bit bent up. Battery cable's outer jacket is frayed. Will include a battery box in poor condition if you manage to talk me out of the rig. No antennas or other accessories included. R-110 receiver: Parts unit. Missing screw-on lamp cap, all tubes and shields, crystals, the insert that goes in the tuning cover where you write down frequencies, and volume and squelch knobs. Faceplate is green, but case is blue. The green paint looks ok, and the blue paint looks, well, blue. A stack of power resistors is missing (Ok, I confess, I chopped them out to make a dummy load for testing a power supply for another set. Deep pangs of guilt. Might restore the rig if somebody doesn't take it off my hands first, to avoid long stay in Radio Hell. I still have the resistors, and there's a slim chance I might even remember where they go). One of the presets is munged up (the cam slips, but I haven't taken apart the tuning mechanism to see if it's fixable). I'd like this to end up in the hands of somebody who will restore it. Make an offer, and tell me what you plan to do with the radio... Hickock model 760 flying-spot scanner: This rig scans a transparent slide and sends the image to a TV set (channels 2-6 only) or monitor. Used to generateB&W test patterns. Includes slides for dots, lines and that radial-lines resolution test pattern (you remember, that one they used to transmit late at night long before I was born? :-) All tubes test good on my TV-7 (well, it couldn't test the CRT or PMT). Last time I powered it up (several years ago), it was functional, but pretty shaky until it warmed up for a half hour or so. I could probably give it a more thorough testing after I get the new radio room put together (just moved....) Case is pretty dusty, but could probably be cleaned up. Includes manual photocopy and complete schematic (blueprint copy). 19"D x 17"W x 8.5"H, in wooden case with black covering of some sort. Don't let the dimensions fool you, it's not rack-mountable. Tubes and caps exposed when case is opened for use (yup, that's the way they built it). This is neat boatanchor and a nice candidate for restoration. $50, or an interesting trade. Kinda bulky and not so sturdy, so I'd prefer not to ship it. Could probably arrange to meet in the parking lot at the monthly TRW ham swap in Redondo Beach of you're interested in this rig. Sun 3/60 UNIX workstation with 24M RAM, color framebuffer ("GX" accelerator which is rarely found in a 3/60, and I'd throw in a spare ordinary color framebuffer), 19" color monitor (it's NOT multisync, and will NOT work on your PC!), 140M HD (or maybe it's 70M, I don't quite remember), 60M tape drive, newer-style "type 4" keyboard and mouse. I actually still use the beast as an X terminal, but I could probably be talked out of it after I upgrade my PC in a year or two. And maybe earlier for a really interesting trade. Runs fine. Booted SunOS 4.1.1 from HD fine last time I checked, but I usually do a diskless boot from a PC running Linux and use it as a dumb X terminal. I could dig up the files to do the diskless X-terminal boot from a Linux box if necessary. $250, this is definitely a you-pick-up! SunOS 4.0 printed manual set. Free, you pick up, you pay for the hernia operation afterwards (it's about 23 3" binders or so). TV-7D tube tester: Parts unit, case dented, meter is electrically and mechanically dead, no tube data book (reprint available from AES), no tubes or bulbs (also available from AES), no handle. $25+shipping or trade. PRC-9 transceiver: Parts unit. Case is gray and has a hole in it. Battery cable, antenna BNC connector, lamp cover missing. $20+shipping or trade. Paradise "Convertible" computer. This is a lunchbox-sized CP/M computer which was meant to plug between a dumb terminal and a computer to make the terminal less dumb. Z-80 processor, CP/M 2.2 in ROM, 64K RAM, 192k RAM disk, 5.25" SS floppy. Has two serial ports, one parallel port and expansion plug. Manual and boot disk included. SS floppy drive can be replaced with a DS floppy drive. Works. $20+shipping or trade. Esprit model 6310 terminal. Emulates a few different terminals. With manual. $20+shipping or trade. CIT-500 terminal. VT-100 compatible, but with a 66-line portrait-mode screen. No manual. $20+shipping or trade. Panasonic WV-3700 color video camera with zoom lens and viewfinder monitor. Most of the electronics are in a separate box which connects to the camera with a 6' or so long cable. The box originally clamped on the bottom of a pro VCR. AC power supply included (yet another box...). The zoom lens has a "C" mount. Works as well as an old vidicon camera can be expected to work. No handle for camera, but can mount on a standard tripod. $20+shipping, or free if you pick it up. Tektronix vector storage monitor. I think it's a model 611, but it's under a pile of boxes so I can't check easily. Has XYZ inputs (not a raster-scan monitor), and stores image on face of CRT using some sort of electrostatic magic. Operational, no manual. Portrait-mode (I think they were made in landscape-mode, too). Black cabinet, in good shape, says "digital" on the front. Free, you pick it up. Here's the catch: you also need to take the bottom half of the VT-02 terminal it used to be a part of, and a box of old DEC Flip Chips. No, you may not throw them in my garbage can on the way out. :-) Two dead car batteries. Will trade for HMMWV. Will throw in some cans of dried-up paint for a slantback with winch. Mark J. Blair KE6MYK e-mail: mblair@gruumsh.irv.ca.us ************************************************* TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS; 'Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone, In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone. I had come down the chimney with presents to give, and to see just who, in this home did live. I looked all about, a strange sight I did see, No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand, On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands. With medals and badges, awards of all kinds, A sober thought came through my mind. For this house was different, it was dark and dreary, I found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly. The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone, Curled up on the floor in this one room home. The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder, Not how I pictured a United States Soldier. Was the hero of whom I'd just read? Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed? I realized the families that I saw this night, Owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight. Soon 'round the world the children would play, And grown-ups would celebrate a bright Christmas day. They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year, Because of the soldiers, like the one lying here. I couldn't help wonder how many live alone, On a cold Christmas eve, in a land far from home. That very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice, "Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice." "I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more, My life is my God, my Country, my Force" The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep, I couldn't control it, I continued to weep. I kept watch for hours, so silent and still, And we both shivered from the cold night's chill. Then the soldier rolled over, and with a voice soft and pure, Whispered "Carry on Santa, It's Christmas day, and all is secure." One look at my watch, and I knew he was right. "Merry Christmas, my friend, and to all a good night." Please remember our Thousands of troops overseas keeping the peace during this Holiday Season. ******************************************************** --------- End forwarded message ---------- When finished reading use browser back button or go to http://www.prc68.com/MCGP/MCGP.html