Home
Past Meetings |
At the February 19, 2002 regular meeting of the Crawford Amateur Radio Society, we had a special guest, KA3DBJ, Leonard Hunter present a display of W.W. II radios ( Receivers and Transceivers.) He discussed each radio's particular function, primary use, limitations, qualities, etc. Below are pictures and descriptions. All the radios are part of the private collection of Leonard Hunter. The descriptions are those of KA3DBJ, edited for format. Pictures were taken by KB3EGG. A very big Thank You to Leonard for taking the time and effort to show us part of his collection.
For questions or comments email us:
Date
page last updated: For an application write us at: CARS P.O. Box 653 Meadville, PA 16335 Logos are incorporated for illustrative purposes only and are incorporated under the fair use provisions of U.S. Copyright Law. They remain trademarks of their respective owners. |
|||||
This German Aircraft Receiver is the type FuG10-EK. It is a Superhetrodyne
single band receiver covering 3-6 mhz.
It uses the type RV12P2000 pentode for all functions. Designed in 1937, it was
very advanced (technologically.) Frequency stability was achieved by using
ceramic temperature compensating capacitors. The receiver's sensitivity
and selectivity was enhanced by using ferrite cores in the RF and IF
transformers.
This (equivalent?) American
Aircraft Receiver ( U.S. Army Signal Corps ) is the type BC-348-Q. This
receiver was probably designed somewhere between 1941-42, and displays the state
of American technology at the time. Several different tubes types are
used, so circuit performance isn't compromised by inappropriate tube
characteristics. Inductors are air core which reduce selectivity.
Capacitors are standard mica type which are prone to failure and are not stable
during temperature and altitude changes. Also included is a crystal filter
to improve code signal reception. This receiver ( unlike the German
receiver mentioned above ) has a wide range of frequencies because of its
multiple coil sets for band changing.
This German unit is
the Kleinfunksprecher d, or "small speaking radio, frequency range
d." The Germans nicknamed it "Dorette." It is a
short-range AM battery powered radio. The unit consists of a transceiver
unit, headphones, throat microphone, battery pack, and switch-to-transmit
unit. The transmit part is a VFO driving a small RF amplifier. The
receive part is a quenched sperregerative receiver followed by an audio
stage. Tuning range was over 32-38 mhz.
This
Czechoslovak transceiver unit is fairly identical and was apparently copied from the German mobile
transceiver. It is shown in its self-contained carrying case. I am
thinking this was a unit manufactured in the 1960's. In the top-center left is the radio unit, just below
it is the battery pack. In the right-center-upper slot are the headphones
and throat mic. Bottom right, in the small door will be kept extra tubes,
etc. At the bottom, on the lid, is the antenna coiled up.
This (equivalent?) American unit
is the BC-611-F transceiver ( U.S. Army Signal Corps.) This radio was
manufactured by Galvin Mfg., Chicago. It was called the
"walkie-talkie." It has a superhetrodyne receiver with a RF
amplifier. This radio operates over the range of 3.5-6 mhz and is totally
crystal controlled which stabilizes the frequency. Unlike the German
"equivalent," everything was contained in one hand-held unit:
battery, headphone, microphone, etc. In 1944 it was a "marvel of
miniaturization." The picture shows the complete unit and the insides of
one.
This unit was the 'equivalent' to
the German Enigma code machine. This U.S. Army Signal Corps unit is the
Converter M-209-B manufactured by L.C. Smith & Corona typewriters in
Syracuse, NY. The pictures show the unit 'closed' and with the mechanism
exposed. Unlike the German 'equivalent', the American unit was so much
smaller, just as good, if not better in performance, and had a paper printout
the Germans did not have. ( Text by KB3EGG) 