Served in US Coast Guard 1970-1974 as Radioman. We had these "beast" on board (USCGC Chatauqua) and used them for TTY and CW. Also same antenna tunner and Recivers.
My last assignment before I left Harris in 1984 was final acceptance testing of these transmitters. I would tune them up and test them, then put them in the heat closet for 24 hours. Assuming they passed the heat test, one final go-over to verify specs and out they go. Had a 110 try to kill me one night when the RF cage interlock failed and I took plate voltage through a finger and out the heel of one hand. Also tested the 601s, affectionately known in the plant as the "baby coffins." I also pre-tuned the output filter assemblies (the "tank") and the driver filter assemblies.
I worked Voice-Radio and Radio-Teletype in the Coast Guard back in 1976 on the island of Iwo Jima. We used the AN-URT23 transmitters for this. Amazing equipment. Love to have a clone of what I used to use back then.
Nice piece, I was in the Navy from January 1968 till 72. As a seaman they gave me R-390's, I made 3rd after just a few months, then 2nd class petty officer in 18 months, as a second class I was in charge of the ships HF transmitters antenna couplers and antennas. I said all of that to say in an informed way that your find is outstanding, I had 37 an/wrt-2's very capable but much larger than your transmitter. ✋73's🎙 KD9OAM🎧📻📡
Thanks for posting. Its always nice to hear from a fellow sailor and Geta bit more historical knowledge of the systems used. I can't wait to get this one on the air.
Very interesting. Happy I found this channel. I was not in the military, however spent a few years with Sunair Electronics working with their HF equipment for Army, Navy and Marines. Hope to get a look inside the antenna tuner. 73's KX4IQ
@@K6YIC-N3FAA Apollo receiver (see link) th-cam.com/video/qm4J39FEt1k/w-d-xo.html Conqueror HS main transmitter, Sentinel watch keeping rcvr.....can't remember the reserve transmitter but it had a little straight key knob sticking out the front and put out 250 watts or so...Most Australian ships on the coast had the same layout and gear. Here is my story of time at sea th-cam.com/video/JIYYC6SwGY8/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/5wtNhQQdoyE/w-d-xo.html Sad that a lot of this gear got scrapped at the demise of "old sparks" as tax laws etc meant they couldn't be sold on (my understanding). 73 de VK2AOE George
I was a 'C Rate' radio tech in the 80's on the SWAN and a RIMPAC on the Hobart (88), we used 23V (C) or (D) models, T-827 exciters, AN-URC-38 Antenna couplers. CRH-11 HF receivers (I think), and R-1051B HF receiver, Wisky 3 UHF (CUJ and CUH before that), ex VK1DRL
A WONDERFUL piece of equipment. Very reliable, easy to repair, easy to maintenance, and I was an Electronics Technician in the US Navy and trained in school to learn all about this equipment. When I got to the fleet...they had been replaced with the AN/SRC-20's which were unreliable, maintenance pigs, and always broke down. I disliked this crappy equipment.
Ah yes the AN/SRC-20(21) I have a video of one of those also. I have an operational one, but since the SRC-20 (URC-9) is a 220-400mhz AM only unit there is not much activity so its barely used.
I knew this equipment well, we had four of them in our radio room on board the USS Orion. Very reliable gear if you could pound into the radiomen's heads not to tune it to a new frequency with the power turned up! That always took out the two final stage ceramic tubes which were not cheap.
Sub tender man, my father was on the USS Proteus in Guam in the late 1960s early 1970s. I spent my time aboard Aircraft Carriers. (CV-64, CVN68, CVN-70) I was an AT working on communication systems for E2C and F14D aircraft.
@@K6YIC-N3FAA The Orion was quite the experience, onboard from '85-'88. We only went out to sea four times a year for ten days, mostly R&R but I was glad my berthing area was on the top deck of the ship, she did not appear very sea-worthy to us! Working in Comm was one problem after another. My final year onboard we replaced the URC-9 with a solid state transmitter, much to the relief of us.
That's interesting. My two RF-110A I had, included a dedicated protection system for the case of switching the freq. band during transmission: as soon as the motor of the output bandpass filters switch was energized it was simultaneously blocking the key driver transistor located on the A5 power control PC board. So, arcing at the output filter switch contacts or damage to the final 4CX1500B tubes because of switching bands during transmission was avoided.
@@traian1782 No kidding, we were not fortunate to have that mod in any of the four systems I worked on. Obviously it was a problem that needed to be corrected and placed in an updated URT-23. That would have avoided me being woke up several times in the middle of the night!!
We used these in the Royal Australian Navy, I was a comms tech, did the course on these (C and D series). Very solid bit of gear. we used the T-827 exciter.
I would like to find a T827 for this set to bring it inline with the USN and RAN specifications. Until I stumble across one I will continue to use this rf-131 exciter.
@@Auxrad39 the green ghost as in HMAS Hobart? I did a RIMPAC on Hobart in 88, I joined it just for that trip, I was working in Canberra and BNTS Belconnen. I could not turn it down. It was a great trip. I also served on the fluffy duck (The swan), in the early 80's when she came out of refit, and we did an up top, both ships are diving ships now.
The RF-551A Pre-selector was sometimes put between the exiter output and the amplifier input. It helped to reduce unwanted splatter in sites that had multiple rigs on HF simultaneously. Your stack may well have come from such a site. If you open the preselector, don't touch anything; it's mechanically complicated and difficult to reassemble in the field. There may be no one left at Harris who can re-build it. I am a 24-year employee of the manufacturer in Rochester, New York.
Years ago I found here two RF-110A but just one RF-124 PS and one RF-131 exciter. All these are exotic here in the Carpathian woods, so I had to build the cables myself and even the connectors for the RF-124. Now I need a Dowkey coaxial relay for the RF-110. At that time I have scanned the RF-110A manual and uploaded it on the BAMA server, you can find it there. The cable for the RF-124 PS is not difficult to be made, but the needed connectors for it are expensive. GL & 73! de YO3FZS.
I know the pain about the cables, I had all of them except for the RF110a to 124 cable. I purchased the proper Amphenol Connectors from PEI-Genesis and received them last week. I also purchased a length of 20kv silicon wire (A little over kill for the 2250v feed but what the heck) The Dow key seems to be a pretty standard style so hopefully you can locate one. I had a buddy K4NYW at Navy-Radio.com scan the RF-131 manual if you need it. www.navy-radio.com/manuals/harris-rf131-man-8304.pdf Daniel
I know the pain about the cables, I had all of them except for the RF110a to 124 cable. I purchased the proper Amphenol Connectors from PEI-Genesis and received them last week. I also purchased a length of 20kv silicon wire (A little over kill for the 2250v feed but what the heck) The Dow key seems to be a pretty standard style so hopefully you can locate one. I had a buddy K4NYW at Navy-Radio.com scan the RF-131 manual if you need it. www.navy-radio.com/manuals/harris-rf131-man-8304.pdf Daniel
The coupler was the reason I made the 500 mile each way trip. The rest was a bonus. But if I run across another I will let you know. There is a almost complete one on eBay located in somis, ca. www.ebay.com/itm/362943419036?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=DzAhsp_hQ66&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=AycLQQAWQ4m&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
I know you indicated it can operate in CW mode, but does it really operate correctly? The Iowa's URT-23 do have a CW mode (maybe just for tuning?) but do not seem to operate properly in CW mode. The keying is very slow and nearly impossible to send morse correctly.
That is an interesting observation. The spec sheet on the URT-23 shows a 32 baud CW rate and an 80 Baud FSK rate. Something to add to the checkout list. www.navy-radio.com/xmtrs/urt23/urt23b-spec-01.pdf
Gary. Are you guys using the remote? RF-7405? contact me I'd like to know more about your setup. The 7405 definitely causes problems that I've documented on my youtube channel. Otherwise, check you're in CW mode. What exciter are you using?
Hmm. looks like my comment got "lost" Congrats on the score. Looks gorgeous. Do you have the cables? Also, the 3 phase RF-112, while smaller, seems heavier than the 124. Maybe it is just deceiving because of the smaller size, but it sure feels heavier. BTW I always preferred the stack mount set up rather than the rack mount. If you're interested in a set of stack mounts, contact me, I'll see if I can locate the guy who I believe has a set. I find it better to put the whole thing on a mover's dolly. The amp is designed to take nominally 100mW input. Years ago several guys who had these amps, by passed the 8122 drivers, used a swamping resistor and drove these with 100W radios. But frankly, there is no reason to do that. The available exciters are plentiful and excellent. Finals are a pair of 4CX1500B tubes. they command a pretty penny these days. So do the 8122 drivers (IIRC). Good luck.
Good correction to the power input at the RF110. I was going off the output the T827. I was lucky enough to get an extra RF110a (Which has been modified and is missing all the cannon plugs from the rear panel) other then that its complete and has 184 hours on the clock. Hopefully if I ever need replacement finals or drivers I can pull from that. I watch your channel all the time, you have great advice and good stuff. Its a blast meeting like minded individuals..
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Served in US Coast Guard 1970-1974 as Radioman. We had these "beast" on board (USCGC Chatauqua) and used them for TTY and CW. Also same antenna tunner and Recivers.
My last assignment before I left Harris in 1984 was final acceptance testing of these transmitters. I would tune them up and test them, then put them in the heat closet for 24 hours. Assuming they passed the heat test, one final go-over to verify specs and out they go. Had a 110 try to kill me one night when the RF cage interlock failed and I took plate voltage through a finger and out the heel of one hand. Also tested the 601s, affectionately known in the plant as the "baby coffins." I also pre-tuned the output filter assemblies (the "tank") and the driver filter assemblies.
I worked Voice-Radio and Radio-Teletype in the Coast Guard back in 1976 on the island of Iwo Jima. We used the AN-URT23 transmitters for this. Amazing equipment. Love to have a clone of what I used to use back then.
Nice piece, I was in the Navy from January 1968 till 72. As a seaman they gave me R-390's, I made 3rd after just a few months, then 2nd class petty officer in 18 months, as a second class I was in charge of the ships HF transmitters antenna couplers and antennas. I said all of that to say in an informed way that your find is outstanding, I had 37 an/wrt-2's very capable but much larger than your transmitter. ✋73's🎙 KD9OAM🎧📻📡
Thanks for posting. Its always nice to hear from a fellow sailor and Geta bit more historical knowledge of the systems used. I can't wait to get this one on the air.
Very interesting. Happy I found this channel. I was not in the military, however spent a few years with Sunair Electronics working with their HF equipment for Army, Navy and Marines. Hope to get a look inside the antenna tuner. 73's KX4IQ
Yes , I'd also like to see inside that tuner.
As an ex ship's Radio Officer....I salute you, and your efforts to resurrect this gear! 73 de VK2AOE
Always nice to see a VK, what equipment did you have onboard?
@@K6YIC-N3FAA Apollo receiver (see link)
th-cam.com/video/qm4J39FEt1k/w-d-xo.html
Conqueror HS main transmitter, Sentinel watch keeping rcvr.....can't remember the reserve transmitter but it had a little straight key knob sticking out the front and put out 250 watts or so...Most Australian ships on the coast had the same layout and gear. Here is my story of time at sea
th-cam.com/video/JIYYC6SwGY8/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/5wtNhQQdoyE/w-d-xo.html
Sad that a lot of this gear got scrapped at the demise of "old sparks" as tax laws etc meant they couldn't be sold on (my understanding).
73 de VK2AOE George
I was a 'C Rate' radio tech in the 80's on the SWAN and a RIMPAC on the Hobart (88), we used 23V (C) or (D) models, T-827 exciters, AN-URC-38 Antenna couplers.
CRH-11 HF receivers (I think), and R-1051B HF receiver, Wisky 3 UHF (CUJ and CUH before that), ex VK1DRL
Brings back lots of memories!! ET2 vet USN
A WONDERFUL piece of equipment. Very reliable, easy to repair, easy to maintenance, and I was an Electronics Technician in the US Navy and trained in school to learn all about this equipment. When I got to the fleet...they had been replaced with the AN/SRC-20's which were unreliable, maintenance pigs, and always broke down. I disliked this crappy equipment.
Ah yes the AN/SRC-20(21) I have a video of one of those also. I have an operational one, but since the SRC-20 (URC-9) is a 220-400mhz AM only unit there is not much activity so its barely used.
3 seconds in and I subscribed
Beautiful Harris gear
Thanks. I can’t wait to get it up and running. I just have to make the amplifier to power supply cable.
@@K6YIC-N3FAA Shhh... Don't say anything about the to-do list!
Same here, was an ETN back in 70's and 80's, so I even worked on those ...
I knew this equipment well, we had four of them in our radio room on board the USS Orion. Very reliable gear if you could pound into the radiomen's heads not to tune it to a new frequency
with the power turned up! That always took out the two final stage ceramic tubes which were not cheap.
Sub tender man, my father was on the USS Proteus in Guam in the late 1960s early 1970s. I spent my time aboard Aircraft Carriers. (CV-64, CVN68, CVN-70) I was an AT working on communication systems for E2C and F14D aircraft.
@@K6YIC-N3FAA The Orion was quite the experience, onboard from '85-'88. We only went out to sea four times a year for ten days, mostly R&R but I was glad
my berthing area was on the top deck of the ship, she did not appear very sea-worthy to us! Working in Comm was one problem after another. My final year onboard we
replaced the URC-9 with a solid state transmitter, much to the relief of us.
That's interesting. My two RF-110A I had, included a dedicated protection system for the case of switching the freq. band during transmission: as soon as the motor of the output bandpass filters switch was energized it was simultaneously blocking the key driver transistor located on the A5 power control PC board. So, arcing at the output filter switch contacts or damage to the final 4CX1500B tubes because of switching bands during transmission was avoided.
@@traian1782 No kidding, we were not fortunate to have that mod in any of the four systems I worked on. Obviously it was a problem that needed to be corrected and placed in
an updated URT-23. That would have avoided me being woke up several times in the middle of the night!!
We used these in the Royal Australian Navy, I was a comms tech, did the course on these (C and D series). Very solid bit of gear. we used the T-827 exciter.
I would like to find a T827 for this set to bring it inline with the USN and RAN specifications. Until I stumble across one I will continue to use this rf-131 exciter.
yep Frosty I work on them On the green ghost and the the steel cat when I was on them
@@Auxrad39 the green ghost as in HMAS Hobart? I did a RIMPAC on Hobart in 88, I joined it just for that trip, I was working in Canberra and BNTS Belconnen. I could not turn it down. It was a great trip.
I also served on the fluffy duck (The swan), in the early 80's when she came out of refit, and we did an up top, both ships are diving ships now.
That's a lovely stack of gear!
I think so too!
I'm jealous, can't wait to hear the URT-23 on the Westcoast ClatterNet.
73, Dave
hopefully in a couple of months.
Dang, I was wanting to see the innards.
Watch Part 2.... th-cam.com/video/AKG2F8hYgWk/w-d-xo.html
The RF-551A Pre-selector was sometimes put between the exiter output and the amplifier input. It helped to reduce unwanted splatter in sites that had multiple rigs on HF simultaneously. Your stack may well have come from such a site. If you open the preselector, don't touch anything; it's mechanically complicated and difficult to reassemble in the field. There may be no one left at Harris who can re-build it. I am a 24-year employee of the manufacturer in Rochester, New York.
Thanks for the tip.
Those things are a monster. Perfectly capable of melting a N type connector..ask me how I know :)
Years ago I found here two RF-110A but just one RF-124 PS and one RF-131 exciter. All these are exotic here in the Carpathian woods, so I had to build the cables myself and even the connectors for the RF-124. Now I need a Dowkey coaxial relay for the RF-110.
At that time I have scanned the RF-110A manual and uploaded it on the BAMA server, you can find it there. The cable for the RF-124 PS is not difficult to be made, but the needed connectors for it are expensive. GL & 73! de YO3FZS.
I know the pain about the cables, I had all of them except for the RF110a to 124 cable. I purchased the proper Amphenol Connectors from PEI-Genesis and received them last week. I also purchased a length of 20kv silicon wire (A little over kill for the 2250v feed but what the heck) The Dow key seems to be a pretty standard style so hopefully you can locate one. I had a buddy K4NYW at Navy-Radio.com scan the RF-131 manual if you need it. www.navy-radio.com/manuals/harris-rf131-man-8304.pdf
Daniel
I know the pain about the cables, I had all of them except for the RF110a to 124 cable. I purchased the proper Amphenol Connectors from PEI-Genesis and received them last week. I also purchased a length of 20kv silicon wire (A little over kill for the 2250v feed but what the heck) The Dow key seems to be a pretty standard style so hopefully you can locate one. I had a buddy K4NYW at Navy-Radio.com scan the RF-131 manual if you need it. www.navy-radio.com/manuals/harris-rf131-man-8304.pdf
Daniel
I also have one RF-110a but without interconnection cables and I want to purchase the connectors. Do you know the P/N of the connectors ?
wonderfull in Brasil possible to transformer mw change 80 m .Fixing other bobine.
Are you going to use the RF-601 coupler? I've got the controller but I need the actual remote coupler, so if you want to get rid of it, LMK.
The coupler was the reason I made the 500 mile each way trip. The rest was a bonus. But if I run across another I will let you know. There is a almost complete one on eBay located in somis, ca.
www.ebay.com/itm/362943419036?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=DzAhsp_hQ66&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=AycLQQAWQ4m&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
I know you indicated it can operate in CW mode, but does it really operate correctly? The Iowa's URT-23 do have a CW mode (maybe just for tuning?) but do not seem to operate properly in CW mode. The keying is very slow and nearly impossible to send morse correctly.
That is an interesting observation. The spec sheet on the URT-23 shows a 32 baud CW rate and an 80 Baud FSK rate. Something to add to the checkout list.
www.navy-radio.com/xmtrs/urt23/urt23b-spec-01.pdf
Gary. Are you guys using the remote? RF-7405? contact me I'd like to know more about your setup. The 7405 definitely causes problems that I've documented on my youtube channel. Otherwise, check you're in CW mode. What exciter are you using?
You need 30 amps single phase to run that transmitting. Hugh Mc.
I have a 50amp plug in the shack.
@@K6YIC You make the utility companysmile
This system was a "driver" stage for my much larger TXmitters. But, this looks like a 131 exciter. I was using the newer 1310. Otherwise, same same.
Hmm. looks like my comment got "lost" Congrats on the score. Looks gorgeous. Do you have the cables? Also, the 3 phase RF-112, while smaller, seems heavier than the 124. Maybe it is just deceiving because of the smaller size, but it sure feels heavier. BTW I always preferred the stack mount set up rather than the rack mount. If you're interested in a set of stack mounts, contact me, I'll see if I can locate the guy who I believe has a set. I find it better to put the whole thing on a mover's dolly. The amp is designed to take nominally 100mW input. Years ago several guys who had these amps, by passed the 8122 drivers, used a swamping resistor and drove these with 100W radios. But frankly, there is no reason to do that. The available exciters are plentiful and excellent. Finals are a pair of 4CX1500B tubes. they command a pretty penny these days. So do the 8122 drivers (IIRC). Good luck.
Good correction to the power input at the RF110. I was going off the output the T827. I was lucky enough to get an extra RF110a (Which has been modified and is missing all the cannon plugs from the rear panel) other then that its complete and has 184 hours on the clock. Hopefully if I ever need replacement finals or drivers I can pull from that.
I watch your channel all the time, you have great advice and good stuff. Its a blast meeting like minded individuals..
I know the URT-23 well.
Dear Santa:
Need me one of these if you don't mind
Thanks
Don K2ATJ former RM2 USN Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club CTF77
If I see him I will pass it along Hi Hi