Wireless Sets overview part 4

Wireless Set 76

The WS-76 is a transportable station for CW communication over long distances. Most times it was used with Reception set R-109, and at the end of the war also with the R-209. The combination 76/109 was used by the Phantom for direct reports to the War Office and by BBC war correspondents.

Year of issue 1943   Purpose Rear link L of C Airborne/Truck   Frequency 2-12 MHz   Range (miles) CW 300   Power output (watt) CW 9   Transport Vehicle, parachute, man-pack   Remarks

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Wireless Set 78

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Wireless Set 86

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Wireless Set 88

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Wireless Set 88 AFV

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Wireless Set 101 Australian

The Wireless Set No.101 was the most widely used ground and vehicular set in the early part of World War II and provided most of the communications in the North African and Middle East campaigns. A range of up to 9 miles could be archived with voice using a 9 ft. vertical aerial and much greater distances using larger aerials and morse. It was manufactured by Amalgamated Wireless (Australaisa) Ltd. (A.W.A.) in Sydney. Developed in 1939, the No.101 was physically based on the British Wireless Set No.1 of 1931 with a modern electronic design for the time, and used through to about 1943. Because of the lack of tropic proofing, it was found unsatisfactory for use in New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.
Power source, external 6 volt lead-acid battery. The high tension is provided by the external vibrator power supply. Frequency coverage, by master oscillator, 4.28 to 6.66 Mc/s. Output power, 0.75 watts on voice and 1.2 watts on c.w.. Modes, voice (a.m.) and morse (c.w.). Number of valves, 5 in the receiver and 3 in the transmitter. The output valves are a pair of 1K5 Parallel.

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Wireless Set 105 B Australian

Transmitter, little known. A.W.A.

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Wireless Set 108 Australian

The Wireless Set No.108 was originally developed by Radio Corporation (Astor) in around 1940 and was the standard manpack set for providing communications in forward areas during the Middle East campaign. By late 1941 the Mk.II version with a wider tuning range, had been introduced and remained the principal manpack until being replaced in 1946 by the Wireless Set No.128. Ranges up to 10 miles could be achieved using vertical antennas, the range largely depending on the type of country.
Power source, internal dry batteries. Frequency control, master oscillator and four preset channels for the Mks I and II, master oscillator only for the Mk.III. Output control, approximately 1/4 watt. Modes, voice (a.m.) only for the Mks. I and II, voice (a.m.) and m.c.w. for the Mk.III. Number of valves, 6.

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Wireless Set 109 Australian

The Wireless Set No.109 was developed by Standard Telephone and Cables (STC) to provide communications in armoured vehicles, however it was proved unsuitable for this application and was relegated to use as a ground or wireless van station. It was physically based on the British No.9 Wireless Set of 1933 with a modern electronics for the time. A range of around 15 to 20 miles with voice and 25 to 30 miles with morse could be archived using a 9 ft. vertical aerial. Much greater distances could be archived using larger aerials. As this equipment was not sealed (tropic proofed), it probably saw little service other than training purposes from about 1943.
Power source, external 6 volt, 150 Ah. lead-acid battery. High tension is provided by the external vibrator power supply. Frequency coverage, by master oscillator, 2.5 to 5 Mc/s. Output power, approximately 8 watts on c.w. and 4 watts on voice. Modes, voice (a.m.) and morse (c.w.). Number of valves, 5 in the receiver and 3 in the transmitter. The output valve is a 4307-A.

Year of issue	1943	Tony Bell Collection
Purpose
Frequency	2.5-5 MHz
Range (miles)	CW 25-35, R/T 15-25
Power output (watt)	CW 8, R/T 4
Transport
Remarks	Australian design, based on WS9

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Wireless Set 112 Australian

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Wireless Set 113 Australian

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Wireless Set 114 Australian

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Wireless Set 122 Australian

Version of No.22 (Aust.) with xtal lock facility,Radio Corp.

Year of issue	1945
Purpose	GP Bde, Div truck/ground station
Frequency	2-8 MHz
Range (miles)	CW 15, R/T 10
Power output (watt)	CW 1.5, R/T 1
Transport	Truck, man-pack, animal pack
Remarks	Australian

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Wireless Set 122 Mk II Australian

In 1952, probably due to the Korean War, Australia decided to rebuild the Wireless set No.122 (and probably the No.22 (Aust.)). Besides the addition of the power connector facilitate the use of the Amplifier, R.F. No.2 Mk.II (Aust.)/2 for the Wireless Station No.122 Mk.II H.P., other changes were probably to replace the capacitors. Ranges from 3 to 5 miles in jungle using a 12 ft. vertical aerial on voice (a.m.), to 500 miles using a 1/4 wave aerial and sky wave propagation on morse (c.w.) could be archived with this general purpose man-transportable, ground or vehicular set. It remained in service until replaced by the Lackspur equipment in the late 1950s or early 1960s. The No.122 Mk.II was rebuilt by Radio Corporation (Astor) in Melbourne.
Power source, external vibrator power supply requiring a 12 volt lead-acid battery. Frequency coverage, 2 to 8 Mc/s in two switched bands. Power output, high power, 3.5 to 4 watts on voice and m.c.w., 6 to 7 watts on c.w., low power, approximately 25% of high power. Modes, voice (a.m.) and morse (c.w. and m.c.w.). The receiver is of a 7 valve superhetrodyne design with an intermediate frequency (IF) of 455 Kc/s. Total number of valves, 10 shared between the transmitter and the receiver. The output valve is the ubiquitous 807.

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Wireless Set 122 Mk II High Power Australian

Perhaps through the requirements of signallers in the Korean War and/or through the success of the British Wireless Set No.19 H.P., Australia decided in 1952 to produce a high power version of the Wireless Station No. 122 Mk.II by adding the amplifier, R.F. No.2 Mk.II (Aust.)/2. This equipment was mounted in a Wireless Truck or as a ground station. The Wireless Station No.122 Mk.II H.P. remained in service until replaced by the Lackspur equipment in the late 1950s or early 1960s.

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Wireless Set 128 Australian

The principal Australian manpack during the New Guinea campaign, the No.108, had similar problems to most of the types of wireless sets in that not being sealed, tropical moisture soon made the sets inoperative and required considerable manpower to dry the sets. As a part of the Australian policy to have a complete inventory of sealed sets, design of the second Australian generation manpack, the Wireless Set No.128, commenced in 1944 and was approved for production in July 1945. With the end of World War II in august 1945, the urgency for the set no longer existed and it did not enter service until 1946. The No.128 was the main Australian manpack during the Korean War and was supplemented by the upgraded version, the Wireless Station No.128 Mk.II in 1952. These sets remained in service until progressively replaced by the Wireless Station A510 from 1955. Ranges of 4 to 5 miles in open ground and 2 to 3 miles over wooded or hilly ground could be archived using an 8 ft. vertical aerial. Much longer distances could be archived using wire aerials. The No.128 was manufactured by Tasma Radio (Thorn and Smith) in Sydney.
Power source, internal 3 and 162 volt dry battery or an alternative vibrator power supply could be clipped to the bottom of the set in lieu of the battery box, thus allowing the set to be powered by an external 6 volt lead-acid battery. Frequency coverage, 2.0 to 4.5 Mc/s with facilities for master oscillator and 3 crystal locked channel operation.Power output, approximately 1/4 watt. Modes, voice (a.m.) and morse (c.w. and m.c.w.). The receiver is of a superhetrodyne design with an intermediate frequency of 1.6 Mc/s. Number of valves, 9 miniature (B7G) shared between the transmitter and receiver. The output valve is a 3A4.

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Wireless Set 128 Mk II Australian

Probably due to the Korean War, when it was decided to produce more Wireless Sets No.128 in 1952, a number of modifications were undertaken by Tasma Radio (Thom & Smith) in Sydney to produce the Wireless Station No.128 Mk II. The most significant of these changes were to use an improved type of connector for the headset, microphone and morse key and a rugged lightweight handset plus a number of minor changes to the set itself. The No.128 and No.128 Mk II were the main Australian manpack towards the end of the Korean War and remained in service until progressively replaced by the Wireless Station A510 from 1955. Ranges of 4 to 5 miles in open ground and 2 to 3 miles over wooded or hilly ground could be archived using an 8 ft. vertical aerial. Much longer distances could be archive using wire aerials.
Power source, internal 3 and 162 volt dry battery. Frequency coverage, 2.0 to 4.5 Mc/s with facilities for master oscillator and 3 crystal locked channel operation.Power output, approximately 1/4 watt. Modes, voice (a.m.) and morse (c.w. and m.c.w.). The receiver is of a superhetrodyne design with an intermediate frequency of 1.6 Mc/s. Number of valves, 9 miniature (B7G) shared between the transmitter and receiver. The output valve is a 3A4.

Year of issue	1952	Tony Bell Collection
Purpose	Infantry Coy Battn HQ
Frequency	2-4.5 Mc/s
Range (miles)	2-5 miles
Power output (watt)	0.25 watt
Transport	Man-pack
Remarks	Australian design

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Wireless Set 133 Australian

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Wireless Set 153 Australian

Year of issue	1946	Tony Bell Collection
Purpose
Frequency	2-20 MHz
Range (miles)	CW 210-300, R/T 75-100 MCW 90-120
Power output (watt)	CW 300, AM 100
Transport	truck and ground
Remarks	Design late in World War II, just post war version of No.133. A.W.A.

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Wireless Set 173 Australian

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Wireless Set 208 Australian

The Wireless Set No.208 was developed in Australia as a low power compact set which could provide communications over a reasonable distance for principally commando and similar units. The No.208 was developed from the No.108 Wireless Set onmitting the voice capability, internal battery and whip antenna. The use of morse (c.w.) only permitted longer distances to be archived for a given power output. The dry battery was separate from the set, thus allowing more compact packing and more even load distribution amongst the soldiers. Long wire antennas were provided since they could meet the requirements of moderately long distance. The set was originally developed by Radio Corporation in Melbourne in 1941, the Mk.II version entering service in about 1944. It probably saw little service after World War II.
Power source, external 1.5 and 99 volt dry battery. Frequency coverage, 1.5 to 3.5 Mc/s. Frequency control, master oscillator. Output power, approximately 1/4 watt. Modes, morse (c.w.) only. The receiver is of a superhetrodyne design with a intermediate frequency (I.F.) of 455 Kc/s. Number of valves, 4 in the receiver and 2 in the transmitter, all octal based. The output valve is a 1Q5GT.

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