[ARC5] What is a "radio range filter"?

Richard Knoppow 1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
Tue Apr 26 19:28:34 EDT 2016


     Eliminating the need for a modulator. I think this is also why most 
range stations did not have voice capability, they used a separate 
transmitter and antenna for that.

On 4/26/2016 3:39 PM, Michael Bittner wrote:
> Perhaps the more extensive use of 50 Hz power in Canada explains why 
> the Canadian marine beacons use 400 Hz modulation?
> Another interesting factoid:  Many USA beacons did not transmit MCW, 
> but instead transmitted two carriers offset by 1020 Hz.
> Mike, W6MAB
> -
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *From:* D C _Mac_ Macdonald <mailto:k2gkk at hotmail.com>
>     *To:* Richard Knoppow <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>
>     *Cc:* ARC-5 Mail List <mailto:arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
>     *Sent:* Tuesday, April 26, 2016 1:17 PM
>     *Subject:* Re: [ARC5] What is a "radio range filter"?
>
>     I never heard of any US area that used 60 Hz power but areas
>     around Niagara Falls used 25 Hz as late as 1950s!
>     Mac, K2GKK/5 in OKC, OK
>
>     Sent from my iPhone
>
>     On Apr 26, 2016, at 13:30, Richard Knoppow
>     <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com <mailto:1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>> wrote:
>
>         So what did they do in areas with  50Hz power, there were
>     plenty of them in the U.S.
>         There are detailed descriptions of the four course (sounds
>     like a dinner special at the local chop house) radio ranges in
>     several of the old engineering texts at www.tubebooks.org and
>     elsewhere on the web.
>         Not all range stations had voice communication, those that did
>     had a separate transmitter and a center antenna for it.  The
>     method of feeding the antenna array was interesting because it was
>     arranged to move the overall orientation electrically and also to
>     "squeeze" the beams to line them up with particular air routes. 
>     There were many problems with the range stations; planes could get
>     on reciprocal bearings, the beams could be distorted by nearby
>     large objects, and skywave transmission could be confusing and
>     unreliable. Most stations eventually had a VHF marker in the
>     center pointing straight up to indicate when an aircraft was just
>     over the station.  The range pattern was null straight up, called
>     the Zone of Silence.
>         A lot of the transmitting equipment was made by Wilcox
>     Electric, I don't know what happened to them.
>
>     On 4/26/2016 10:06 AM, Michael Bittner wrote:
>>     While we are on the subject of range/beam filters, I am still
>>     looking for a schematic diagram and/or wiring diagram for my
>>     F-90/AIC range/beam filter.
>>     Scott W7SVJ confirmed that its input and output impedances are
>>     150 Ohms, and Mike Hanz provided information on its use in the
>>     Intercommunication Set AN/AIC-8.  However, its correct hookup and
>>     internal circuitry remain an enigma.
>>     BTW, 1020 Hz is the 17th harmonic of 60 Hz.  Back in the day, the
>>     power line was used as a readily available frequency standard.
>>     Mike, W6MAB
>>     --
>>
>>         ----- Original Message -----
>>         *From:* DSP3 <mailto:jeepp at comcast.net>
>>         *To:* arc5 at mailman.qth.net
>>         *Sent:* Tuesday, April 26, 2016 8:20 AM
>>         *Subject:* Re: [ARC5] What is a "radio range filter"?
>>
>>         Brian has is pretty much correct.  The "range filter" was
>>         designed to pass 1020 Hz audio through the phone audio system
>>         of certain aircraft receivers when tuned to a "range
>>         station".  1020Hz became the de facto standard for Morse
>>         audio identifiers  of NDBs, VORs, Marker Beacon, etc. as well
>>         as the keyed tones for the now defunct Adcock system (the
>>         true range stations). Both the AAF and the Navy had their
>>         versions of the filter, some controlled at the filter, and
>>         some remotely switched in and out.  The FL-8 is one of the
>>         more//prolific models.  Most current audio panels and Nav or
>>         NavCom sets will have a 1020 Hz filter circuit for the Marker
>>         Beacon channel and to selectively filter the identification
>>         audio from the other VOR/ILS modulations present.
>>
>>         Jeep - K3HVG
>>
>>
>>
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>     -- 
>     Richard Knoppow
>     1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
>     WB6KBL
>
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-- 
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL

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