[ARC5] 1943 VHF and UHF converters for ARA broadcast band receiver

Sun Jul 17 13:58:46 EDT 2016

There are several similar types of converters briefly described in
 NAVSHIPS 900,109 Navy Type Number Book  - September 1945
 http://www.navy-radio.com/manuals/nt-900109.htm

Some of the info is at variance with the information quoted from the manuals for the converters.

The 46201 is explicitly listed for use with the ARB or RU-19, and dates from early 1942.

>From Nick's site:  http://www.navy-radio.com/manuals/nt/NT-900109-3.46.rcvrs.pdf

RA -46201    FOR USE WITH ARB OR RU-19
RF TO IF CONVERTER:
FREQUENCY RANGE 45 TO 110 MC, OUTPUT FREQUENCY 195 KC TO 5 MC.
OPERATES FROM EXTERNAL BATTERY SUPPLY NAVY TYPE RA-19039
SENSITIVITY 100 MICROVOLTS.
WEIGHT APPROXIMATELY 4 POUNDS. SIZE 4" X 5" X 6". 
02/18/42

CUO 46205    GENERAL USE         RE 13A 776A
RF TO IF CONVERTER·BAND A:       B 135A
FREQUENCY RANGE 45 TO 120 MC, OUTPUT FREQUENCY 195 KC TO 5 MC.
OPERATES FROM EXTERNAL BATTERY SUPPLY NAVY TYPE-19047.
SENSITIVITY 100 MICROVOLTS.
WEIGHT APPROXIMATELY 4 POUNDS. SIZE 4" X 5" X 6".
INPUT 6.3V AC/DC OR 28V DC AND 270V DC AT 0.15 AMPS and 7.5 MA.
SIMILAR TO NAVY TYPE (omitted, but likely RA-46201).
02/24/43

CUO 46206    GENERAL USE         RE 13A 776A
RF TO IF CONVERTER·BAND B:       B 135A
FREQUENCY RANGE 100 TO 350 MC, OUTPUT FREQUENCY 195 KC TO 5 MC.
OPERATES FROM EXTERNAL BATTERY SUPPLY NAVY TYPE-19047.
SENSITIVITY 100 MICROVOLTS.
WEIGHT APPROXIMATELY 4 POUNDS. SIZE 4" X 5" X 6".
INPUT 6.3V AC/DC OR 28V DC AND 270V DC AT 0.15 AMPS and 10 MA.
02/24/43

CUO 46207    GENERAL USE         RE 13A 776A
RF TO IF CONVERTER·BAND C:       B 135A
FREQUENCY RANGE 335 TO 585 MC, OUTPUT FREQUENCY 195 KC TO 5 MC.
OPERATES FROM EXTERNAL BATTERY SUPPLY NAVY TYPE-19047.
SENSITIVITY 100 MICROVOLTS.
WEIGHT APPROXIMATELY 4 POUNDS. SIZE 4" X 5" X 6".
INPUT 6.3V AC/DC OR 28V DC AND 270V DC AT 0.15 AMPS and 12 MA.
02/24/43

CUO 46211    GENERAL USE         RE 13A 777A
RF TO IF CONVERTER·ASSEMBLY:  EQUIVALENT TO A C0MBINATION OF
-46205, -46206, -46207 RF TO IF CONVERTERS.
HAS A BUILT-IN RECTIFIER POWER SUPPLY, OPERATES FROM 115/1/60.
FREQUENCY RANGE: 45 TO 585 MC, OUTPUT FREQUENCY 195 KC TO 5 MC.
05/07/43

CUO 46212    GENERAL USE         RE 13A 779A
RF TO IF CONVERTER RANGE A
FREQUENCY RANGE 40 TO 195 MC, OUTPUT FREQUENCY 195 KC TO 5 MC.
OPERATES FROM EXTERNAL BATTERY SUPPLY NAVY TYPE-19047.
SENSITIVITY 100 MICROVOLTS.
WEIGHT APPROXIMATELY 4 POUNDS. SIZE 4" X 5" X 6".
INPUT 6.3V AC/DC OR 28V DC AND 270V DC.
SIMILAR TO NAVY TYPE -46205.
05/15/43

CUO 46213    GENERAL USE         RE 13A 779A
RF TO IF CONVERTER RANGE B
FREQUENCY RANGE 180 TO 500 MC, OUTPUT FREQUENCY 195 KC TO 5 MC.
OPERATES FROM EXTERNAL BATTERY SUPPLY NAVY TYPE-19047.
SENSITIVITY 100 MICROVOLTS.
WEIGHT APPROXIMATELY 4 POUNDS. SIZE 4" X 5" X 6".
INPUT 6.3V AC/DC OR 28V DC AND 270V DC.
SIMILAR TO NAVY TYPE -46206.
05/15/43

CUO 46214    GENERAL USE         RE 13A 779A
RF TO IF CONVERTER RANGE C
FREQUENCY RANGE 480 TO 700 MC, OUTPUT FREQUENCY 195 KC TO 5 MC.
OPERATES FROM EXTERNAL BATTERY SUPPLY NAVY TYPE-19047.
SENSITIVITY 100 MICROVOLTS.
WEIGHT APPROXIMATELY 4 POUNDS. SIZE 4" X 5" X 6".
INPUT 6.3V AC/DC OR 28V DC AND 270V DC.
SIMILAR TO NAVY TYPE -46207.
05/15/43

>From Nick's site:  http://www.navy-radio.com/manuals/nt/NT-900109-3.19.batteries.pdf

CNC 19020 
DRY BATTERY 6 VOLTS
10/17/40

    19032
B BATTERY: 67·1/2 VOLTS.
05/16/42

RA  19039    FOR USE WITH ARB OR RU-19
BATTERY POWER UNIT
SUPPLIES OPERATING VOLTAGES FOR NAVY TYPE-46201
12/18/42

CU0 19047    GENERAL USE
BATTERY POWER UNIT:
POWER UNIT FOR NAVY TYPES 46205, 206, 207, RF TO IF CONVERTERS.
INCLUDES 7 BATTERIES ONE NAVY TYPE -19020 AND 6 NAVY TYPE -19032
TWO OF WHICH ARE SPARES.
06/04/43

The history that is behind the purpose and usage of these obscure devices is intriguing.

Mike / KK5F

-----Original Message-----
>From: Jack Antonio <scr287 at att.net>
>Sent: Jul 17, 2016 9:31 AM
>
>On 7/17/2016 7:27 AM, Michael Hanz wrote:
>
>> I don't recall any comms equipment
>> running up in that range - just Allied, German, and Japanese radar
>> sets.  Wonder what the portable application was designed to accomplish?
>> Given that they were US Navy products, maybe enemy radar homing for PT
>> boats?
>
>The manual says the "primary purpose of the converter units is to detect
>and determine the frequency of radar signals".
>
>On the next page it goes on to say that the "ARA receiver is
>mentioned specifically in this instruction book because it is a
>standard communications receiver. However, any sensitive receiver which
>can be tuned over a  minimum frequency range of 700 to 1300 kc. may be
>used...".  Even though the main intended use seems to be aircraft, the
>manual does mention shipboard and ground installations, where the 
>receiver used should have a sensitivity of one microvolt, "only the very 
>best communications receivers fall in this category".
>
>Each converter has two antenna connections, one for a wire antenna
>and the other is coaxial. The manual states the wire antenna normally
>used for aircraft communications is to be used, if there is a choice,
>use the shortest one.
>
>It goes on to say that the coaxial input is to be used if a resonant
>antenna at the desired frequency is available.
>
>My manual is for serial number 17, so I doubt many of these units were
>produced.
>
>Jack Antonio WA7DIA
>
>> On 7/17/2016 12:07 AM, WA5CAB--- via ARC5 wrote:
>>> The three converters that I was vaguely remembering are the CUO-46212
>>> (47-215 MC), CUO-46213 (200-545 MC) and CUO-46214 (535-704 MC.I had to
>>> track down the manual for the details.  The MF receiver specified or
>>> or specifically mentioned in the manual is the 46145 equipped with the
>>> 62036 adapter.  The trio (which from the front look vaguely like three