[Milsurplus] WW2 German FM?

[WF2U]

Thanks for the details. It makes sense to run MCW (A2) as opposed to CW (A1)
with the UkW sets, as I'm sure stability and selectivity were not
spectacular to say the least. Same philosophy as in some US transmitters of
the period using MCW.

The 1-3 MHz range on HF (or rather MF to be exact) is not surprising. It is
possibly a carry-over from the 1920's and '30's for "ground wave"
communications. All Russian HF field radios from WW2 go down to at least 1.5
MHz. In fact, even post WW2 Russian field radios also start at 1.5 MHz, as
opposed to the US and British  radios starting at 2 MHz, with few
exceptions. Some US field radios, such as the BC-645 operated from around
3.7 Mhz to 5.4MHz or so. Of course, post WW1 US radios used the LF and MF
bands  as well but by WW2 the operating frequencies shifted higher in
general. LF/VLF remained the domain of maritime/navy communications and
aircraft long-range interoperation with ships.

73, Meir WF2U
South Carolina

-----Original Message-----
From: Hue Miller [mailto:kargo_cult@msn.com]
Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2003 7:25 PM
To: wf2u@starband.net; milsurplus@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] WW2 German FM?

Their UkW  "Ultra short Wave" vehicle radios were for modes A3, A2 (tone
telegraphy). No BFO. "Command vehicles" also had equipment operating
A1 and A3 in the 1-3 MHz range.  Not a misprint. In fact, one book i have,
translated title something like "Rommel's Intelligence Service in the
Desert"
(don't have the book handy) even mentions a frequency used in one action,
1557 kHz. No wonder at this phase of the war, everybody knocked off at
5:00  PM for the day. Nighttime communications on those frequencies would
have been tough, with all the big-time competition coming out of Europe.

There is no way these UkW's could be modified for FM, design wise. There
are too many specific castings. FM would have to be all new sets.

A book i have sez one 24-25 MHz set, Fusprech A, was for self-propelled
guns, assault guns. The frequencies above the regular panzer top end
of 33 MHz were for air-ground coordination.

Japan and Germany, for some reason, had way too many different
communications radios, more than the US and UK, i think. More
definitely did not mean better, as their best was not as good, with
exception of maybe several German communications receivers.
( My opinion only. )
Hue Miller