[Milsurplus] TCS 9, et al

[w8au at sssnet.com]

CWO Downs is a much better authority on TCS (and other things Navy) than I 
am, but "being there," using them aboard ship, and having my own does allow 
me to agree with him.  :-)  WW2 inter-ship use and later on for more 
mundane "harbor watch" nets, it was used primarily on AM.

Despite it's clunky CW operation, it's rare to hear a TCS on CW that is 
anything less than good sounding, no chirp (klix mebbe).  Both relays will 
handle 25 wpm and higher without detectable shortening of dits, and the QSK 
(albeit w/o sidetone) is very good.  (Tnx to Collins, no doubt)

One very minor characteristic of the keyed CW transmission (if you're 
listening to a very strong TCS signal) is the extremely slight FM 
modulation applied to the master osc from the clanking changeover relay 
vibrating the TX case.  This is not detectable under average conditions and 
is not  a defect.  I call this the TCS sound!  :-)  Very authoritative!

I did an unauthorized "field mod" on mine by keeping the RX audio output 
active by disconnecting the shorting contact on K103 in TX (pin 9 on 
RX  connector) and keeping the RF, MIX and 1st IF active at a low level by 
putting resistance across the K103 N/C busses, (pins 2 & 3 of RX pwr 
connector) allowing a lower voltage feed to those screens under "key down" 
conditions.   Voila! Sidetone,(after a fashion).  But this compromises the 
AM somewhat, requiring a quick lowering of RX audio gain when xmitting to 
avoid feedback.   These simple mods are reversible, of course, for those 
who disdain the key....  :-)

Nice to hear all the thoughts on this venerable Navy workhorse.

Perry    w8au




At 09:45 AM 7/26/05, WA5CAB at cs.com wrote:
>Collins civilian nomenclature for the TCS receiver is 51Q.  Transmitter is 
>56Q.
>The lack of sidetone is a point, but on the other hand, the TCS operates 
>full break-in, which is how all of the medium power Navy shipboard sets 
>were normally operated.
>-------------------------------------
>In a message dated 7/26/2005 8:09:28 AM Central Daylight Time,
>RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu writes:
> > I had a TCS setup for a while and have to agree with the hidden message,
> > do not think they intended that as a CW radio.