[Milsurplus] Chinese radio ID

[Robert Nickels]

On 12/14/2012 11:12 PM, Robert Goff wrote:
> Can anyone help me identify the Chinese set in the  picture on this website:
>
> http://chinesemilitaryradio.blogspot.com/
>
> The mystery set is in the small picture under "Radio Red Star" behind
> the four pack sets.
Yes.   The unit on the left is the Type 116 Transmitter and the unit on 
the right is the power supply for it.   A friend of mine recently 
acquired this complete set (maybe even the one pictured) which includes 
a matching receiver type 7512, and all spares and accessories.  Since I 
think it will be of interest to the list I'll take the liberty of 
reposting his comments and description below. It's a very impressive 
set!  But - something of a mystery as well:

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Today I am translating more Chinese so that I can get my Type 116 transmitter on the air.  The companion 7512 receiver is working fine but the transmitter is more difficult to figure out.  I have figured out about half of the controls and how it works.  The main transmitter is in two separate containers, one is the exciter and RF amp while the other holds the power supply.  AM is via control grid modulation which explains the fairly low AM rating (40 watts output) compared to the 150 watt CW rating.  It uses a one tube VFO with a pair of multiplier/driver tubes in parallel feeding a pair of what appear to be a copy of Amperex finals.  The finals have two tetrodes in each envelope and have the flat top with dual anode pins common to several of the Amperex types.  I was looking for a mode switch but it appears to be automatic depending upon whether you plug a mic into the mic jack on the power supply or a key into either the CW or MCW jacks. Both modulation and CW keying appear to be through the grid bias system. The crystal holder looks to be BC-610 sized and a jack for one pin connection shifts from VFO to crystal control when a crystal is plugged in.  The VFO frequency is read on a prism display screen with a folding cover to either protect it or prevent bystanders from seeing the frequency.   The power supply is mostly solid state, there is one tube in the power supply that looks like part of a regulator but otherwise it is solid state as is the grid modulator.  The receiver runs from either 120 or 240 but the transmitter requires between 205-240 volts and it uses an input transformer switch selectable in 5 volt increments that feeds the remaining power supply transformers.  The transmitter proper has the VFO/exciter on the bottom and the final/output network on top.  They slide from the case as a unit but the RF deck is hinged for easy access to the VFO.  The power supply is similarly hinged.

There is a separate relay box the size of a lunchbox that I have not figured out yet.  It doesn't provide antenna switching or interface for a key or microphone but does have a couple of pairs of binding posts on the front in addition to the multipin connector which hooks it to the power supply.  There is one three position switch on the box which I have yet to translate which may have something to do with mode selection.  There is no provision for antenna switching but I believe there is a muting connection for the receiver.  There is also a rudimentary test meter in another lunchbox size enclosure.

Everything was unused and I found a packing list with the two copies of the manual showing mine was assembled December 30, 1974.  According to what I have found the set was produced between 1958 and 1974 so mine is truly from the tail end of production.  The transmitter and power supply have matching serial numbers.

I doubt if the audio is great between the included military microphone and grid modulation but hopefully I will find that out soon.  There is at least one new spare included for every part but I am going to take it slowly to avoid the need for them right away (I hope!).  The transmitter meter reads driver plate current, final grid current, and final plate current but there is no output meter although the accessory meter may have a field strength function.  There is a view window for the final tubes to see if the plates are glowing.

I took some panel views to send to a Chinese friend for translation help and I also took some photos of the inside and of the refinished receiver front panel.

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73, Bob W9RAN