[Milsurplus] H.M. attempts to stump the pro's

[Jack Antonio]

On 1/3/2016 12:05 AM, Hubert Miller wrote:

> Bendix 3801 Aircraft Receiver-Transmitter:  Bendix ad in 'Electronics',
> March 1945 identifies it as an 'Altair LY-1'.
> What's this about? Did Bendix buy this firm, Altair? Or was Bendix
> trying out a subsidiary marketing to small-plane,


The 3801 set was produced during the war, and purchased by
both the Navy and Army. My manuals are copyrighted 1943 and
1944, and an inventory or acceptance tag I have is dated
May of 1944. I have an RF head and power unit with the
Navy acceptance anchor stamp, and another RF head with
a signal corps acceptance stamp.

Built by the west coast division of Bendix, one manual I have
says Bendix Aviation Ltd, the other says Pacific Division
of Bendix Aviation Corp. Both manuals say North Hollywood,
California.

The 1944 manual has an Altair Logo, and specifically says
"Altair Communications Systems". Whether this specifically
refers to the 3801, or if Bendix used this as a generic
name is something I do not know.

Lockheed had an aircraft named Altair, but this was a
mid 30s aircraft, about a decade before the radio. I
do not know if there is any connection.

Physically the set is roughly comparable to an RCA AVT-112,
AVR-15 and AVR-20, all rolled into one set. It combines an HF
transmitter and dual band (range and HF) receiver, in a 2
piece package. Transmitter RF and receiver front end in one
box, IF, audio and dynamotor in another.

Most unusual feature, in my opinion, is the use of one
dynamotor for both transmit and receive. The dynamotor
runs at reduced speed and output voltage in receive, and
is allowed to run up full for transmit. Makes for a rather
loud noise in the headset on unkey.

All that being said, I have seen no information on its
usage or deployment, and would like to find out more.

There were a few pieces of the set on eBay about 10 years
ago, and again back in 2012, so they do show up once in a great while.

If anyone comes across a Model 3206 power unit, which is
the dynamotor, IF and audio chassis, there are a few people who need one.

Jack Antonio WA7DIA/4