[Milsurplus] The Secret Wireless War

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

I recently bought this book and am reading it. What is truly amazing to me is that the main 
transmitter that SIS and their allied services used so successfully was their Mark III.

This was, apparently, built, or modified from, a design in some amateur radio magazine, 
possibly QST.

It consisted of a crystal oscillator/driver, most probably a 6V6, driving an 807 to a power 
output of about 25 watts (!!!), and into end fed antennas of poor efficiency.

Yet this simple transmitter was operated in conjunction with various receivers, most notably 
in many cases, the National HRO, in many, many stations, including diplomatic ones at 
consuls, and even mobile, all throughout WWII.

To me this means that the RECEIVING stations had to operate with unusually high 
efficiency with truly excellent operators.

I had thought that the transmitters used at, especially, consulates would have operated into 
excellent antennas and with powers of at least 100 watts and upwards.

Yet this was not the case.

I am amazed.

Ken W7EKB