[Premium-Rx] Collins HF voice privacy unit VP-100

[Peter Ratuschni]

Hello All,

at the free accessible part of janes.com I found a short description of
the airborne equivalent of the VP-100, the VP-110:

source: http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Avionics/VP-110-voice-encryption-device-United-States.html

excerpt:
" The system eliminates all syllabic content in the encrypted mode while
retaining clear voice quality and recognition. For transmission, the 
voice is converted into analogue signals and divided into low- and 
high-band frequency ranges. It is then encoded and transmitted in a 
random mode with regard to time and frequency.Public keying is provided, enabling private conversations between two stations without prior manual 
exchange of a recognition code. In this method of communication, the 
operator selects the mode and the two units exchange a set of numbers, 
using a complex mathematical algorithm, which in effect establishes a 
signature for connecting private conversations. Eight codes, or key 
variables, can be entered in the unit microprocessors, providing 10 × 719 
code possibilities. "


The source for an abstract about the VP-116, the successor of the VP-110 is here:
http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Avionics/VP-116-voice-encryption-device-United-States.html


Best regards,
Peter


original email:

> Hello all,
> I am interested in communication equipment for several years now and 
> finally I subscribed to this list. My english is far away from being 
> perfect, please excuse.
>
> I worked as an electronics for Honeywell in Germany and studied physics 
> later on. So far a some older units, mostly receivers from CEI/wj, passed 
> my way. It started with a DRO from 1972 and the lecture of Terry`s 
> website did the rest of the 'infection'. 
>
> My first question goes for a real black radio accessory from Collins. 
> The unit is named VP-100 and according to the label on the back, it is a 
> HF voice privacy unit. The housing is in the style of the HF-8090 or the 
> 851S receiver. On the back there are 600 ohms connections named TB1/RADIO 
> and TB2/LINE. On the frontplate there are a speaker, a mic input, a 
> numeric keyboard with RCL, STO, CLR, two key switches (PVT/CLR, LOAD/OPR) 
> and one button named ZEROIZE near to the power switch. Then there is a 
> numeric display for KEY, SEGMENT and DATA and several status LEDs (RCV 
> PVT, RCV CLR XMIT, PRIVAT, FAULT, LOW BAT, TEST, PUB EXCHG and even one 
> LED not named at all (it lightened up one time).
>
> In the unit there are 5 plugin pcbs, named TIMING, CPU, BULK MEMORY, 
> INTERFACE and MODEM. The power supply is huge and seems that they took it 
> from the 851S and omitted only a few parts. 
>
> The only unpopulated slot is named TEST and therefore I conclude the unit 
> is complete (and yes, the keys are there, even a record number and 
> destroy tag). The only apparent damage is that leaking batteries 
> destroyed the battery holder. The batteries should be for memory backup. 
> They are shorted via a resistor when the unit is drawn out of it`s rack.
>
>
> The problems are: 
> - The LED digit display is most time dark. When the unit is switched on 
> with the ZEROIZE button pressed, it sometimes shows something.
>
> - There is no visible reaction from the numeric keyboard.
>
> - Sometimes the speaker gives a permanent beep.
>
>
> Does anybody has information about this unit?
> 
>
> - Peter