MLU FORUM  

Go Back   MLU FORUM > GENERAL WW2 TOPICS > The Wireless Forum

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-04-16, 01:27
Bruce Parker (RIP) Bruce Parker (RIP) is offline
GM Fox I
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,606
Default Wireless of the Week - week 7

Since turnaround is fair play, last week was an American knockoff of a British radio, this week will present an American radio copied and manufactured by the Brits.

Observing the success the Americans were having with their man pack SCR-300-A radio station based on the BC-1000 sender receiver, they undertook development of a similar set in 1944 naming it the Wireless Set No.31. It was intended as a replacement for the current British 18 and 46 sets then in use, however this did not occur completely until 1949 and the 31 set was itself replaced as early as 1950 giving it a very short service life. It represents a significant change from the relatively low frequency AM sets the British were used to replacing them with an FM radio in the VHF band width.

The Wireless Set No.31 is a short range infantry set which is tropicalized and waterproof. Primarily a man pack set it could also be used as a ground or vehicle set, and in fact later versions were designed specifically for use in armoured fighting vehicles. It came in a metal case 17” tall, 12” wide and 6” deep with the sender/receiver on the top and the battery compartment below. Clamps allowed easy access to the inside of the radio and battery compartments. Controls, headset and aerial sockets were on the top with the controls protected by a hinged metal cover. An interesting feature is that the second headset plugged into the top of the first rather than there being provision for two separate headset plugs on the set itself. The set weighed 22-1/2 lbs and was carried strapped to a ‘Carrier, Manpack, G.S.’ along with the operator's haversack, a ‘Signals, Satchel’ for the headset and spares and a No.5 Aerial bag housing the optional 2’ 8” and 10’ 8” aerials. Aerial sections were held together with a wire metal core so they couldn’t be lost. Oddly, the use of G.S. manpack carrier turned a small, compact radio into a rather large and cumbersome load. Power was supplied by a dry battery providing LT (4.5 volts), HT1 (90 volts) and HT2 (150 volts).

Frequency range was from 40 to 48 Megahertz and was continuously tuneable, however the dial was graduated in 41 channels spaced 200 kHz (0.2 MHz) apart and numbered 0 to 41 so once again the operator tuned to simple graduations on the dial instead of an actual frequency. Tuning the sender and receiver did not require separate actions as it did with earlier British sets. In addition to the numbered channels, the set also had four letter channels (A, B, C & D) that corresponded to the fixed frequencies of the Wireless No.88 set then in use. A squelch circuit was built in to limit radio ‘hiss’ for the operator’s comfort. Range was 1-1/2 miles with the short and 3 to 5 miles with the long antenna.

While not a radio with a rich wartime history, the Wireless Set No.31 was born in WW2 and speaks to a transition in British radio communication thinking.
Attached Thumbnails
1.jpg   2.jpg   3.jpg   4.jpg   5.jpg  


Last edited by Bruce Parker (RIP); 01-04-16 at 04:10.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-04-16, 11:34
Mike Kelly's Avatar
Mike Kelly Mike Kelly is offline
Fan of Lord Nuffield
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Victoria Australia
Posts: 5,731
Default 31 afv

The 19/WS31 AFV was a interesting unit . I have some pages from the manual .

I did have a 31 set , not the infantry set but the AFV unit . I gave it to a friend who owns a early Land Rover .
Attached Thumbnails
afv31-ws19best.jpg  
__________________
1940 cab 11 C8
1940 Morris-Commercial PU
1941 Morris-Commercial CS8
1940 Chev. 15cwt GS Van ( Aust.)
1942-45 Jeep salad

Last edited by Mike Kelly; 01-04-16 at 11:43.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-04-16, 17:30
Jon Skagfeld's Avatar
Jon Skagfeld Jon Skagfeld is offline
M38A1 CDN3
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Owen Sound ON
Posts: 2,190
Default

The 31 set could be considered the father of the 510 set...so many similarities.

It could also be considered to be related to the CPRC-26, with the fixed channel selection.

My, how we've progressed.
__________________
PRONTO SENDS
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 16-07-16, 23:47
Bruce Parker (RIP) Bruce Parker (RIP) is offline
GM Fox I
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,606
Default

Updating with manual for 31 set.
Attached Thumbnails
Manual.jpg  
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Wireless of the Week - week 5 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 20 26-12-19 22:39
Wireless of the Week - week 6 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 11 21-08-16 14:30
Wireless of the Week - week 1 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 4 16-07-16 23:45
Wireless of the Week - week 3 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 11 07-03-16 01:16
Wireless of the Week - week 2 Bruce Parker (RIP) The Wireless Forum 5 28-02-16 15:54


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 11:01.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Maple Leaf Up, 2003-2016