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Re: Racal MA-4450 MEROD
I was just wondering if anyone managed to get any schematics for the
MA4450 Tded. My unit lights all the red leds' nothing on the display. I took it apart, nothing seems to be physically damaged or burnt up, I quickly looked at a few ic pins on the scope but just see fixed levels, nothing appears to be clocking at all. Next step download datasheet for the micro's in the beast. I am guessing that it is a power supply issue at the vcc for the eproms is only 3.2v. Some schematics would be usefull Regards Tony |
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MA4230
If you have two that work you're very lucky. I've had several here and almost without exception they had dead nicads, and many had other faults, mostly dead CMOS and those pesky little Bourns preset pots that go often open circuit for some odd reason... The nicads do not seem to be available either, and are hard to substitute for, because of space limitations. The 4230 is a keyboard morse encoder, with the MA4231 the matching decoder. There is a charger and telephone line unit, also the MA4233 printer. They work with just about anything, assuming you can find the incredibly expensive Fischer connectors necessary. There is either a reed relay key output or a keyed 1 kHz tone and PTT. Typically used with the TRA931, but mine is happy keying anything from a Rockmite upwards. As is they do morse at a preset speed of around 15 to 20 wpm, adjustment inside; or in burst mode they squirt at about 2 to 300 odd wpm. 1024 character memory storage. CMOS inside so be very careful if you open them up, and before you do anything remove or disconnect the battery. The logic is permanently powered up and cmos inputs do not take kindly to being disconnected while powered up. There is a version that is compatible with the older tape based MA4010 high speed keyer. That's about it in a nutshell, 73 Dan g3ncr / ac6ao |
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Re: MA4224
As if the millions of combinations were not enough, I got an Iraqi unitWho put the eprom in there, us or them? |
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Re: MA4224
Hi Dan,
Thank you for the information. I will replace the cells with new ones as you suggested. Odd story about the iraqi eprom; I guess even they realised that such "old" and "common" equipment has got to be heavily compromised security wise. Vincent --- In Racal-manpacks@..., Dan Rae <danrae@...> wrote: cell approximately 100 mAH unit, custom for Racal, but can easily bereplaced by a homebrew epoxy blob containing three NiMH button cells. Thisis to retain the settings and keys.inside for extra layers of security. They have to be the same on both endscustomised, and adapted for use with fax machines and so on. You will reallyneed the manual to sort it all out.unit that had been internally modified and fitted with with a customeprom. This surprised me somewhat, since my previous experience of ex-Iraqi radio stuff made me think they were not that good technically, toput it mildly. |
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Re: Racal MA-4450 MEROD
Michael Buckley talktalk
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýJust for added interest what is a Racal MA 4230?
Does the group have any info on this?
?
I have two which seem to work, but what with?
?
?
Mike B
M1CCF
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MA4224
Someone was asking about this unit. The Nicad inside is a three cell approximately 100 mAH unit, custom for Racal, but can easily be replaced by a homebrew epoxy blob containing three NiMH button cells. This is to retain the settings and keys.
The white plugs and sockets are part of the optional settings inside for extra layers of security. They have to be the same on both ends obviously. Similar in principle to the Stecker Board on an Enigma machine. There other places inside where these units can be customised, and adapted for use with fax machines and so on. You will really need the manual to sort it all out. As if the millions of combinations were not enough, I got an Iraqi unit that had been internally modified and fitted with with a custom eprom. This surprised me somewhat, since my previous experience of ex-Iraqi radio stuff made me think they were not that good technically, to put it mildly. 73 Dan ac6ao / g3ncr |
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Re: Racal MA-4450 MEROD
Hi Vincent,
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I did the same as you. Opened the thing, and applied 12 volts to the fuse, ground to the case..... Shelved the stuff to attack it later ;) Same as the PRC319 with the flakey power switch, and bad TURF. :) --Ira Vincent Borg wrote: Hi Ira, --
-- -- Ira J. Moser, Owner, MECO Tel: (425) 788-0208 Fax: (360) 794-8754 Web: www.meco.org Email: ira@... Orwell was an OPTIMIST! |
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Re: PRM-4031 relays
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýSorry Vic, I have no other
information.
What I do know is that it is the longest relay in
the radio and it was made by Hamlyn, is silver metal and is about 3" long by
3/4" high by 1/2 " wide (approx).
Best regards,
Julian B.
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Re: PRM-4031 relays
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýHi Julian,
????????????????I
may have a lead now on the relay! Apart from the Racal part number do you have
any other info on it (pin out, where in the radio it is used)?
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Also, any interest in the Near miss kit?
?
Regards, Vic Tuff VTSE Limited Tel: 07802 449658 |
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Re: Racal MA-4450 MEROD
Hi Guys,
I have just got the Ops manual for the Racal TDED (MEROD) MA-4450. I solved the power up problem and evenn have the thing sendind (something) so far. I have tried to upload the PDF file , but it appears the allocated space is not enough. Ira if you like you can send me your full email and I,ll gladly send you a copy. Meanwhile if anyone can ask (I'll try as well) the moderator for more space I,ll share this info with everyone else. Oh I should be recieving the full manual fotr the MA4224 enryption thingie...again I can sgare with anyone who wants it. Vincent |
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Re: Racal MA-4450 MEROD
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýDear All - at Tracktek Industries Ltd, we have alot
of the UK MoD's TDED?units that came out with the PRC319
radios.
I have had?the User Manual put?on CDand
this incluces the pin-outs for all of the connectors,?but if somebody cares
to point me in the right direction,?I'll send a copy of it to the
appropriate person and they can put it on to the internet for all to
use.
I was told by a friend in the Honourable Artillery
Company?that the?TDED was used?in
place of the numeric encryption unit for the PRC319, as it was pre-programmed
with the appropriate encryption codes and was thus an easier and
faster?product to use.
Standard procedure with the PRC319 was to use the
encryption unit with a One Time Pad and the TDED dispensed with
this.
The HAC tended to use the PRC319 more than the
SAS/SBS units as their role was primarily to do forward
reconnaissance.
I hope that this helps,
Best regards,
Julian Barnard.
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Re: Racal MA-4450 MEROD
Hi Ira,
So Far I have one MA-4450 working ( at least seens to show the right stuff on the screen) and the other just like yours: leds on and display crazy. I remember reading somewhere that these beasts suffer from an unusual interconnecting system between the boards...there are narrow flexible bits with tiny tiny wires inside that are supposed to make the connections via the pressure of the screws that hold the boards in place. It appears that the things shrink with age or something and the contacts become marginal. You can take them apart and solder ribbon cable instead of the rubber thingies. This is no small job, you will need the following: 1) Nerves of high tensile steel. 2) Valium or something ! I want to give a shot repairing the non working one when I am feeling more in the mood (Just done my backdated tax return ). I always wondered if these units use the same format and protocol as the prc319 emu. It would be interesting to try themm out with some other guys on HF. Oh, one last unnerving thing about the MA4450: I have the right plug, but could not power it up from any of pins ! I took the cover up and supplied 12 volts to the power fuse inside and it worked. I dont know whay it should do this, I mean its meant to be powered up from the radio plug. Perhaps it will only work on 24 volts from the plug. I am not prepared to risk this before I get more details. How did you power yours up ? If from the radio plug, which pins ? About the MA-4224 encryption units: Both internal memory batteries are dead and leaking. I removed both. I was trying to figure out what kinda batteries these are; well they are 3 cell construction.... and when I powered up with an external supply I measured 10v across the battery terminals. This would indicate a constant current charging system , perhaps for a nicad. However 3 nicad cells is barely 4 volts; I would have thought that with 25 year old technology the memory backup would be at least 5 volts, but I am only guessing here. The good news is that I am getting a full manual for the MA4224 and some more info for the MA4450. I will keep you posted. I am interested to know how youn powered up your MA4450 and at what voltage. Regards Vincent --- In Racal-manpacks@..., "Ira J. Moser" <ira@...> wrote: application of power, the only thing my units did, was light up all the LEDs anddo nothing useful......Racal T.D.E.D. type MA-4450, data messaging device (MEROD). |
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Re: Racal MA-4450 MEROD
Belton, Alan
Vince/Ira,
More or less the same here: I've got a pair of the slightly older MA 4224 audio encryption units, which also have the 5 white plugs and 15 socket options inside, and a 4.5v nicad potted in resin. This had gone short circuit and was pulling down the internal 5 v rail, so I replaced it with three small 225mAh nicads in heatshrink tubing. I understand that the pins and sockets arrangements are to set the basic configuration up, and had been unplugged prior to government disposal of the units. If working they should produce something like a white noise output, from memory, but mine don't produce anything: have actually got them on a shelf as bookends! Rgds Al ________________________________ From: Racal-manpacks@... on behalf of Ira J. Moser Sent: Thu 02/11/2006 02:06 To: Racal-manpacks@... Subject: Re: [Racal-manpacks] Racal MA-4450 MEROD Seconded, also :) Were you able to get the things powered-up, Vincent? On application of power, the only thing my units did, was light up all the LEDs and do nothing useful...... --Ira Vincent Borg wrote: Does anyone have the pinouts for the audio connector on the Racal -- Ira J. Moser, Owner, MECO TEL: (425) 788-0208 FAX: (360) 794-8754 WEB: www.meco.org EMAIL: ira@... Orwell was an OPTIMIST! Yahoo! Groups Links _____________________________________________________________________ This message has been checked for all known viruses by the MessageLabs Virus Control Centre. For further information visit The information in this e-mail and any attachment(s) are intended to be confidential and may be legally privileged. Access to and use of its content by anyone else other than the addressee(s) may be unlawful and will not be recognised by Thurrock Council for business purposes. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else. Thurrock Council cannot accept any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of this message as it has been transmitted over a public network. Any opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Thurrock Council. Any attachment(s) to this message has been checked for viruses, but please rely on your own virus checker and procedures. Senders and recipients of e-mail should be aware that under the UK Data Protection and Freedom of Information legislation these contents may have to be disclosed in response to a request. All e-mail sent to or from this address will be processed by Thurrock Council's corporate e-mail system and may be subject to scrutiny by someone other than the addressee. ____________________________________________________________________ This message has been checked for all known viruses by the MessageLabs Virus Control Centre. For further information visit |
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Re: Racal MA-4450 MEROD
Seconded, also :)
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Were you able to get the things powered-up, Vincent? On application of power, the only thing my units did, was light up all the LEDs and do nothing useful...... --Ira Vincent Borg wrote: Does anyone have the pinouts for the audio connector on the Racal T.D.E.D. type MA-4450, data messaging device (MEROD). --
Ira J. Moser, Owner, MECO TEL: (425) 788-0208 FAX: (360) 794-8754 WEB: www.meco.org EMAIL: ira@... Orwell was an OPTIMIST! |
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Re: Racal MA4224 Encryption
Seconded! I just have ONE though :)
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--Ira Vincent Borg wrote: I have just aquired a pair of MA-4224 units to play with. The first thing I did was to open up the case and have a look. Well, the memory backup battery is obviously dead (leaky). I was wondering if anyone knows anything about this battery: (voltage, type, rechargable or not ). --
Ira J. Moser, Owner, MECO TEL: (425) 788-0208 FAX: (360) 794-8754 WEB: www.meco.org EMAIL: ira@... Orwell was an OPTIMIST! |
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Racal MA4224 Encryption
I have just aquired a pair of MA-4224 units to play with. The first
thing I did was to open up the case and have a look. Well, the memory backup battery is obviously dead (leaky). I was wondering if anyone knows anything about this battery: (voltage, type, rechargable or not ). Inside, I also noticed that there are 5 loose, white wires each terminated in a pin of sorts. Next to these wires there is a row sockets where the pins could go. Trouble is there are 5 wires and about 15 sockets! What are these wires for?.....chosing some option or configuration perhaps? I will appreciate any information about these vintage encryption units. If any one has scans or knows where to get manuals from, I will appreciate it. Thanks all, Vincent |
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MA-1970 Multicoupler
Stijn
I have a racal MA1970 antenna multicoupler here and I am having some
troubles with this. It is producing a lot of noise and intermod. So I am looking for the schematics, alignment procedures, specs and performance checks. I would be very thankfull to the person who can provide me these items (scans or copies). 73 de Stijn PE1RKS |
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Re: Jaguar / panther programming
Joe McElvenney
Hi,
If I recall correctly, the original Jaguar V used the old RCA 1802 processor and I think that the fill-gun has one inside it too. I asked one of the designers, from the old Wembley plant, why they had used that particular chip. His reply was that it could be stopped dead when required to save battery power and there wasn't a more modern one available at the time that would do this. In fact one of their later manpacks used the same beast. For a time in the early 80's I worked on the Jag V in the Middle East and once even taught a course on it. Can't remember a thing now though. Most of our units had a 50W PA strapped to their sides; the biggest cause of failure back then being the PIN diode switches. Cheers - Joe, G3LLV |