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Configurations
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| The RT-3600 / RT-3610 family consists of a relatively small number of parts,
but there are an overwhelming number of possibilities to put these together
into different installations. I'll try to document these on this page.
One thing that does complicate this job is the fact that during the more then twenty years the system was in use, new developments in the way of accessories were made, replacing older ones, while even up to the end of it's life cycle the RT-3600 configurations kept using parts that were originally developed for even older radios, like chest sets, handsets and antenna parts. So, it might just happen that the information presented here was at some stage during the development outdated by newer configurations. If you find such errors, please send me an e-mail. Man Pack Configurations
Man Pack ConfigurationsKL/PRC-3600 - NSN: 5820-17-054-6693 RT-3600 transceiver withKL/PRC-3610 - NSN: 5820-17-054-6695 RT-3610 transceiver withLater documentation, FM-3600 / FM-4600 Nomenclatuur (August 1 1992) gives more details for hand- and headsets: H-3600 HandsetIt seems likely that the first portable sets used the old style handset H33/PT and old style headset consisting of the combination of chest set group AN/GSA-6 with headset microphone H-63/U. These were used extensively with the earlier generation of radios, the VRC/GRC/PRC series. The H-36xx accessories could well be a later development. As these older headsets and handsets used the old style 10 pin U-77 connector - and both the RT-3600 and the RT-3610 use a newer 5 pen audio connector - this would then explain what Cable Assembly CX-3606 would have to be: an interconnecting cable between the two audio connectors. In the newer manual this Cable Assembly is not longer mentioned as part of the man pack configurations. Manual 1/2 TH 11-170 (Oktober 1 1969) mentions the BG-3600 Carrying Harness - in FM-3600 / FM-4600 Nomenclatuur (August 1 1992) this is replaced by the BG-4600, a harness for the newer and in 1992 coexisting RT-4600 radio. Drawings of the BG-3600 in early manuals indicate that this actually was a quite different harness then the later BG-4600, including extra bags for accessories. The AT-272A/PRC short antenna mentioned for both man packs shows up as the AT--272/PRC in later manuals, whether this is an actual change in model is unknown. The AT-271A/PRC long antenna of course cannot be used without it's flexible base, the AB-129. There are two variations of the battery box for each of the configurations. BX-3600 and BX-3610 are used with rechargeable batteries, the BX-3601 and BX-3611 are meant to be used with ordinary batteries. Stacking them up...The PP-3620 Power Supply has it's own very similar canister and comes on top of the RT-3600 - but here the front position can be chosen from either the AF-3620 Control- and Loudspeaker Unit or the IC-3620 Control- and Intercom Unit. Two radios? Not a problem, a third canister with a second RT-3600 goes on top of the Power Supply. Again with the possibility to slip an amplifier in the back. Three radios? Of course. But as there is a limit of three boxes in on stack, a second stack must be added next to the first one. Again, it must contain a Power Supply, with the same choice between a Control- and Intercom Unit or a Control- and Loudspeaker Unit in the front position. The third RT-3600 can be amplified if one so decides and goes underneath the Power Supply, so that the AF-3620 and/or IC-3620 units line up. It's even possible to add a RT-3610 to one of the stacks, but the total number of radios is limited to three, as that is the maximum capacity of the switching elements. Within a stack the interconnections are made on the back, with the UG-3626 Connector Assembly: two 26 pen connectors forming a short dog bone. The PP-3620 can accommodate two of these, so that's why it should be the middle element in a stack of three. Unusual in military radios, connections on the back - but it goes beyond that as the antenna connections on the AM-3600 or JB-3600 are also on the back of these units. On the front of both the IC-3620 and AF-3620
there are two connectors
for the intercom system, one on each side. As the intercom cabling is designed
to daisy chain and go back to form a ring, even in a single stack system
both will be used in order to close the ring. This makes the system much
more secure, as a broken cable will not put the intercom boxes beyond the
break out of commission. The system will still function without problems.
Also on the front of the IC-3620 and the AF-3620 there are the connectors for the battery voltage. The IC-3620 has one, on the right hand side, the AF-3620 has two, one on each side, in order to daisy chain the power line. So, in a configuration with only one stack it does not really matter where the CX-3600 Power Cable goes, but with two stacks the AF-3620 must be on the right with the CX-3600 leading to the right hand connector. A UG-3608 dog bone Connector Assembly must be used to hook up the left hand power connector of the AF-3620 to the only power connector on the IC-3620, that is located on it's right side. And yes, having two IC-3620's in a two stack set is not possible, because the power connectors do not allow it. Apart from that, it would be useless as one IC-3620 will cater for the whole intercom system. Vehicular ConfigurationsIn order to limit the logistics problems the problem was split in two: radios sets, that come under a numbering system that starts with KL/VRC and all the extra's to fit these in different vehicles, MX sets. So, for each possible use of the radios there will be a combination of a KL/VRC set and an MX set. As if this is not complicated enough, all these combinations have their own FM-codes where the vehicle types are also coded numerically. At a later time I might add that information to this web site... The simplest radio configurations given in FM-3600 / FM-4600 Nomenclatuur (August 1 1992) are: KL/VRC-3620 - NSN: 5820-17-054-6711 RT-3600 transceiver withKL/VRC-3610 - NSN: 5820-17-055-0932 RT-3610 transceiver withThese are full radio systems, but they lack all extra material as audio accessories, cabling etceteras. In fact, there are seven different MX sets that can be combined with the KL/VRC-3620 to make different installations. For instance, to make a FM-36/1120 for the Nekaf Jeep: MX-4253 - NSN: 5820-17-036-0694 Antenna TipThis is a relatively simple set - just the one standard power radio and no intercom facilities. All audio accessories are the new style five pen connector. A double radio with intercom would be: KL/VRC-3622 - NSN: 5820-17-054-6712 RT-3600 (2x) transceivers withThe numbers between brackets indicate the number of each item needed. Now, if this set would be used in the Leopard I tank, a MX-4296 comes into play. This is just one of the seven MX sets that could be used with the KL/VRC-3622. MX-4296 - NSN: 5820-17-036-0736 Antenna Tip (2x)Lots of cabling this time, as is to be expected when many crew members must be able to communicate through the intercom system. No loudspeakers - as they would not be heard in the noisy interior of that Leopard I. Less special extra mounting hardware, as there will be a standard radio table in the turret - the jeep had none, so it needed an extra mounting. And a older type handset - but because all audio connectors on the Intercom Boxes are the old 10 pen standard, that does not matter. Antenna ConfigurationsA RT-3610 in a vehicular set-up will firstly need to loose it's BX-3610 or BX-3611 Battery Box. It must be replaced by a JB-3610 Junction Box that connects the system to the stack it is part of, through backside connector 752. It also provides on the backside connector 751 for the antenna cable CG-362x, a simple coaxial cable. On the other end of this cable there must be a RF-3610 Antenna Tuner, that doubles as the antenna base and accommodates antenna sections MS-117A and MS-118A/K. That RF-3610 actually is not a real Antenna Tuner, it only has a coaxial connector for the H.F. signals as well as some internal circuitry in order to weaken the signal strength when desired - read on for further information... The vehicular RT-3600 also looses the BX-3600 or
BX-3610 Battery Box,
to be replaced with either the JB-3600 Junction Box or the
AM-3600 RF amplifier.
Both options provide three connectors on the back. On the JB-3600
701 hooks
up to the stack again, as does 601 on the AM-3600. Connector 703 (603 on
the AM-3600) is the coaxial antenna connection and 702 (602) provides the
control signal for the antenna tuner - needed to actually tune the antenna
to the chosen frequency.
Then the plot thickens. Because the RT-3600 can play three roles: it's an eight kilometre transceiver by it's sweet self, a thirty kilometre apparatus with the added AM-3600 RF amplifier but it can also be put to use as a short range - three kilometre, same as the RT-3610 - system. Of course, when used as a short range three kilometre transceiver the RT-3600 will be fitted with the JB-3600, not with the amplifier. But even then the signal strength is too strong, so the RF-3610 comes into play, as it can be used as a limiter. It's hooked up to the 703 connector of the JB-3600 by means of a cable CG-362x. No further cabling is needed, as this RF-3610 does not need information for tuning and connector 602 or 702 stays unused.. However, if used this way the RF-3610 needs a simple manual internal modification - and whether the RF-3610 is set up for use as a limiter/tuner for the RT-3600 or as a tuner only for the RT-3600 should be indicated by a reversible indication on the outside. The story so far is what is indicated in the early manuals on these sets.
However, in later documentation, all of a sudden the AB-15/GR Antenna Base shows
up. This is a much simpler beast then the RF-3610
- it has no built in limiter,
it is literally just an antenna base. So, the only radio it could serve is the
RT-3610. It would seem likely that at some stage during the life cycle of this
radio family someone decided it would be cheaper to use or re-use this older
material. If the need arises, there is also an Antenna Mast: AB-3600. Audio AccessoriesThe first problem is of course that the audio connectors in the system are of two very different types. Both transceivers each have two of the new style 5 pen connectors, all other audio connectors throughout the system are old style 10 pen - the U-77/U. To complicate matters there is a adaptor between the two standards, that I never have seen mentioned in the manuals. My conclusion to date is that all vehicular installations used old style connector audio accessories exclusively. Then, there are a number of basically different approaches to audio accessories when it comes to military radios. To sum up the approaches I have found within the RT-3600/RT-3610 family: Handsets - the simple handset, quite like found on a ordinary telephone, but with a pressel switch for transmitting and a much slimmer earpiece, as it would have to fit under a helmet. The RT-3600/RT-3610 family uses a lot of these:
Headsets - basically a headphone with a boom microphone. Obviously not to ideal when wearing a helmet - and how does one switch on the transmitters? With a chest set!
Chest Sets - the solution to switching on transmitters with a headset: the switches are in a small control box strapped to the chest of the person using the headset. Later solutions are not strapped any more, but clipped on to the front of the overall. In both cases there will be a quick release in the cabling, see under tank helmets. I know of two systems used:
Microphones (Hand) - when stationary, a combination of a loudspeaker and a hand microphone is ideal. The microphone will have the pressel switch to open up the transmitter. When more operators are sharing the same room, or noise levels are high, the loudspeaker can be replaced by a simple headset. Microphones (Throat) - different approach to the microphone. Very good in high noise environments like armoured vehicles and it leaves both hands free - until you need to find that pressel switch. That is why throat microphones are always part of a chest set configuration. Headphones -
Tank Helmets - are actually a re-invented chest sets. Earpieces and boom
microphone are included in a tight fitting fabric helmet with added protection
against bumping heads in vehicles on the move in rough terrain. The switches - on
the examples I know - are on one of the earpieces, so transmitting means
pressing that switch.
Loudspeakers - great for stationary work - also often found in jeeps for general listening for signals. The RT-3600/RT-3610 family uses two:
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Last updated:
12-11-2003 23:21 +0100 |