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CIA NRP Easy Chair UVK-21 →
Unlike most VSWR meters, which are connected in-line between an RF source
(e.g. transmitter) and a load (e.g. antenna), the UVK-20 uses an internal
source. This makes the device ideal for testing the performance of an
antenna system.
It allowed the CIA to test any type of antenna in a variety of
situations, so that the performance of a
covert listening device (bug)
could be tested (and validated) under realistic circumstances.
The image on the right shows a prototype of the device. 1 It has two
frequency ranges: LO (blue) 120 - 300 MHz
and HI (red) 300 - 500 MHz.
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UVK-20 was developed by the
NRP
at the time when the company was no
longer developing new
covert listening devices
for the CIA, but was
still doing research under the Easy Chair contract.
This resulted in a series of
(bug) receivers
and measurement devices,
such as the UVK-20.
In parallel with the UVK-20, the NRP also developed
the UVK-21, which was an in-line VSWR meter.
Development of the UVK-20 started as early as 1974, with a series
of tests, experiments and prototypes for various frequency ranges, including
40-50 MHz and 240-420 MHz. The latter includes the popular UHF frequencies
in the 380 MHz range, as allocated by the CIA for bugs.
Final production of the device took place between 1980 and 1982,
but the quantity is unknown.
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The device shown here is labelled XUVK-20. The 'X'-prefix was used
by the CIA to identify prototypes.
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- UVK-20 VWSW Tester, Operation and Test Manual
CM-302542/D. NRP, May 1979.
- XUVK-20 VWSW Tester, Environmental test report
CM-302542/E. NRP, August 1979.
- UVK-20 VWSW Tester, Operation and Test Manual
CM-302542/J. NRP, June 1982 (A5 format).
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Saturday 12 October 2019. Last changed: Monday, 02 November 2020 - 08:11 CET.
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