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UHER
Open reel tape recorder
The Report 4000 was a series of portable open-reel magnetic-tape
audio recorders,
introduced by UHER
in München (Germany) in 1961.
It was one of the first truely portable fully transistorised recorders
that dominated the professional (broadcast) market for many years.
Numerious variants of this recorder exist,
and it was also used by law enforcement agencies and in
espionage trade.
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The machine measures 270 x 215 x 85 mm and weights 3 kg.
It is used with two open reels
with a diameter of 13 cm (5 inch) and has two mono audio tracks.
It offers four speeds for recording and play-back:
2.4, 4.75, 9.5 and 19 cm/s,
selectable with a knob
at the front top/right.
The Report 4000 is powered
by five 1.5V D-size batteries, that are installed in
a compartment that can be accessed via the removable bottom panel.
Alternatively the unit can be powered by an external mains transformer,
or an internal one that is fitted inside the battery holder.
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Due to its excellent price/performance ratio, the UHER 4000 recorders were
heavily used in the broadcast and film industry as an affordable alternative
to Nagra. The first model of the 4000-range was
introduced in 1961 and the machine was in production in
various incarnations
until 1966, when it was succeeded by the two-track 4200 and eventually
by the 4-track 4400.
The machine shown here was purchased by the previous owner in 1965
for DM 450 (EUR 225) 1 [1].
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Conversion to EURO is made without taking inflation into account.
The machine was bought with the internal PSU (DM 63) and an accu pack (DM 35)
on 17 February 1965 for a total of DM 548.
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The diagram below gives an overview of the controls and connections on
the UHER 4000 Report S. Batteries are installed at the bottom. Alternatively,
an internal power supply unit (PSU) can be installed in their place.
In addition, an external PSU can be connected to the Accessory socket at the
right side.
The machine is loaded with a suitable audio tape,
using 13 cm (5") spools.
The unit is powered by selecting one of the four speeds with the
'gear' type selector
at the top right of the front panel. In the upper position of this
selector, the machine is turned OFF.
The speed selector can be locked in any position by
turning its knob
by 90 degrees.
All tape controls are at the front right of the top surface,
with the PAUSE switch acting as start/stop during a recording or playback
session. Note that this button has to be released by pulling it up.
Both the volume and the tone control have an embedded switch that is
activated by pulling the knob towards you. Pulling the volume knob will switch
the meter from showing the recording level to the current battery level.
Pulling out the tone knob turns on the meter illumination.
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The UHER Report 4000 was very popular with broadcast reporters, who were
able to carry it at the shoulder during an interview, using
one of the special leather carrying bags.
The device was also used during
criminal investigations, for example for tapping phone lines and for recording
interrogations, or for covertly recording an important conversation in a room.
During the Cold War,
it was also used by the former DDR (East-Germany).
Below are some examples of its use.
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In the 1970s, the intelligence service of the former DDR
– the Stasi – used
the recorder as part of its optical communication system, that enabled
Stasi agents operating in the free West to deliver messages
at hight speed to Stasi
Headquarters in East-Germany. This is another example of an
Electronic Dead Letter Box (EDLB).
➤ More information
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Later versions of the recorder, such as the UHER Report 4400,
were sometimes customised for specific purposes, such as wire-tapping,
phone logging and legal or criminal investigations.
One example is the
Trevisan RT-2000
shown in the image on the right.
It is a 4-channel real time audio recorder with a built-in real-time
clock (RTC) and a thermal printer, for logging the metadata.
➤ More information
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For carrying the UHER Report 4000 around, a number of options were available.
First of al, a leather or canvas strap could be attached to the two pins
at both sides, close to the front panel.
In addition, a selection of leather carrying bags was available
in black or brown, such as the one shown in the image on the right.
The recorder can be operated from within the bag,
and even the tape is accessible through a flap at the top.
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The Report 4000 is very service friendly for its age. The interor can
be accessed simply by loosening the large kurled bolt at the bottom and
removing the botton panel. Next, remove the orange carton by releasing
the four bolts that keep it in place. The interior is now visible.
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The amplifier board at the left is hinged and can be swung away
after loosening a supporting post
at the right (on top of the large flywheel assembly at the center).
A few smaller PCBs are present with additional circuits, such as
the audio amplifier and the motor control circuit.
Note the rather 'messy' circuit around the motor,
where a small PCB is fitted to the chassis, with several of its components
'dangling in the air'.
Despite this, the recorder is well constructed, both mechanically and
electrically, and after 50 years, the one shown here still works a treat.
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When restoring an old UHER 4000 recorder, one of the first things to
check are the rubber belts.
In some machines the rubber may have become 'liquid' or
may have desintegrated completely. But even if the belts
seem fine, they will probably need to be replaced after so many service years.
The 4000 Report-S has two different belts: one for driving the capstan
and one for winding. Later models had three belts: the extra one was used
to drive a counter that was fitted at the front panel. Replacing the belts
is easy and good replacements are available from several sources [4].
Note that when replacing the capstan belt (left) the spring at the left
of the assembly (marked above in red) should be removed temporarily.
This can be tricky and requires a spring-hook.
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- 5 x 1.5V D-size battery
- Rechargeable gel battery
- Internal PSU (installed in battery compartment)
- External PSU (fitted to accessory socket)
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The UHER 4000 Report has three sockets at its
right side.
The middle one is for connection of an external speaker
or a pair of headphones.
The leftmost one is the line input/output and the rightmost one is the
accessory socket. The pinout of the latter two sockets is as follows:
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This is the (mono) phono/radio socket of the UHER recorder.
It carries both input and output signals at line-level, using the
standard 3-pin DIN layout.
Pinout looking into the socket:
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- Line in
- Ground (chassis)
- Line out
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This is the accessory socket. It can be used for a remote control
(foot switch) or an external 7.5V DC power source. Alternatively, the 7.5V
line can also be used as an ouput (e.g. to power a peripheral device.
Note that the recorder has the (+) terminal of the battery connected
to the chassis. This means that the circuit is powered by -7.5V.
The socket has a built-in switch that disconnects the battery when a plug
is insterted.
Pinout when looking into the socket:
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- ?
- Audio (line out)
- Ground (7.5V battery +)
- Remote
- Charge
- Power (7.5V battery -)
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Report 4000 1961-1962 Report 4000 S 1963-1965 Report 4000 IC 1972-1975 Report 4000 L 1965-1966
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1000 Professional version of 4000 4000 2-track mono (later 4-track mono) 4200 2-track stereo (tape used in one direction) 4400 4-track stereo (double sided, also usable as 4-track mono)
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- UHER, UHER 4000/4200/4400 Report Monitor, Service Handbook
Without circuit diagrams. Date unknown. 1
- UHER, UHER 4000 Report-L, Model 4200 and 4400 Supplement
With full circuit diagram. Date unknown. 1
- UHER, UHER 4000 Report-L and Report-S, Parts List
Date unknown. 1
- UHER, UHER 4000 Report-L, Circuit Diagram
Date unknown. 1
- UHER, UHER 4000/4200/4400 Report-IC and Stereo IC, Service Manual
Complete with circuit diagrams. Date unknown. 1
- UHER, UHER 4000 Report IC, Circuit Diagram
Date unknown. 1
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Friday 21 August 2015. Last changed: Monday, 06 December 2021 - 12:39 CET.
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