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Enigma-E expansion kit
When the Enigma-E
was introduced to the public in 2003, it was an instant
success that no doubt has helped to raise the overall interest in
historical cipher machines
and that of the Enigma in particular.
To celebrate the fifth
anniversary of the Enigma-E, we developed a nice expansion kit.
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Introducing the UhrBox-E: a self-build electronic kit that replicates
the infamous Enigma Uhr,
an Enigma add-on that was introduced in 1944
by the German Luftwaffe (Air Force) in an attempt to improve the security
of the Enigma cipher.
The image on the right shows what the UhrBox-E looks like when it is
completely assembled. It should be connected to the Steckerbrett
of the Enigma-E.
At the center is a rotary switch that is used to select
any of the available 40 settings.
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A 2-digit display shows the current setting from 00 to 39.
Twenty 'flying wires' are used to connect the UhrBox-E to the Enigma-E's
plugboard. The device is powered by a four AA-size batteries (not included).
The device was thought to enhance the Enigma's security, but in reality
operator mistakes gave it away almost from day one, as you can read in
the enclosed manual.
➤ See how the UhrBox-E was developed
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The kit consists of a double-sided 9 x 9 cm PCB complete with all electronic
components, resistors, capacitors, micro-controller, display, cable,
plugs (Steckern) and even a battery holder (not the batteries themselves).
At the centre of the PCB is a so-called rotary encoder which simulates the
large 40-step dial of the original Uhr.
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The UhrBox-E comes with a full-colour 36 page A5-size manual of the same
quality as that of the Enigma-E. It contains detailed instructions on how
to build the UhrBox-E, but also explains the working principle of the
mechanical original and the historical context in which is was used.
The UhrBox-E also comes with a new micro-controller for your Enigma-E
in order to make older versions compatible with the UhrBox-E.
It contains release 1.50 of the firmware in which all
currently known bugs have been fixed.
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Please note that, in order to make use ofthe UhrBox-E, you also need to have
the Enigma-E kit. It can be used with all versions
of the Enigma-E.
Check the images below to see what the manual is like.
It is printed in full-colour and contains images of a real
Enigma Uhr plus an 'exploded view'.
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Build your own wooden case
Depending on your woodworking skills, you may be able to make a
suitable wooden case for your UhrBox-E. Although we have not provided the
drawings for a case in the manual, with a bit of engineering you should be
able to create a good looking enclosure, such as the one shown here.
The PCB of the UhrBox-E is scaled to the same aspect ratio as the Enigma-E,
so that the two kits fit well together. The case shown here was created by
Austrian collector Günter Hütter.
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In the image on the right the UhrBox-E is shown next to the Enigma-E,
which is also housed in an enclosure that was made by Günter Hütter.
The case of the original Uhr has been copied to the finest detail, and it
even has the metal hooks for clamping it to the side of the Enigma machine.
The Uhr is connected to the Enigma by means of 20 patch cables, which are here
made of shoelaces. If you compare this setup with that of the
real machines,
you'll see that we are not far off.
➤ See how the UhrBox-E was developed
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© Crypto Museum. Last changed: Tuesday, 24 May 2016 - 15:27 CET.
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