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← CZ Cold War
Spy radio transmitter
- wanted item
The TI-462 B was a small valve-based crystal-operated agent's transmitter,
developed in 1956 in Czechoslovakia
by Správa 6 1 for used by the
secret state police (StB)
and Správa 1.
It was supplied as part of the PLUTO spy radio set and
covered a frequency range of 3-12 MHz (or 2-8 MHz on some versions),
with an output power between 10 and 12 W. The built-in mains power supply
unit (PSU) was also used for powering the complementary
PLUTO TI-462 A receiver.
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The transmitter measured 19 x 10 x 4.5 cm, roughly the same as the receiver,
and weighted 1.52 kg. Apart from the PLUTO receiver,
the transmitter was supplied with an accessory box
of the same size, in which the crystals,
morse key, earphones, wire antennas, etc. were stored.
The TI-462 B was suitable for transmissions in morse code (CW)
and was usually operated in combination with the built-in
automatic morse keyer of the receiver. As an alternative, it could
be also used with the small manual key that was mounted towards the
front of the accessory box.
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The appropriate mains voltage is selected with the fuse.
A suitable crystal should be inserted at the front of the radio
and three knobs on the top panel (coupling and tuning) should be adjusted
for maximum antenna current, using the small neon indicator at the
front edge as a guide.
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Správa 6 refers to Government Department 6: Communication Technology.
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At least two different versions of this transmitter are known to have
existed, but it is currently unclear which one came first. The following
variants are currently known:
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- Mark I
This version has a frequency range of 2-8 MHz (same as the initial receiver)
and accepts HC-4U and FT-243 crystals that were inserted into a socket
at the front.
- Mark II
This version has a frequency range of 3-16 MHz (roughly the same as the
modified receiver) and requires circular pill-shaped crystals, just like
the later NEPTUNE transmitter,
that are inserted into a slot at the front.
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We have the full original documentation of the PLUTO spy radio station,
which is available for download below. Please note however that the
pages are barely readable as they have faded over time. The
text is in Czech/Slovak. If you can translate this to English,
please contact us.
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Frequency range 3-12 MHz (or 2-8 MHz) Modulation A1 Output power 10-12 W Antenna imp. 60-5000 ohm (assymmetric) Weight 1.52 kg Dimensions 190 x 100 x 43 mm Mains voltage 120 / 220 V AC Consumption ± 50W Valve UL84
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- Anonymous, Documentation of PLUTO spy radio set - THANKS!
Documentation kindly donated by anonymous former user. July 2015.
- Louis Meulstee, Wireless for the Warrior, Part 4 Supplement
Forthcoming. Accessed August 2015.
- Detlev Vreisleben, Photographs of missing PLUTO items
Germany, 10 February 2005. Received August 2015.
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Friday 31 July 2015. Last changed: Wednesday, 28 February 2018 - 23:47 CET.
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![Pluto accessory box. Photograph copyright Detlev Vreisleben [3].](img/pluto_tx_1.jpg)