AN/TRC-80 Radio Terminal Set
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The AN/TRC-80 Radio Terminal Set was a United States Army communications system that provided line-of-sight or tropospheric scatter voice and teletype communications between Pershing missile firing units and higher headquarters. Commonly known as the "Track 80", it was built by Collins Radio and first delivered in 1960.
It provided five voice and one FSK teletypewriter channels. The voice channels were not secure, but teletype channel could be secured by using the KW-7 Electronic Teletypewriter Security Equipment. The frequency range was 4.4–5.0 GHz with a power output of 1 kW.
It used the AS-1270/TRC-80 8 Foot Parabolic Antenna, an inflatable dish antenna that was stored in a recessed space in the roof of the shelter. The 4,800-pound (2,200 kg) TRC/80 shelter was carried on an M474 tracked vehicle with Pershing I; with Pershing 1a it was carried on the Ford M656 tractor by the U.S. Army and on a 5 ton MAN tractor by the Luftwaffe.
With the introduction of Pershing II, the TRC-80 was replaced by a satellite communications system.
[edit] References
- Operators Manual for Radio Terminal Set AN/TRC-80. Department of the Army. TM 11-5820-469-10.
- (May 20, 1977) Signal Data References: Signal Equipment. Department of the Army. FM 24-24.
- (1974) Pershing Ia System Description. Martin Marietta Aerospace. OR 13,149. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.
- Lkw 5t tmil gl Geräteträger Radio Termin Set Tropo-Scatter Antenne AN/TRC 80 (Bw) (German). Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
