A510

This HF manpack was built by AWA in the 1950s. Like most AWA productions it was ahead of its time. Looking at its construction, one could easily believe it was ten years newer than it really is. It consists of a separate receiver and transmitter, connected by an umbilical cord, worn in pouches which strap across the operator's chest. The receiver is VFO full coverage from 2 to 10MHz. The receiver is also a very high performance specimen. The transmitter is crystal controlled, and can output 1 watt on either AM or CW. The transmitter has a built in ATU and can tune a whip or wire antennas. 7 pin glass miniature valves are used. Two separate batteries provide power, one for heaters, and the other for HT and bias.

Read the Military Collectors Group Post Article about the A510, Back Mail 52.

Transmitter

Receiver

RADIO SET COMPONENTS

Lightweight  Telegraph Key (Aust) No1
Microphone and Receiver Headset
Handset
Aerials End Fed Adjustable 135ft
8ft whip antenna
Aerials Lightweight 68ft
Canvas Pouches
Canvas Aerial Carrying Pouch
Transit Case
Instruction Chart
Cords Aerial Weighted
Counterpoise Assembly
Aerial Feeder 70 ohm
Rod Tuner
Satchels Signals No1
A510 Receiver
A510 Transmitter
User Handbook
Crystal Unit

COMMENTARY

I am a big fan of the A510. Many a ham had his first experience with radio on the A510. They were widely used in army cadet units, and were plentiful on the surplus market up until quite recently.

They are quite fun, in that everything is contained in the wooden transit case, and it is very easy to throw the set in the boot and go bush bashing. (For any American readers... boot=trunk, bush=wilderness)

The radio in my opinion was well suited to its front line role, as it is easily used on the move and is very flexible in its antenna configurations. The receiver is a very nice performer also. I can see the receiver being a little difficult to use in the field, as it is not channelized, thus netting is necessary (a netting oscillator is built in). Of course at the time this set was built the best way to channelize a radio was with crystals, and it is certainly nice that the A510 has a full coverage receiver.

The A510 in a way became a victim of technology and economics. VHF sets are better suited to the role, and although the A510 is beautifully built it just costs too much. Today not even the military can afford the best, much of their equipment is now off the shelf.

The A510 can be put on the air for ham purposes relatively easily. A DC-DC converter running off a 12Volt Sealed Lead Acid battery is easily constructed to make the 90Volts HT, and the other voltages are easily supplied by batteries. The set is not particularly difficult to tune, and as I have said, the receiver is a great little performer. Its major weakness is lack of power output, but I can't see why it couldn't drive a linear amplifier. 
 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Frequency Range    2-10MHz
Transmitter    4  crystal channels
Receiver     full coverage 2-10MHz
Power Requirements    2 dry batteries    1.5V, 90V and -7.5V
Mode    AM or CW
Receiver      5 Valve reflexed superheterodyne
Sensitivity    5uV
Transmitter Power Output
        CW    0.75W into 75 ohms
        AM    0.2W into 75 ohms

CONSTRUCTION

The A510 is beautifully built, making good use of all available technology at the time of design.
The transmitter and receiver units are hermetically sealed.

Each unit has a built in moisture indicator and there is desiccant built into the sides of the units.
The actual electronics is very compact, with the batteries making up much of the bulk of the set.

The electronics is very well layed out, and quite compact. Moving parts have been geared in a very clever manner so as to minimize space used.

Below: Transmitter Top View .At bottom right of picture are the three valves. Bottom centre are the battery connections. At left is the antenna tuning unit and antenna meter. Top centre is the crystal compartment, accessed from the front panel. Top right is the antenna terminal.

Transmitter Bottom View. At right of picture is the antenna tuning unit. The load coil is visible. The valves give a sense of how compact the unit is.

Receiver top view

Receiver top view with shield removed. The layout is in my opinion just as pretty as many communications receivers. The white disc at top of photo is the frequency indication card. It is geared via the long shaft at top of photo to the tuning know and tuning capacitor.

OVERALL RATINGS

    Engineering rating (taking into time of design).

             Beautiful design. A credit to the engineers. I think I will give my first 10/10

    Fitness for purpose rating

             A little dated by today's standards but consider it is 1950s gear again a 10/10.

    Usefulness as ham equipment rating

             Fun to use but only covers 80 and 40 metre ham bands, limited power out, I can only give 6.5/10

Home