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 Author  Topic: SO-A RADAR
TED WALTHER

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: Feb 9, 2012 - 2:39pm
All
Good evening. I am currently make my radar mast. Looking through the new Squadron Higgins book I noticed in a few photos that the , don't lnow the real name, but I will call it the "oscillating drive shaft" for the radar is housed in a square "tube". I always thought this was actually round because of the rubber boot atop of the radar unit. My question: was this square tube ever removed abd the round shaft was exposed, or was this always square?
Thanks,
TED


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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Feb 9, 2012 - 4:37pm
I'm going to play devil's advocate and suggest that there is no drive shaft inside this object. I suggest that it is a cable conduit. One reason is that on most small boat radars, the drive motor is integral with the antenna mount. Another is that, if you look at SO3 masts, the object is shorter and comes out of a junction box midway up the mast. Sometimes it even has a bend in it.

What we need is a Raytheon manual for SO and SO3. Anyone work for Raytheon or know someone who does???

Al


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TED WALTHER

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: Feb 9, 2012 - 4:47pm
AL;
OK I will go along with conduit. That seems correct. I have only seen this set-up on PT's. Our units on the MK lll and MK lV PB's were cabin top mounted units, so we did not have a use for this. Learning something new everyday!
Take care,
TED


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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Feb 9, 2012 - 4:51pm
Arrrrrrgh, Ted. You gave in too easy I'm just posing this as food for thought at this point.

Al


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TED WALTHER

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: Feb 9, 2012 - 6:19pm
Poser? I think not my friend you are and will always be the guru!!!!!
Take care,
TED


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  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Feb 9, 2012 - 8:51pm
Hi Ted and Dr Al,
You guys must be omniscient! We are working on installing our newly (on loan) radar mast from Don Shannon and PTBI onto the PT658. Frank Andruss helped us along with several others get the mast here from Mass. It has a bracket/shelf near the bottom for a big box and then up the middle is room for that rectangular cross section conduit,. I have always imagined the lower box was a big motor? and the conduit must contain a shaft to turn the antenna? This is for an SOA model (with a Dome on top) Look at this photo and tell me what you think? We are working on installation as we speak, so if you have any ideas I would sure appreciate it! I am trying to have the big box and conduit made next week.
Thanks Jerry
PT658 Portland OR.

Details visible on mast


New mast in PT658 boat house


New prop and arch for radar mast




Jerry Gilmartin

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David Waples

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of David Waples  Posted on: Feb 10, 2012 - 4:38am
Jerry,
What is it made of? Wood? Metal? Both?
Dave

David Waples

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29navy

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of 29navy  Posted on: Feb 10, 2012 - 5:58am
While I am not a technician but based on my Navy experience, I believe that it is indeed rectangular and it is a waveguide which is needed with radars.
Simple definition: A waveguide is an electromagnetic feed line used in microwave communications, broadcasting, and radar installations. A waveguide consists of a rectangular or cylindrical metal tube or pipe. The electromagnetic field propagates lengthwise. Waveguides are most often used with horn antenna s and dish antennas.

It is hollow, and does not rotate.

For a more technical explanations:

http://www.radartutorial.eu/03.linetheory/tl10.en.html

Also this:

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/radar/part1.htm#pg14


Charlie

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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Feb 10, 2012 - 6:23am
Thanks, Charlie. Germantown doesn't have an SO manual tucked away, do they???

Al


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Jerry Beasley

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Beasley  Posted on: Feb 10, 2012 - 8:02am
During the late 60's I was a Navy Electronics Technician specializing in Electronic Warfare but spent a lot of time working on radar and Charlie is exactly correct concerning the waveguides - they are very precisely designed to work with the specific wavelength of the radar which determines the size and dimensions of the waveguide itself - I have been looking for an SO manual for years but my belief is the big box is actually the receiver or radar unit itself - the antenna sends the signal down through the waveguide to the receiver where it is processed and then sent along to the radar repeater where it is viewed on a cathode ray tube (CRT) as everyone is familiar with from the movies - the signal between the receiver and the CRT is transmitted on coaxial cable similar to what is used with a television antenna. I also have one grainy picture of the inside of an SO antenna that I will send to David and he can post if he would be so kind. I also have several pictures and/or drawings on SO masts that I have collected over the years that everyone may have seen already but will also send them to Dave tonight for posting.
Jerry

Jerry Beasley

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