Using Field Phones For Prepping.
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- Testing a pair of Russian TA-57 field phones for SHTF situations. Field phones are great for bug-out locations and camps. Nice to connect the Ham shack to the house too ;-) You can find some on EBay and armyradio.com (no relation). If you can help out this channel, even if only $1 per month, please see: / radioprepper Thanks! DISCLAIMER: The Radio Prepper logo (depicting a microphone) is indeed inspired from a famous flag created in 1775. It is NOTHING BUT a symbol of freedom and independence. It does NOT imply support to any political group. It does NOT imply, represent nor support any ideology with an intent on harming anyone. Freedom means freedom from persecution based on any human trait or belief such as, non exhaustively, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or nationality. The Radio Prepper channel is a technology and science channel with a focus on preparedness and use of radio technology for disaster relief and small group communications in times of need. It is apolitical and open to anyone sharing the same interests. .
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I used to work with these phones in the army. High voltage is needed not only to call another phone subscriber. If the cables have a bad connection, dirty or badly twisted their cores, using high voltage can restore the connection. They're welded together. It helps a lot when you have a lot of wire connections in the woods.
I from Ukraine. We using TA-57 now on work. Wery good phone.
Лучше чем iphon.)))
Sounds like it works really well
If anyone is wondering what the 2 handset cradle buttons are protuding through the exterior of the box where the earpiece goes...
The tall conical one is the hang up switch when not in use that disconnects the phone from eavesdropping/tapping when not in use. The second flat & flush button never pressed by the handset when on the exterior cradle. It is used when you have low reception volume in the earpiece. It is depressed when not speaking and the handset speaking switch is not depressed to increase the volume of the remote speaker on the other end. It does this by switching in the last audio amplification stage in the circuit board. It is a power saving feature and should only be used when needed and only when in listening mode and never with the handset speak button engaged for speaking. The shorter "y" button is made for temporary use and to only be manually depressed by a listener's finger when needed.
Also, if anyone is wondering why there is a 2nd microphone on the outer side of the handset speaking area, it is to pick up ambient noise and speech in the room and cancel it out. The TA-57 has noise and room speech supression and the 2nd microphone used in the balancing circuit to cancel out most other sound that is not entering from the user/speaker side microphone on the handset. If you cover any of the 2 microphones with your finger or hand, the noise canceling balanced circuit may misbehave and not do its job correctly.
The 2nd outer microphone is not for speaking into when holding the phone upside down as shown in some other youtube videos on the TA-57.
Both these two tidbits of info came directly from the 58 page TA-57 user, maintenance & repair manual.
Great info thank you!
Hey Goat. Thanks for the info about the two things that stick up through the cover. I’ve seen these phones with 2 and also one thing that sticks up. Which was first - one or two things. I can see two as an advancement over one and I can see a move from 2 to one as a cost saving thing. Ideas????
@@silverplaneoo1 The older versions have the audio boost and 3 binding posts. My current phone does not and only 2 posts. Papers inside date it as manufactured 1991. I have a 2nd on order identical to my first and said to also been mfg in the 90s. The audio is exceptional-the soviets decided to amplify the received audio rather than the transmitted audio like most other phones ( I might have that backwards). Regardless, they work perfectly with my Ericsson’s and should work with any field phone.
Cool video.
I know it would carry from country to country, but it would be interesting to see how to convert regular house phones to field phones.
I saw one video about that. It is possible.
Basically, you connect home phones point to point the same way as Gil showed. Cut one of the leads and put a small DC voltage in series, say 5 to 12 volts or something thereabout. Three plain 1,5V cells in series usually work fine. A 12V lead-acid battery will work too. It isn't very critical. But your phones won't ring with that circuit. You'll need a few tens of volts AC (up to about 100 VAC from a PSTN, depending on country) and a couple of mA over the line to make the bell ring in the other phone. That's what the hand-cranked generator does on the field-phone. There are several ways to work around that, but that's a subject for an entire video :-D
Thanks for the info!
Thanks. The ringing was the part I was stumped on.
It is also be possible to network a couple of computers over this type of rudimentary phone line. All that's needed is a couple of old modems and running SLIP or PPP protocols. Does anybody still remember the Internet in the early 1990's? :-)
The advantage would be a private, clandestine, low cost network with the possibility to encrypt data or VoIP. It doesn't matter if a neigbour eavesdrop ;-) Low bandwidth is the penalty. One will probably get max 20-30 kbps over a 1 km line, which isn't much to write home about today. But it might be a fun project for those who like to tinker with their own phone lines, comms and networks.
One thing people today overlook is what was used in centuries past to communicate between different parts of buildings, steamboats or other nearby buildings... That is the speaking tube.
It is virtually untappable if buried.
If one wants to do this in a modern way, all you have to do is use 2 or 3 inch Plumbing PVC conduit pipe. If beteween different nearby buildings such as a home and barn, shed, water well or generator shed or guesthouse you can openly dig a trench and lay it in as if you were going to bury a wire for a field phone but it has the distinct advantage of being able to explain it away as just a wastewater pipe or pipe to run outdoor electicals as well.
If no electical wire or other metals are used, it isn't even dectectable with a metal detector from the surface. Also, the end of such tubes can be disguised with a plumbing fixture attached like a utility room faucet, well pump head or sewer cleanout point cap end.
Another advantage is that a tube 3 inches or more in diameter coupled with a rope pully system will not only allow voice comms but, also the exchange of food, water, medical supplies and other essentials such as ammo and toilet paper. Not to mention fresh air (if hooked to a mask) if one location is gassed or smoked but the other end isn't.
You just need a signaling device like a bell at each end on a string to jingle or to move something quietly around at the opposite end to get someone's attention.
The biggest advantage is it at least allows secure comms on your property without the need of a field phone or other comm device to be found if your property is ever searched. If 1 field phone is found, even if the wire is buried, there is certainly another phone and probably another person at the other end of the wire to have to explain to some authority. A hollow pipe can easily be explained away as a dry well, unfinished remodeling project or an old and defunct drain pipe if properly disguised.
Some U.S. Civil war era homes in my area have these kinds of "speaking tube" setups for covert war efforts and/or the hiding of slaves traveling to Union territories along the Underground Railroad. Information and supplies could be passed to their hiding location without ever needing to get near their actual location on the property.
P.S.- if you're wondering how to get a rope/cord into a long, buried pipe easily and quickly to prevent it being seen of ot has to be removed, a remote control toy car or hungry rodent works well!
Very informative, thanks!
Interesting... did not know they were still in existance... Back in the day (1958) 1st grade.... my dad rigged a couple of Korean War phones for me and my little girlfriend next door to use. They worked great for us... we even had one in the tree house so our parents could ring us... In 1963 I got my Novice ticket (General in 64, Advanced in 68) but we still used the phones. It was the best way to reach us in the ham shack (attic). Lol Now days my family (grandkids) use GMRS to reach the adults and FMRS for play. My first walkie talkie was a "Dick Tracy" walkie talkie - worked on CB Ch. 14 - but it would only reach about a city block - until I modified it and hooked it up to our outside TV antenna... (I know it was illegal) but then it would reach over a mile. My parents could call me at the park. Lol CW was still the best. I lived in South Western Ohio and my cousins, who lived in southern Kentucky and i could QSO on 5 Watts (40m). Our rigs were all built from old radios and tvs... lol When dad went to the dump I went shopping. Lol 73.... K8LMC.
Great story. I had a pair of those old walkie talkies on CH14, what got me into radio! BTW CW is still the best!
Ух ты, ТАшка! Легендарный ТА-57!
Hello, you mentioned buying a field telephone without batteries. That sounds to me that those phones are the ones used by technicians working for the phone company. They need electricity from the central office (switch) to work. They can not provide ring signal and have no bells so no one can call you. They are used for testing and during installation. There might be some phones I have not heard about that have some extra features but you need electricity for the microphone one way or another.
Some military phones rely on electricity generated by the microphone only. Range is thus limited to maybe three miles. You call by cranking a hand generator.
Radio Prepper . It must be some new microphones that I have never heard of then. Older phones used carbon powder as a variable resistor in the microphone - transformer loop. Did you get schematics for the phones?
I did not sorry.. I think one model is the TF or TH1 or something like that...
Radio Prepper
Here is a link to an article about a Swedish field telephone from 1937 that are still used today in smaller number of course.
It also have a buzzer to send morse code and the morse code is printed on the lid. The article is in Swedish, but at least the the schematic is there and google might help. My guess is that other field telephones are similar if they are a little older. The line is connected to the terminals labeled La and Lb, the polarity doesn’t matter. It can be used on lines for local battery and central battery. The rotary dial came as a add on that was connected between the line and the phone.
Thank you!
Neat idea, it spurred me to remember or think of other methods such as using the high end of the electromagnetic spectrum such as light for voice communication. When I was in grammar school 53 years ago a demonstration, by perhaps ATT or Bell Labs, used a laser to dazzle us by showing it could carry a modulated voice signal.
It would be interesting to try with a light bulb!
There would be too much noise with a lightbulb because of the sunlight. A laser beam is a mono-wavelength collimated light and it is easier to filter (and is less prone to interferences).
Definitely...
Light bulb does sound intriguing but as noted its probably more of an issue than its worth. But, who says it needs to be a visible wave length light bulb. On the surface it seems that since remotes send signals to televisions and what not why not give the infrared led a go.
I did the light bulb in eighth grade science fair. It runs but the frequency response is low. It takes a while to heat up and cool down, however voice would be quite intelligible. LEDs should be much better frequency wise.
Lasers have an issue with the atmosphere much over a few miles. ( Did you ever look through a telescope over water a few miles away? The image wiggles a lot)..... InfraRed is better than visible light for communication, but you'd need some visible to find the target to aim at.
Thanks for the presentation
👍
Two of your videos and I am hooked. This is an absolutely excellent idea for a subdivision such as I live in with my beautiful bride here in the Philippines. Private communications with my neighbours during any sort of emergency and on the cheap. Thank you for posting. now all we need do is press the sub button.
Thanks. I spent two months in Las Pinas, Manila. I hope to return some day :-)
The original battery using in this phone is ГБ-10-У-1.3 ("GB-10-U-1.3") 10V, 1300mAh. It's an old, soviet-designed cube-shaped military purpose battery, usually was not in use in civilial electronics. The modern version of this battery is usually just an adaptor for modern alkaline battery types. Most civil amateurs are using 9V batteries, like you did )
Thank you for the info.
Love the video! Could you maybe give a course on soldering? I am trying to learn and would love to see how you did it
Ok good idea.
Thanks for the video, very interesting and a nice bit of kit. I think the Clansman 351\2 and 353 have a field telephone and remote function hidden away, there's a switch and a couple of terminals round the back I think, too lazy to go to the shed and check!
That will be for a future video ;-)
Phones likes these are a super prepping idea...dont forget in a true shtf (war) almost all frequencies will be jammed.....
Really cool to see these in action,..thx for brining this to us Gil 73s AE1TP
Thanks.
Four questions if I may:
1. Can the ringers be turned off or made to be VERY quiet to prevent alerting an interloper who is sneaking around your OP/LP?
And,
2. Can the volume to the earpiece also be turned WAY down so if you are trying to relay information to/from your OP /LP when another interloper is nearby they cannot hear part of the conversation?
And,
3. Is there any provision to substitute/add an earbud to ensure others aren't able to hear whomever is calling you?
And lastly,
4. Is there a volume control rheostat to increase the earpiece volume of operating in a noisy environment like high winds?
Thank you and GREAT video and interesting piece of gear to have for those SHTF scenarios when you need comms other than the HT.
1,2 Not on this model. 3, if you place the handset on your ear, only you should hear. 4, no.
Yea, you always have neat subjects 😀
Thanks!
I'd love to get my hands on the US TA-1 phones I had in the Army and the SB-93 switchboard with them.
They pop up on EBay sometimes.
Just checked and there's a pair of phones untested.... how hard is it to hook up 2 wires and test them? Waiting for a response from the seller in that regard. A bientot!
Question: I have two circa-1991 TA-57s powered with 9V batteries. Audio is exceptional on both. But, One magneto is almost impossible to crank when wired to the second phone, but it cranks much easier when not wired. Any thought as to why?
That is weird, sorry, no idea..
In my day EE-8 Vietnam phone system. Worked well in combat area but you needed switch board, which was handled by guy on radio watch. Never fixed these but did run some wire, my job was mostly combat radios wounded by random shots.
Interesting, thank you!
Great vid mate!
Your vid has convinced me to buy a pair from an eBay seller in Poland with a good reputation and already good communication.
Have you made or know of a vid that shows how to set up 2 field phones in common battery mode and how many volts battery system is used?
Regards, Jas.
vk4fjgs
Rockhampton Queensland Australia
Unfortunately no but it's very easy.
Good video. 👏🙌👍👌
Thanks!
hi,i just got 2 x pye tmc linesmens 1705 phones both have the caps missing to hold batteries in so been looking into ways i can change the battery type and how i can rig up..about to open up the casing to see how existing battery housing is set up.
Maybe a newer smaller battery into a 3D print identical to the original..
@@RadioPrepper great minds :) i did wonder if i could find a cap then 3d print and add a metal contact..thoughts also had was case in rechargable batteries in a case with a usb port which could run a lead to solar panel or into a pc etc to recharge,,idea but im no expert i was a school drop out haha..
You holding a ferret to your mouth:p
Yes but it's dead ;-)
I'm amazed how well it cuts wind-noise in some of your vids.
Amazing indeed, even at the beach with high winds.
Hello sir! I am glad it's not just me that likes these! I have got a switchboard which I'm looking to hook up. I got into these indirectly though prc 321 clansman. Hope you're well. 73s de dave 2e0dfj.
Thanks yes, one more week of vacation!
Wow! Very interesting! Question: What do the military use today for off-radio communications in the field? It seems all these field-phones are quite old.. Thanks!
Newer digital models.
Radio Prepper thanks but I was asking because after a quick search I couldn't fine the new models. For example nothing from wikipedia 'Field telephone' entry. Can you point me to the names of the new models? thanks!
I have no idea!
I am thinking that, possibly, today they just use radio communications: digital with encryption. Still this allows for triangulation of locations... I wonder if this is a serious issue in any realistic context.
Phones are much cheaper though... Who knows...
Bonjour dis moi comment s'en procurer une Merci
Ebay.
Isn't it in such way that you need only one wire between the phones and the other wire goes to an ground nail? may be the third connection is that for?
Not sure. I would expect needing more voltage for one wire only. Interesting thought. I'd like to know!
as i found in the web the ТА-57 uses only 2 wire connections - (normal L1 and L2) the K and L2 option is to control a remote radio (half duplex - push "ptt" )
A range up to 170km with a 3mm steel wire is very impressive distance for that phone
I probably won't be able to test that ;-)
this phone is not Russian. this is a USSR brand phone. Another 16 stanans were in the USSR, remember this and do not say that this is a Russian device
Noted thanks.
К вашему сведению, он и сейчас выпускается! Но этот аппарат именно советский, т.к. создан в СССР. А национальности, тут не причём...
Thanks for the video! I just got two of these on ebay, and I can't seem to get them working. I wired up two 9 volt batteries and can successfully get the bell to ring in each, but I can't transmit or hear anything from either handset. Any help?
Did you wire them just like I did on the video? What about battery polarity?
@@RadioPrepper Yep, wired correctly with both swiss field phone wire and speaker wire, and used fresh 9 volts with the correct polarity.
They may be faulty... I would suggest contacting the seller...
There is a plain straight edge screw inside the case where the earpiece of the phone sits on the storage cradle. It is next to a hex nut left of the screw.
That screw turns to 2 marked settings. One is for internal case battery use (screw to left) and the other is for central station use (screw to right) when there is a powered switchboard running the show.
If that screw is turned to the right side marking it is in central bank mode.
Switch the screw to the left setting and see if your internal battery works then.
You just may have received a phone that was last used in central bank mode and not with an internal battery.
First