R-729/FRW-3
AN/FRW-3
Collins UHF receiver


AN/FRW-3 receiver overall view
AN/FRW-3 front panel
---front panel---
AN/FRW-3 top view
---top view of receiver---
AN/FRW-3 bottom view
---bottom view of receiver---
AN/FRW-3 rear view
---rear view of receiver---
AN/FRW-3 crystal modules
---close-up of crystal modules with values---

J114 photo
J115 photo

In order to attempt to operate this receiver, I need to locate two connectors that match these chassis sockets:
an Amphenol male cable plug to match J114 "CARR OPR RELAY CONTACTS" (Amphenol 6-pin female socket marked 18-12)
and an Amphenol female cable plug to match J115 "POWER INPUT" (Amphenol 5-pin male socket marked 18-20).
Please let me know if you can help.

I recently acquired this mystery radio, a 21-tube Collins UHF receiver that represents the best of Collins engineering
during the zenith of vacuum-tube radio technology--the 1960s.

The AN/FRW-3 was a very early digital receiver with One-MegaHertz steps and a FM or PM detector optimized for data signals.
and a tuning range as follows:

from a dial indication of 40 (51.750 MHz Xtal) + 0 (64.6 MHz Xtal) = 400 MHz
to a dial indication of 54 (75.083 MHz Xtal) + 9 (73.6 MHz Xtal) = 549 MHz

The only reference I could find for this receiver on the Internet was a 1965 NASA document that revealed the following:

"On Wednesday, January 13 [1965], an official request was received by the ETR directly from MSC to record a composite 1-kc and 2-kc signal from
the DRUL at GTK ... One configuration was to install a NASA 1/4-inch dual-track tape recorder on the output of the Range Safety FRW-3 command receiver
in Central Control. ... The other configuration was the installation of an ETR spare FRW-3 receiver in the telemetry building at GTK. ... The data from this
test was picked up by a special aircraft on Sunday, January 16, so that the results could be evaluated by NASA early Monday morning. This allowed
time for changes that may have been necessary. The data received from both systems were useable and no further tests were necessary."

I would like to restore this receiver to operation, but need two connectors and any other information
about it, especially the schematic and the history of its development and use. If you can help, please let me know.

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