Note
73, Apr 1966, p. 89.
The RCA SSB-5 is a 4-channel, crystal-controlled HF transceiver designed for fixed or mobile communications across the 3 to 15 MHz range. Originally made for commercial, industrial, and marine customers, it could easily be repurposed for MARS, CAP, and amateur applications. It allows switching between four discrete preset frequencies with a single front-panel control.
Built around the RCA 7360 dual-controlled beam deflection tube. Utilizes common transceiver circuitry including oscillators, sideband filters, crystals, ovens, switches, and controls.
When switching channels, all circuits from the crystal to the output pi-network are selected, utilizing a separate set of internal tune-up adjustments for each of the four individual channels.
The SSB-5A was an expanded system designed to accommodate a variety of accessories. These include electronic telephone coupler, a voice-operated keyer, squelch, a meter/VSWR indicator, AGC, and a remote frequency selector.
Specifications
– Frequency Coverage: 3.0 to 15.0 MHz across 4 switched crystal-controlled channels. Each channel uses an individual crystal housed within a thermostatically controlled oven. Operating crystals run 1400 kHz higher than the desired transmit/receive frequency.
– Emission Modes: Selectable Upper Sideband (USB) or Lower Sideband (LSB), as well as compatible AM (single sideband with reinserted carrier) via the front-panel emission control.
– Power Output: Delivers more than 125 Watts Peak Envelope Power (PEP).
– Sideband Filtering: Employs a 6-pole crystal lattice filter for sideband selection, yielding over 50 dB rejection of the unwanted carrier and opposite sideband.
– Sensitivity: Receiver sensitivity is rated at better than 1.0 microvolt for 50 milliwatts output at a 10 dB signal-plus-noise to noise ratio.
– Fine Tuning: Includes a front-panel trim control allowing up to 75 Hz of manual fine-tuning on incoming signals.
– Audio & Speech Control: Built-in automatic speech clipping up to 12 dB for transmit audio.
– Antenna Matching: Built-in output circuitry can match various antenna configurations from 10 to 80 ohms impedance, including whip antennas.
– Included a push-to-talk (PTT) hand microphone, integrated front-panel speaker, internal crystal ovens, interconnecting cabling, and dedicated instruction manuals.
– Complement: Contains 16 tubes and 8 diodes.
– Channel Coverage: 4 channels total.
Channels 1 and 2 cover 3.0 to 6.7 MHz.
Channels 3 and 4 cover 6.7 to 15.0 MHz.
– Crystals: Uses four CR-27/U channel crystals, which operate 1400 kc higher than the desired operating frequency. The same crystal serves both transmitter and receiver.
– Frequency Stability: ±0.0002%
– Emission Types: A3J (SSB suppressed carrier) and A3H (SSB with full carrier).
– Antenna Impedance: 10 to 80 ohms.
– Power Output: 125 watts Peak Envelope Power (PEP).
– Transmitted Sideband: Upper or lower sideband (selectable sideband output is available if both upper and lower sideband filters are installed).
– Unwanted Sideband Suppression: 50 db.
– Carrier Suppression: 50 db.
– Audio Fidelity: 3 db attenuation from 400 to 2900 cps.
– Speech Clipping: 12 db.
– Distortion: Distortion products are 35 db below either tone of a two-tone test signal at PEP output.
– Sensitivity: Better than 1 $\mu\text{v}$ for 50-mw output with a 10 db signal-to-noise to noise ratio.
– Selectivity: Nominal 2.5-kc bandwidth for 3-db attenuation; 7.5-kc bandwidth for 40-db attenuation.
– Audio Output: 4.5 watts maximum into the loudspeaker.
– Audio Fidelity: 3 db attenuation from 400 to 2900 cps.
– Audio Distortion: 2.5% at 1 kc with 50-mw output.
Tube Lineup (16 total)
(2) 6550
(2) 12BY7
(2) 7360
7054
0B2
0A2
(3) 6BA6
6BE6
6U8
6973
12AU7
Power Supply Specifications
– 115–230 V AC (50–60 Hz, Single-Phase) Power Supply:
– Complement: 9 diodes.
– Power Load (Receiver Only): 135 watts.
– Power Load (Transmitter & Receiver - No Signal, Power On): 160 watts.
– Power Load (Transmitter & Receiver - Average Voice Modulation): 290 watts.
– 12 V DC Power Supply (Battery System):
– Dimensions & Weight: 8 lbs; measures 7-1/2 inches high by 11 inches wide by 7-7/8 inches deep.
– Complement: 10 diodes and 4 power transistors.
– Current Drain (Receiver Only): 12 amps.
– Current Drain (Transmitter & Receiver - No Signal, Power On): 17 amps.
– Current Drain (Transmitter & Receiver - Average Voice Modulation): 25 amps.
References
RCA Engineer. Feb/Mar 1962, p 15.
