Pouch 60 Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 I’ve have just acquired a vixen plessey for my rb44 the vehicle had previously had a radio body fitted as it has the big generator and space for two large batteries in one of the left hand side lockers firstly the batteries seemed to be wired into a box in that locker which has a kill switch in they appear to be wired in paralell which would suggest to me that they are twelve volt does the other black box transform that into 28 volt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 (edited) There should be four batteries in the locker, wired in series parallel to give 28V. When you say you've acquired a vixen plessey, do you mean the Vixen radio body? Andy Edited June 4, 2022 by andym Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pouch 60 Posted June 4, 2022 Author Share Posted June 4, 2022 Hi mate thanks for that yes it’s a vixen I’m not sure where the plessey bit comes from there isn’t any of the radio gear left inside but does still have the mast on the roof thanks for your help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 Bit more info here: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 Vixen was an electronic warfare system manufactured by Plessey. The radio cabins for them ("shelters") are taller than the usual ones you see on the back of RB44s, you can actually stand up in them. They have a Clark SCAM mast that sits horizontally along the roof and is winched into the vertical position when deployed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokebelch Posted June 9, 2022 Share Posted June 9, 2022 Over the past few years I've been collecting whatever bits of Plessey Vixen I could lay my hands on, with a view to assembling a complete station. I have the manual for the radio, but that's about it and I've struggled to find any more information anywhere. Even the Royal Signals Museum turned up nothing. I suspect this is because it never got accepted into service, so perhaps very limited documentation ever existed. My plan is to fully document as I make progress, via a website dedicated to Vixen. It's a fascinating system, which used software-defined radio, with signal detection and classification, supported by some sort of computer database. Vixen famously led to the downfall of Plessey and it's a terrible shame it never got put to use. Hence why I'm keen to try and document it. As such I'd be interested in: more parts documentation anecdotal info a radio cabin (populated would be great, but empty also would be fine) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted June 9, 2022 Share Posted June 9, 2022 I'm not sure where I found this photo, which I believe to be a fully populated Vixen cabin: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokebelch Posted June 9, 2022 Share Posted June 9, 2022 Thanks! So I have a couple of the racks shown on the desk, complete with all the equipment. I have one full set of receivers (one of each type, of which there are three), plus the odd spare. I also have the computers pictured at the back on the left, but not the rack for the sadly, which is a shame, as it had integrated blowers to keep the computers cool. I've also got a smaller blue rack fitted with an RT321 and DMU. Plus some fibre optic modems. I suspect there may have been more than one type of fit, but couldn't say for certain. In addition to identifying and monitoring signals, I think there was a DF setup, which may have involved more than one station and hence the fibre modems. This is the problem — it's all a bit vague and I only have labelling on racks and cables to go by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted June 9, 2022 Share Posted June 9, 2022 I think that Simon Shillabear (2E0MRS) has a complete working setup if you haven't already come across it? Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokebelch Posted June 9, 2022 Share Posted June 9, 2022 Thanks, that's useful info and I just found this recent video posted below. Looks like he's missing the computers. At least I couldn't see any and the plasma VDUs shown are just dumb terminals. Also appears to be missing the full complement of receivers. As far as I can tell, one of which scans very fast and looks for energy impulses, logging these in the database. Following which the second receiver tunes to these spot frequencies and identifies the waveform/modulation. The third receiver is then connected to the control head, but I think could also be commanded via the computer, e.g. by selecting signals identified and logged to the DB. There are two computers, one of which is involved in signal classification and has an IF input from one of the receivers and so has some DSP, while the second runs the database software and serves the terminals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted June 9, 2022 Share Posted June 9, 2022 I wondered why he couldn't get the VDUs to do anything useful! Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hologram Posted February 6 Share Posted February 6 I wonder if anyone might be able to help with a wiring schematic for the plessey vixen body on an rb44. I would also like a diagram of the ffr alteantor and the generator selector/power box next to the batteries. Any help appreciated martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 This box? Mine didn't originally come from an RB44 but I think it's identical. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hologram Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 Yes that's the one Andy, can you help with wiring schematic? I don't think the control side is wired correctly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 Unfortunately not as mine is an add-on because I don't have a 24V alternator, rather a 24V converter run off the 12V alternator. I just looked at the internals and worked out what to do. The AESP (2320-E-200-302) doesn't show the diagram for the TCB carrier variant, which is annoying. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hologram Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 Okay thanks, as a 40+years vehicle electrician I was trying to make my life easier with diagram. So if I don't get any joy il just have to fathom it out. Cheers martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 It definitely would be easier! As a Chartered Electrical Engineer I just used Mark 1 eyeball and a multimeter. 🙂 Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hologram Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 It would make life easier but ce la vie, Il let you know how I get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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