R3110

The R3110 is a military short-wave receiver, made by IEMI in Bucharest and designed at the ICE research institute in Bucharest [1]. It was designed from 1966 as the XD180, a transistorised receiver for 1.5–30 MHz to work on the move or stationary at −50 to +50 °C, with better sensitivity, interference protection and tuning stability than the XD160 [2]. Five prototypes were approved in 1969, and IEMI made it as the R3110, the tactical equivalent of the Soviet R-311, until 1984 [2]. The laboratory’s table gives its code as R 3010 [1].

Also known as the R35T, it is a medium-size transistorised receiver using both silicon and germanium devices, for vehicle or base communications, in a waterproof case with waterproof switches; it works from 12 V DC batteries or from an external 120/220 V AC power supply [3]. The lower three of its six bands use double conversion and the upper three triple conversion [3]. The front panel has main and bandspread tuning, the bandspread centred on zero, with two small illuminated dial windows behind thick Plexiglas covers; the dial lights can be switched on only for a moment [3]. There are BNC connectors for tape recording, IF monitoring and AGC, line and headphone connectors of the type found on Russian sets, a calibrator, AGC on/off for voice or CW, a BFO, IF bandwidths of 7, 4, 2 and 0.6 kHz and a switchable 2.5 kHz audio filter; the panel meter monitors the supply and also serves for calibration [3]. The panel is labelled in Romanian, and the Romanian manual includes all the schematics [3]. The mechanical design, especially the band switch, shows Russian influence, which in turn recalls German Second World War designs [3]. Although transistorised, it weighs more than 40 lb (about 18 kg) [3].

A complete set comprised the receiver, an external power supply with its cable, three battery boxes, a long-wire antenna, a Kulikov whip antenna, two pairs of headphones and a small wooden box with spare rubber seals, rubber switch covers, a multitool, spare fuses and lamps for the power supply, and battery cables [3].

ICE’s short-wave professional radio communications laboratory took over in 1966 the staff and work of Electronica in this field; it designed radio stations, first-class receivers and accessories such as antennas and relays, mainly for the army, with civilian versions for the oil and forestry industries, building sites and agriculture; they were made at IEMI and IEI [1].

Chapter V of the book says it was designed at ICE to replace the R-34 T receiver, approved in 1969 and made at IEMI until 1984; in one place it calls it F-3110 [4].

IEMI’s table of special production lists 1,907 ‘XD 180’ made in 1972–1981 [5]. Section V.3 of the book calls XD 180 the old name of the R1180, but the R1180 was a transmitter made at IEI from 1983, while section II.8.2 says the XD180 was the development name of the R3110, made at IEMI; the years in the table fit the R3110 [6].