Category Archives: War Emergency Radio Service

War Emergency Radio Service, 1943

1943FebRadioRetailing2We’ve previously discussed the War Emergency Radio Service (WERS), a wartime civil defense service set up to harness the talents of amateur radio operators who were otherwise off the air for the duration of World War II.

Eighty years ago this month, the February 1943 issue of Radio Retailing takes a look at how the local radio dealer might fill part of the need in supplying equipment and expertise. The illustration shown above is a mobile repair facility, and undoubtedly some of the personnel shown here service radios as their civilian job as well.

In addition to radio operators, a role likely filled by hams, the dealers might fit into one of five other categories: Maintenance, procurement, construction, repair, and training.



1943 Emergency Generator

1943FebQSTEighty years ago this month, the February 1943 issue of QST showed this emergency generator. Hams might have been off the air for the duration, but they still had an interest in emergency needs, including WERS operations.

It was powered by a Briggs & Stratton gasoline engine normally rated at 1-3/4 HP, but the accompanying article noted that it was capable of up to 2-1/2 HP maximum as shown here. It was capable of putting out 120 volts thanks to a salvaged Dodge 12-volt generator, rewound, and was capable of putting out over 1400 watts. The field coils needed power, and that was provided by a second six-volt generator also driven by the engine.

The estimated cost of the whole unit was said to be $7.50, although the author admitted that this figure might have been somewhat “under-exaggerated.” The set shown here was the second one constructed, and a third was underway.

One of the gentlemen shown on the cover, although they’re not identified, was apparently Warren Copp, W8ZQ. The article mentioned that he was the father of then-eight-year-old actress Carolyn Lee.  We’re not sure exactly why that’s relevant, but like the author of the QST article, we believe that’s the kind of thing our readers would want to know.



1942 WERS Transceiver

1942DecRadioNewsThis woman is providing civilian defense communications as part of the War Emergency Radio Service, using a 112 MHz transmitter-receiver shown in the December 1942 issue of Radio News.

The set was completely self-contained. It’s transmitter section put out a hefty ten watts, and the batteries and dynamotor were built in to the cabinet. Both the transmitter and receiver could tune the entire 112-120 MHz band.

1942DecRadioNews2



1942 2-1/2 Meter WERS Transceiver

1942OctQSTEighty years ago this month, the October 1942 issue of QST featured on its cover this transceiver for the 2-1/2 meter WERS band.

The set was designed by George Grammer, W1DF, and the operator shown here is John Huntoon, W1LVQ, later W1RW, who was then communications manager of the ARRL. Huntoon went on to become ARRL Secretary and General Manager.

The three-tube transceiver was typical of designs of that era, with a superregenerative receiver that could be put into service as a transmitter at the flip of a switch.

1942OctQST1



1944 WERS Transceiver

1944MayQSTSeventy five years ago this month, the May 1944 issue of QST carried a construction article for this 112 MHz transceiver for the War Emergency Radio Service (WERS). The article was unique in that it showed how to “mass produce” the set in a high school shop class.

The Altoona, PA, WERS organization operating under call sign WKYU, had little appropriate equipment. Compounding the problem was the fact that few skilled amateurs remained at home to do the building. The problem was solved by setting up construction of standardized transceivers by radio and electronics students in the vocational department of Altoona High School. The school benefitted by having interesting and worthwhile lab work, and WERS benefitted by having a source of the needed equipment. In addition, the students who were involved in WERS also had particular pride in using equipment they themselves had built.

The circuit is a familiar one for VHF transceivers of the era. A 6J5 served as oscillator and self-quenched superregenerative detector, although other tubes could be substituted. A 6G6 pentode served as modulator and audio amplifier. Since wartime shortages meant that some tubes were not available, the article suggested substitutions for each.

1944MayQSTschematic



1943 112 MHz Transceiver

1943OctQSTcoverThe cover of the October 1943 issue of QST showed the  transceiver dubbed the “Handy Andy,” a two-tube handie talkie for use on the 112 MHz WERS band. The author notes that strictly speaking, the set is not a transceiver. Even though the same tube is used for both the transmitter and superregenerative receiver, different tank networks are used for each, allowing the frequencies to be adjusted separately. Switching was taken care of with a homemade switch, since both the audio and RF sections needed to be switched over.

B batteries could be used, but the author noted that it was being used with a 130 volt vibrator power supply running from the car battery, which provided about 6.5 watts input power. Range was said to be between a quarter and half mile, which could possibly be extended with larger tubes and higher plate voltage. The RF section could use a 6J5, 6C5, 6F6, or 6V6GT. The audio tube could be a 6F6 or 6V6GT.

1943OctQSTschematic



Wartime Emergency Radio Service (WERS)

1943JuneRadioCraftCoverSeventy-five years ago this month, the June 1943 issue of Radio Craft carried a cover feature on the Wartime Emergency Radio Service (WERS). Within a day of Pearl Harbor, hams were off the air, but there was still a need for communications during civil emergencies, and WERS was devised to fill the need.

A New York mobile WERS installation.

A New York mobile WERS installation.

Local governments were granted licenses for use of the 2-1/2 and 1-1/4 meter bands, and it was primarily hams who were called upon to serve as operators.  In most cases, it was also the hams who built the equipment, such as this 1944 WERS transceiver.