TBR-180B Military UHF mobile communication system handset

TBR-180 is a military UHF mobile communication system handset (军用UHF 移动通讯系统手持机). It is developed around the turn of the century and introduced to PLA around 2005. It has several versions, TBR-180, TBR-180A, TBR-180B, TBR-180E1 and TBR-180E2. My pair is of type TBR-180B, and it should be the major type that served in PLA.

TBR-180 works more like a cellphone than a typical transceiver. It connects to a battlefield wireless network and works like an end unit/cellphone. It could make and receive phone calls and send/received encrypted/unencrypted short messages. It is just like an early-stage cellphone. The only difference is that you must push the PTT to talk. The voice it transmits is digital and with an attached device, the voice data could be encrypted.

It also has an out of network mode when wireless network is unavailable. In this mode, it works more like a regular digital walkie-talkie plus the ability to send/receive short messages.

The maximum output power is 4W and the output power is selectable from 4, 2 and 1W. It is powered by a 7.2V 1500mAh rechargeable Lithium battery unit. The frequency range is 400.000 to 430.000 MHz. It has 128 preset channels and 32 channels for out-of-network mode. All the settings could be set by configuration software or by hand. The measure of the handset body is 130 x 60 x 45 mm; and the weight is 340 g with the antenna, battery and the back clip.

(Collected in 11/2024, posted in 1/2025)