BBT-603A Handhold VHF FM Transceiver

7013 is a handhold VHF FM transceiver developed in the late 70’s for reconnaissance and special operation team. BBT-603A is its improved version. It is small and easy to operate and saw large scale operation in the Sino-Vietnam border conflict from 1984 to 1990. Above picture, from the First Company of the 15th Reconnaissance Battalion of Shenyang Military Region taken at LaoShan front line in 1988, shows that a team of 9 has two 7013/BBT-603A radios.

7013 is an all-transistors design, and its improved version, BBT-603A, uses IC chips to improve stability and reliability. Both radios have the same exterior and use the same accessories. The only difference to the end users is the battery, they use different batteries. The reason is that in terms of power supply 7013 is a positive-grounded design and BBT-603A is a negative grounded design. 7013/BBT-603A serviced the reconnaissance and special operation team in the 80’s and phased out in mid-90’s.

BBT-603A is small (130x75x35mmm body only), and light weighted (375g, body only without battery). It could fit into soldier’s any packet. It is easy to operate. The only movable parts are a PPT and a channel switch. It even does not have an on/off switch. Once you connect the earphone, it is on. To turn the radio off, disconnect the earphone. The microphone is on the radio body protected by a replaceable waterproof cap.

BBT-603A is a VHF FM radio. It has two channels, channel one has 66.432 MHz and channel two has 66.612 MHz. It uses two types of antennas, one is 10cm in length and the other one is 25 cm in length. The output power is 0.12W and communication distance should be large than 0.8km on a flat ground surface. The power supply is an 8.4 V 225mAh NiCa rechargeable battery, with a receiving/sending ratio of 25/1, the battery could last 8 hours.

My sample was required in July 2011. When I received it, it was still sealed in a plastic bag. All the accessories came with it. It was manufactured in 1995 in Shanghai. I guess that it had been out of favor of the PLA when it was made.

With some difficulty, I managed to charge one of the two batteries that come with the radio. It is almost 30-year-old. My backup plan was to make a DIY battery with three CR2477 Lithium batteries. The BBT-603A started to work once I connect the earphone plug, it works 100%, the transmit frequency is on the spot. Very satisfied.

(Collected in 07/2011, posted in 12/2024)