Sailor Type T124 Marine Transmitter

SAILOR TYPE T124 MARINE TRANSMITTER (A/S S. P. RADIO AALBORG)

The Sailor Type T124 is a crystal-controlled Single Sideband (SSB/AM) marine radio transmitter engineered in Denmark by A/S S.P. Radio Aalborg. Recognized globally by its utilitarian Danish marine green baked-enamel nylon finish, the T124 was designed to serve as the core radiotelephony transmission console aboard commercial merchant vessels, offshore tugs, deep-sea fishing trawlers, and naval auxiliaries.

Engineered for extreme reliability under maritime vibration, wide temperature swings, and corrosive sea atmospheres, the T124 delivers an authorized 140 Watts Peak Envelope Power (PEP) into shipboard wire, whip, or capacitive aerial installations. It provides coverage across the primary maritime MF band (1.6 MHz to 4.2 MHz) as well as selective commercial HF bands (4 MHz, 6 MHz, and 8 MHz). The chassis incorporates an integral 2182 kHz international distress channel generator and automated two-tone distress alarm keyer (1300 Hz and 2200 Hz tones with a mandatory 45-second transmission duration cycle), satisfying SOLAS safety requirements of its operational class.

Key Features

• 140W PEP Output Power: Delivers continuous high-level RF output across all supported voice and CW modulation modes with dedicated speech compression circuitry to preserve intelligibility through maritime atmospheric noise.
• 31 Factory/Crystal Transmit Channels: Structured across 21 crystal channels in the 1.6–4.2 MHz MF maritime mobile band and 10 crystal-controlled HF channels spanning the 4 MHz, 6 MHz, and 8 MHz maritime frequency bands.
• Dedicated 2182 kHz Distress Automation: Hardware-latched distress channel selector with integrated automatic two-tone emergency generator (1300 Hz / 2200 Hz with 45-second transmission timer) and built-in test loop.
• Ruggedized Monocoque Chassis: Heavy-gauge, seam-welded steel casing treated with marine rust preventatives and coated in heavy-duty impact-resistant green nylon, fitted with solid brass/chrome fittings and sealed rotary switch assemblies.
• Modular Multi-Core System Interconnect: Built to interface directly with the Sailor R110 companion receiver and N178/N179/N180 power supply systems via shielded multi-pin locking connectors for rapid hot-swapping and low installation footprint.

Model Details

• Product Series: Sailor Series 100 Maritime Radiotelephone System
• Transmitter Model / MPN: Type T124
• Companion Receiver Model: Type R110 (MF/HF receiver with DF loop inputs)
• Power Supply Matching Units:
  • Type N178: 12 V DC shipboard supply input
  • Type N179: 24 V DC shipboard battery/generator supply input
  • Type N180: 110 V / 220 V AC mains auxiliary power supply unit
• Original Manufacturer: A/S S. P. Radio, DK-9000 Aalborg, Denmark

Technical Specifications

Compatibility:

• Direct Companion Receivers: Sailor Type R110, Sailor Type R108, Sailor Type R109, Sailor Type R114.
• Dedicated Power Supply Modules: Sailor N178 (12V DC operation), Sailor N179 (24V DC operation), Sailor N180 (110V/220V AC operation).
• Audio Accessories: Standard Sailor 200Ω/600Ω press-to-talk (PTT) dynamic handheld handsets, external bulkhead horn speakers, and Sailor BK23/BK24 remote control boxes.
• Antenna Subsystems: Unbalanced wire aerial installations (8 m to 25 m length), commercial end-fed vertical whip aerials (6 m to 10 m), and external antenna matching transformer units.

Applications

• Commercial Coastal Shipping: Primary radiotelephone communication on tugboats, bunker barges, passenger ferries, and short-sea cargo vessels.
• Offshore Fishing Fleets: High-power voice transmission for pelagic, trawler, and crab boat communications between vessels and coastal maritime radio stations.
• Standby & Emergency Marine Stations: Secondary backup MF/HF communication console on commercial vessels requiring robust, non-microprocessor-dependent transmission gear.
• Maritime Heritage & Vessel Preservation: Operational restoration of historic merchant ships, vintage naval lifeboats, museum patrol vessels, and collectors’ Class-A radio rooms.

Frequently Asked Question

Can the Sailor T124 operate without an external power supply?

No. The Sailor Type T124 does not have an internal transformer/rectifier. It requires one of the dedicated Sailor external power units: the N178 (12V DC), N179 (24V DC), or N180 (110/220V AC) connected via the heavy multicore harness.

Can custom amateur (HAM) frequencies or alternate marine channels be installed?

Yes. The T124 is a crystal-controlled unit. Operating frequencies can be adjusted or repurposed (e.g., for the 160m or 80m amateur radio bands) by calculating the appropriate heterodyne mixing frequencies, fitting the proper HC-6/U crystal sockets inside the oscillator bank, and re-peaking the driver coils according to the factory service manual.

What is the purpose of the 2182 kHz Distress switch setting?

The 2182 kHz position is an emergency preset. When switched to DISTRESS, the transmitter automatically sets its internal driver circuits to the international 2182 kHz maritime radiotelephony distress frequency, bypassing custom channel matrices, and enables the two-tone emergency siren generator.

How do I tune the antenna on the front panel?

Select your required operating channel, depress the push-to-talk button on the handset, and adjust the rotary AERIAL TUNE wheel while observing the integrated AMPS RF current meter on the front panel. Rotate the tuning control until you observe a definitive peak reading on the RF ammeter, confirming optimal resonance and power transfer to the aerial.