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CIA BND RR-49 → RT-49 →
CIA spy radio set · 1965
RS-49 was a clandestine radio set, also known as a
spy radio set, developed between 1963 and 1965 for the US
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
It was intended for agent communication and for use in other
clandestine operations.
A complete station consists of an RT-49 transmitter,
an RR-49 receiver (that was
also used stand-alone), and an RP-49 power supply unit (PSU) [1].
The set is comparable to the earlier RS-6,
but is fully solid-state, whereas the RS-6 was valve-based.
Development was started in early 1963 and took
until 1966, altough the receiver was released as a stand-alone
device in 1964. It was used with the
CK-8 (AN/GRA-71) burst encoder –
to reduce the risk of radio direction finding –
and was supplied in a watertight metal briefcase.
The Polaroid photograph above is one of the very few original images
of a complete RS-49 radio set, and was probably made by the CIA
as part of a series of two [2].
The image shows a black metal
Haliburton-style suitcase, with the RR-49 receiver at the
front left, RT-49 transmitter at the rear right
and the RP-49 power supply unit at the rear left.
At the front right is a KE/C-8 keyer
with two black CA/A-3 tape cartridges.
They are part of the
CK-8 burst encoder (AN/GRA-71).
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The RT-49 transmitter, shown in the image on the right,
was supplied with the RS-49 radio set. Its controls are similar
to the ones on the earlier RS-1 (T-784)
and RS-6 (RT-6),
but the device is much smaller as it is fully transistorised.
The device is crystal-operated and delivers approx. 15 Watts of RF output.
➤ More information
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The RR-49 is a portable miniature short wave receiver for
AM and CW,
manufactured by Collins Radio and by Delco. It was part of the RS-49 set,
but was also used as a stand-alone receiver.
The receiver can be freely adjusted between 3 and 24 MHz, but can also
be crystal-operated.
It can be powered by an internal standard 9V block battery,
which lasts for 18 to 20 hours.
➤ More information
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Power supply unit
RP-49 — WANTED
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The RS-49 came with a dedicated power supply unit (PSU)
– actually a DC/DC converter – that could
be attached to the
DE9 connector at the left side of the transmitter.
It also has a 12V socket to which the receiver can be connected.
The PSU itself should be powered by a 12V DC source,
such as the battery of a car.
At present, the RP-49 PSU is missing from our collection.
Images of the RP-49 can be found on the
website of Pete McCollum
[1].
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Approved for release by CIA on 23 April 2014.
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- Trip Report - Development f the RT-49 and RP/A-49
CIA Memorandum, 28 February 1963
- Chief, OC-OS to Chairman, Equipment Board, Equipment Procurement
CIA Memorandum, 2 January 1964
- Equipment Board staff meeting, Agenda
CIA, 9 January 1964
- CIA Equipment Board staff meeting, minutes
9 January 1964
- Trip Report - RT-49/RP-49
24 November 1964
- Trip Report - RT-49/RP-49
22 December 1964
- Trip Report - RR-49
22 December 1964
- Inspection Report No. 1 - AN/B-62
CIA Memorandum, 11 May 1966
- Inspection Report No. 5 - RT-49/RP-49
17 June 1966
- Inspection Report No. 6 - RT-49
CIA Memorandum, 21 June 1966
- Inspection Report No. 2 - AN/B-62
CIA Memorandum, 24 June 1966
- Equipment Board Meeting, Agenda
CIA, 8 November 1967
- Long-Range HF Communications Equipment
7 April 1969
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Wednesday 04 November 2020. Last changed: Thursday, 20 April 2023 - 13:55 CET.
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![Complete RS-49 radio set in metal suitcase. Crypto Museum archive [2].](img/rs49_1_large.jpg)
![Secret CIA polaroid photograph of RS-49 agent radio [2]](img/rs49_1_thumb.jpg "image # rs49_1_large.jpg")
![Secret CIA polaroid photograph of RS-49 agent radio [2]](img/rs49_2_thumb.jpg "image # rs49_2_large.jpg")
![Secret CIA polaroid photograph of RS-49 agent radio [2]](img/rs49_2_large.jpg)
![Connectors on the RP-49 PSU. Image kindly supplied by Pete McCollum [1].](img/rp49_2.jpg)
