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Test Equipment Index
  Technical Information and Modifications for Equipment by Instrument Flight Research (IFR) Corporation
Compiled, HTML'd and Maintained by Mike Morris WA6ILQ
Formerly Maintained by Robert Meister WA1MIK.
   

What happened to IFR??? In 2002 Aeroflex Inc. (a New York-based holding company) bought IFR for about $60 million and folded it into their other holdings as "Aeroflex Test Solutions."
In late 2014 ATS was bought by Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions.   Their web site no longer has any info on Aeroflex or IFR.   Click here to go to the CAES web site.

And what about Marconi? Marconi was sold to IFR Systems Inc. in 1998, then IFR was acquired by Aeroflex (in 2002), becoming Cobham (in 2014) and currently Viavi Solutions in 2017... However there is no longer any production of any of the Marconi or IFR products as the current business has turned away from general instrument manufacture. Instead, Viavi now focuses on 5G telecommunication equipment.

IFR made a lot more models that we have listed below. What you see below is all that we have.
If you don't see what you need here, then we weren't given it.
Donations of manual files, photos, or any other useful information are gratefully accepted.

There is a mailing list at groups.io for people using IFR Service Monitors here:   https://groups.io/g/IFR-Monitors.

Is there a knowledgeable person "out there" that could put together a chart or table comparing the various IFR models and their features?

You will see references in the manuals below to the "S/A" units. There is no actual unit called the (whatever-model-number)S/A, it's a collective abbreviation. One manual would be for both the (for example) IFR-1200A and the IFR-1200S model. The S-model has the spectrum analyzer and tracking generator options; the IFR-1200A does not.
And in response to several emails, no, I don't know if the A-models can be field converted into an S-models, or where to get parts, or how to do it.

A lot of older IFRs use dark blue circuit boards. They are a form of plastic, not fiberglass. These boards are VERY fragile. The glue holding the copper traces is weak and heat sensitive. You must do ANY necessary soldering with great care and very quickly to avoid de-laminating the board. Just expect that traces will come up if you have to change a part on a blue board. This is the sad voice of experience.

Many of the older IFRs are having aging problems. Power supply and display issues are the most visible. There is an article in the IFR1200 section on capacitor replacement. If anyone would like to do additional articles on troubleshooting and repair we'd be happy to add them to this page. Likewise any articles on attenuator repair, oscilloscope tube replacement, or any other IFR-related topic.

The original paint used on the IFR 500 / 1200 / 1500 / etc. products was Sherwin Williams Profile Gray (Polane) which a a 2 part paint / epoxy.
Thanks to Alex Szuski KD6VPH for this tidbit of information.

Some IFR models use thumbwheel switches (like those in the IFR-500 for frequency setting). BE GENTLE WITH THEM!!!
The first symptom is that the switches will drop a bit (the bits have values of 1, 2, 4 and 8). For example, is you set the unit to generate on 449 MHz and it generates on 448 then you've dropped the "1" bit in that digit. If it generates on 441 then you've dropped the "8" bit. If you set it to 446 and it shows up on 442 then you've dropped the "4" bit.
While the examples describe the MHz digit this failure can happen on any digit position.
To the best of my knowledge the switches are orphans - there were two manufacturers and both are no more. If anyone has any information on what company it was and if there is an alternate switch or switch assembly that could replace them, please let the page maintainer know and he will update this pragraph.

KG Electronics has a page on the thunbwheel switches. (off-site pointer, will open in a new browser tab)

Most of the IFR products used a similar option list:

There was a lot of variation depending on the model and on the length of production. Some options were only available on later versions and some features that were optional on early versions are standard in the later ones.

The Option 4 was a 12 volt 5AH lead acid battery. These have finite life and the case can crack and leak. If your unit has the battery installed then label the front of your unit with the battery change date and replace the battery every two to three years. Unless you NEED the battery operation feature I suggest you remove the battery (keep the harness with the Molex connector). The modern replacement is a Power-Sonic PS-1250 with T2 size terminals. Another web page says that the IFR-500A, 1200S and 1200Super uses an OSI Batteries 0800-0047.

The Option 5 amplifier was an external device that plugged into the front panel RF output jack and the adjacent +12 volt DC bananna jack. They are rare and expensive when found.
Steve Dold W6KCS makes an excellent aftermarket replacement. (off-site pointer, will open in a new browser tab)

The Option 6 microphone was the same that was shipped with the Regency (later RELM) mobile radios.

The Option 7 was a simple right angle BNC scanner antenna like this one. Your page maintainer broke his, and a replacement. He now uses a BNC connector VHF rubber duck with a BNC elbow. It works just as well and is more durable.

Option 14 added the LTR Trunking protocol, and depending on the firmware may have been limited to only the first 200 channels of the 800 MHz band.

One of the companies that services IFR 500s and 1200s is KG electronics in Wichita Kansas.
Contact Kurt Graber at 316-773-0948 or kurtgraber //at// yahoo //dot// com or visit their web site at http://kgelectronics.com (off-site pointer, will open in a new browser tab)
I don't know of a service company for any other model(s). Please let the page maintainer know if you find one and he'll update this paragraph.

On some of the equipment below, we couldn't get the real IFR docs but were given the military docs. Note that the AN/GRM-114 is the military designation for the IFR 1000S and AN/GRM-114A is a different piece of equiment - the 1100S. Note that some are TM Technical Manuals and others are TB Technical Bulletins.

The IFR500, 1000, 1100 and 1200 were developed in the days of wideband = 30 KHz and narrowband = 15 KHz. They are still quite usable on 5 KHz and 2.5 KHz signals.
FM / AM-500/A documentation and articles:
FM/AM-500/A Brochhure (4 pages)   901 KB PDF
Exterior photos: Photo 1   Photo 2   Photo 3   Photo 4
Your page maintainer has a 500A that showed up without the metal cover. If anyone has an extra one he'd like to acquire it.
Interior photos courtesy of Hans Ronchetti in Australia:
Photo 1         Photo 2         Photo 3         Photo 4         Photo 5         Photo 6
FM/AM-500/A Service Monitor Maintenance Manual   9.3 MB PDF
FM/AM-500/A Service Monitor Maintenance Manual - Version 3A   16.92 MB PDF
FM/AM-500/A Service Monitor Operation Manual   1.8 MB PDF
FM/AM-500/A Service Monitor Operator's Guide   3.4 MB PDF
This PDF is courtesy of Randy Munro VE3OGB, forwarded by Bryan Boyle WB0YLE.
FM/AM-500/A Replacing Electrolytic Capacitors Guide   133 kB PDF by Alex Szuski KD6VPH
The optional battery pack in this unit consists of six Gates/Hawker Cyclon/Enersys 0800-0004 cells, which are sealed cells rated at 2V and 5AH each. They provided about two hours of operation. The Option 2 (the high stability option) and Option 4 (the battery option) were mutually exclusive.
Believe it or not, replacements are available from Amazon! Look here: https://www.amazon.com/Enersys-Hawker-Cyclon-0800-0004-Battery/dp/B0002ZR6DC.
 
FM / AM-1000A/S documentation:
Photos courtesy of Charles Schmell KS3Z:
Front         Left Side         Rear         And one extra...
Inside Bottom         Inside Left Side         Inside Right side
FM/AM-1000S Operator's Guide (s/n 108 and above)   Dated 1980   894 kB PDF
FM/AM-1000S Operation Manual   Dated 5-29-1980   9.6 MB PDF
FM/AM-1000A Service Manual   Manual part number 1-23-0610, dated July 1978   26.5 MB PDF
FM/AM-1000S/A Sales Brochure   2 MB PDF courtesy of Carl VA2CMB
FM/AM-1000S/A Service Notes Part 1   By John Kuivinen WB6IQS   2.5 MB PDF
FM/AM-1000S/A Service Notes Part 2   By John Kuivinen WB6IQS   545 kB PDF
FM/AM-1000S Operator's and Maintenance Manual   10 MB PDF
This is actually the military manual TM 11-6625-3016-14, dated 18-Jun-1982, for Test Set, Radio AN/GRM-114
 
FM / AM-1100A/S documentation:
Photos courtesy of Tim Ahrens W5FN:
Front         Rear         Inside Left Side (scope side)         Inside Right Side (speaker side)         Inside Bottom
Internals: Top with Hinged Panel Closed         Underside of Hinged Panel         Internals: Hinged Panel Out of the Way
The MM-100E is the optional SINAD meter that mounts in the hinged cover.
Top (closed)         Top (open)         Controls         Side         Circuit Board
FM/AM-1100S/A Maintenance Manual   49.1 MB PDF
FM/AM-1100S/A Operator's Manual   8.3 MB PDF
This is actually the military manual TM-11-6625-3016-10-1, Radio Test Set AN/GRM-114A, (NSN 6625-01-144-4481)
Organizational Maintenance Manual TM-11-6625-3016-20-1   5.5 MB PDF
FM/AM-1100S Calibration Procedure   1.2 MB PDF
This is actually the military bulletin TB 9-6625-2059-35, dated 24-Sep-2004, for Test Set, Radio AN/GRM-114A
 
FM / AM-1200A/S documentation and articles:
The 1200 was the first variant, then the 1200A (Analyzer), then the 1200-S that had the spectrum analyzer and tracking generator, then the 1200-Super. The 1200-SRA, was a surveillance unit made for the various Three Letter Agenciess, and doesn't have transmit functions.
All of the 1200S's are over thirty years old. Replacing the power supply electrolytics is recommended. See the article by KD6VPH below. While you are inside your IFR note that there is a lithium coin cell battery on the CPU board, just like in a PC. The original coin cell is a solder-in 3 volt BR2535 or a CR2325. You can replace it with a solder-in battery holder for a snap-in CR2032 coin cell. A suitable and readily available one is a Keystone part 1066. The Digikey part number is 36-1066-ND or Mouser 534-1066.
If you get a "checksum error" message on power-up take it as a warning your coin cell is about to die!
The original IFR1200A cannot be upgraded to a 1220S (with tracking generator, etc) and they have the infamous blue PC boards and are a real PITA to work on.
The IFR1200 was developed in the days of wideband = 30 KHz and narrowband = 15 KHz. It is still quite usable on 5 KHz and 2.5 KHz signals.
FM/AM-1200S Electrolytic Capacitors Replacement Guide   4.2 MB PDF by Alex Szuski KD6VPH
FM/AM-1200S Spare Parts Guide   700 kB PDF by Alex Szuski KD6VPH
Photos from a Brochure: Photo 1   Photo 2
Interior and miscellaneous photos (courtesy of Bob Vaughan AF6RR):
Image 01     Image 02     Image 03     Image 04     Image 05
Image 06     Image 07     Image 08     Image 09     Image 10
Image 11     Image 12     Image 13     Image 14     Image 15
Image 16     Image 17     Image 18     Image 19     Image 20
Image 21     Image 22     Image 23     Image 24     Image 25
Image 26     Image 27     Image 28     Image 29     Image 30
FM/AM-1200A Data sheet   227 kB PDF
FM/AM-1200 Super S Data Sheet   145 kB PDF
"UUT" in the data sheet text = "Unit Under Test".
FM/AM-1200S/A Operations Manual   7.3 MB PDF
This is a scan of a Revision 8 manual last updated on September 1 of 1991.
FM/AM-1200S/A Operations Manual   5.7 MB PDF
A bit smaller and cleaner copy than the one above. It is the same manual. Unfortunately neither is text serchable.
FM/AM-1200S/A Service Manual   10.6 MB PDF
FM/AM-1200S/A Output and Tracking Amplifier pages   2.1 MB PDF courtesy of Frank KA2FWC
This is the documentation for Option 5: the duplex generator 30dB / 100 milliwatt amplifier.
FM/AM-1200 Super S Operation Manual   4.5 MB PDF
Includes the remote operation supplement.
T-1200SR Scanning Receiver Operation Manual   700 kB PDF provided by Alex Szuski KD6VPH
A pointer to a youtube video from 2014 on replacing the lithium coin cell on the CPU card   By Alton "Buddy" Mclawhorn KC4UMO
Does anybody have any other manuals available for the 1200, military or otherwise?
One manual we'd really like to have is the FM/AM-1200 Super S Service Manual.
 
FM / AM-1500A/S documentation:
Exterior photos (supplied by Andy WD4KDN): Photo 1   Photo 2
Interior and miscellaneous photos:
20dB Amplifier   New and Old Batteries   Battery Removed from PCB   Battery Installed on PCB
CPU and Memory PCB   Inside the Front Panel   Interior (top) View   Interior (bottom) View
Motherboard Support Bracket   New Battery Installed   Next Card Behind CPU Circuit Board   Side Shield
FM/AM-1500 Application Notes   5.5 MB PDF
Scanned from a 1986 publication but the theory is as applicable as it was over 20 years ago.
Another version of the IFR-1500 Application Notes...
IFR produced a spiral-bound book that was packed with each unit.
Joe Szczech K1IKE was kind enough to scan his, page by page.
Part 1 Cover and pages 1-9   2.3 MB PDF
Part 2 Pages 10-19   2.6 MB PDF
Part 3 Pages 20-29   2.8 MB PDF
Part 4 Pages 30-39   2.7 MB PDF
Part 5 Pages 40-55   4.3 MB PDF
Full IFR-1500 spiral book   4.9 MB PDF straightened out and combined sections by Eric WB6FLY.
FM/AM-1500 Service Monitor Maintenance Manual   16.3 MB PDF
FM/AM-1500 Service Monitor Complete Maintenance Manual   8 MB PDF
This manual, unlike the one above, contains revisions, schematics, and even test fixtures and accessories. Considering the size and what's in it, this is a much better deal.
FM/AM-1500 Service Monitor Complete Maintenance Manual   45 MB PDF   Donated by Robin K4IDC
Robin took the above file and processed the text so this file is searchable, making it easier to use and find things.
FM/AM-1500 Service Monitor Operator's Guide   10.6 MB PDF
FM/AM-1500 Service Monitor Operator's Guide   47 MB PDF   Donated by Robin K4IDC
Robin took the above file and processed the text so this file is searchable, making it easier to use and find things.
 
FM / AM-1600S documentation:
The IFR 1600s have a known problem with the small electrolytics on the audio PA module.
When (not "if") they leak the electrolyte will corrode the traces. Don't wait! Change them!
Photos courtesy of Joe Burkleo WA7JAW:
Back         Bottom         Front on Stand         Front Left
Front Right         Front         Top (angled)         Top (down)
FM/AM-1600S Operator's Manual Ver 1.10   13.2 MB PDF
FM/AM-1600S Operator's Manual Ver 2.00   13.8 MB PDF
FM/AM-1600S Operator's Manual Ver 4.00   25.3 MB PDF
FM/AM-1600S Maintenance Manual   16.4 MB PDF scanned by Sam Reaves W3OHM
FM/AM-1600S Calibration Manual   8 MB PDF scanned by Sam Reaves W3OHM
This is actually the military TS-4317-2 Radio Test Set version.
FM/AM-1600S and FM/AM-1600CSA TMAC Manual   25 MB PDF
TMAC is the Test MACro (programming) language. CSA is Cellular System Analyzer.
FM/AM-1600 General Support Maintenance Manual   3.1 MB PDF donated by Sam Reaves W3OHM
This is actually the military TS-4317 AN/GRM-114B Radio Test Set version. Covers both the LCD and CRT models.
FM/AM-1600 Operator's and Unit Maintenance Manual   3.1 MB PDF donated by Sam Reaves W3OHM
This is actually the military TS-4317 AN/GRM-114B Radio Test Set version. Covers both the LCD and CRT models.
 
IFR 1900 documentation:
1900 Operator's Manual   21 MB PDF
1900 CSA Option Operator's Manual   6 MB PDF
TMAC is the Test MACro (programming) language. CSA is Cellular System Analyzer.
1900 CSA TMAC User's Manual Vol 1   13 MB PDF
1900 CSA TMAC User's Manual Vol 2   29 MB PDF
 
IFR A-7550 documentation and articles:
The IFR A7550 has a solder-in BR2535 or CR2325 coin cell (memory battery) on the Control Processor Board next to U12.
See the coin cell notes in the 1200 section above.
A-7550 Spectrum Analyzer Sales Brochure   2.5 MB PDF provided by Alex Szuski KD6VPH
A-7550 Spectrum Analyzer Operation Manual   4.5 MB PDF
A-7550 Spectrum Analyzer Operation Manual Supplement 02   1.2 MB PDF provided by Alex Szuski KD6VPH
A-7550 Spectrum Analyzer Service Manual   11.5 MB PDF
A-7550 Spectrum Analyzer CRT Board Capacitor Replacement Guide   923 kB PDF provided by Alex Szuski KD6VPH
A-7550 Spectrum Analyzer Power Supply Capacitor Replacement Guide   901 kB PDF provided by Alex Szuski KD6VPH
A-7550 Spectrum Analyzer Option 10 Marketing Memo   244 kB PDF provided by Alex Szuski KD6VPH
A-7550 Spectrum Analyzer Spare Parts Guide   429 kB PDF provided by Alex Szuski KD6VPH
A-7550 Spectrum Analyzer Illustrated Parts Catalog   90 MB PDF provided by Alex Szuski KD6VPH
A-7550 Spectrum Analyzer Price List November 1, 1985   302 kB PDF provided by Alex Szuski KD6VPH
 
COM-120 documentation:
The COM-120A uses a no-longer-available Planar Systems, Inc. EL560.400 orange-on-black Electro-Luminescent display module.
It is a 6.9 inch diagonal 560×400 pixel device and the official data sheet is here.
If anyone has repair information or a source for them, please send it to the page maintainer.
Once the display module fails (and you are sure it's not the DC-DC converter) the only solution is to use an external VGA monitor - if you can find the VGA adapter card for the COM-120!
COM120 Options List.   courtesy of Kurt WB6SMC - 74kB PDF.
COM120 Timekeeper Option Restoration.   courtesy of Kurt WB6SMC - 235kB PDF.
Click here for a photo of the COM-120A and COM-120B   courtesy of Tracy N4LGH.
Click here for a photo of the rear panel of a COM-120B   courtesy of Tracy N4LGH.
Click here for a 19.3 MB Zip file of COM-120A photos.
27 high-resolution pictures of a disassembled COM-120A, courtesy of Tracy N4LGH.
Click here for a 11.6 MB Zip file of COM-120B photos.
16 high-resolution pictures of a disassembled COM-120B, courtesy of Tracy N4LGH.
COM-120B Operation Manual   33 MB PDF
COM-120B Calibration Manual   2.5 MB PDF
COM-120B Schematic Diagrams   9.7 MB PDF
COM-120B Schematic Diagrams v2.0   26 MB PDF
The second download - all 202 pages - is a MUCH better scan! v2.0 is courtesy of Gerald Molenkamp VK3GM
COM-120B Application Manual   2 MB PDF
COM-120B Data Sheet   212 kB PDF
COM-120B Training Powerpoint file   3.1 MB PPT
COM-120C Operation's Manual   2.5 MB PDF
COM-120C Maintenance Manual Supplement   2.7 MB PDF
Supplement for the COM-120B Maintenance Manual that covers the COM-120C.
According to a local two-way radio tech, if your Com-120 fails its self-test in the 'Dev. Modulation' or 'Dist. Meter' area you will need to change all of the electrolytic capacitors in the baseband tray. IFR had a bad batch of them.

Other Documents and Manuals:

The 2944, 2945, 2946, 2947 and the 2948 series test sets where originally designed by Marconi Instruments. There is a groups.io mailing list, look for Marconi Test Instruments.
2023, 2024 AM/FM Signal Generator Operation Manual   10 MB PDF
2023A, 2023B, 2025 AM/FM Signal Generator Operation Manual   12 MB PDF
2026 Multisource Generator Operation Manual   9 MB PDF
2040, 2041, 2042 Signal Generator Operation Manual   5 MB PDF
2050, 2051, 2052 Digital & Vector Signal Generator Operation Manual   13 MB PDF
2398 Spectrum Analyzer Operation Manual   7 MB PDF
2398 Spectrum Analyzer Programming Manual   700 kB PDF
2398 Spectrum Analyzer Service Manual   27 MB PDF
2955 Radio Communications Test Set Operation Manual   3 MB PDF
2968 Frequently Asked Questions   608 kB PDF
2944 Data Sheet   158 kB PDF
2945B Data Sheet   62 kB PDF
3412, 3413, 3414, 3416 Digital RF Signal Generator Operation Manual   20 MB PDF
3500 Data Sheet   52 kB PDF
3500A Data Sheet   48 kB PDF
6900 Series RF Power Sensors Instruction Manual   655 kB PDF
A8000 Spectrum Analyzer Operation Manual   6.8 MB PDF
AN1840 Spectrum Analyzer Operation Manual   9.2 MB PDF
Accurate power measurements using spectrum analyzers   874 kB PDF
Oriented towards the 239x series of equipment, but an interesting read regardless of what you have.
IFR Products Price List, April 1, 1986   1.2 MB PDF provided by Alex Szuski KD6VPH

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This page initially created 30-March-2009 by splitting all of the IFR information away from the Other Manufacturers page.

This web site, the information presented in and on its pages and in these modifications and conversions is © Copyrighted 1995 and (date of last update) by Kevin Custer W3KKC and multiple originating authors. All Rights Reserved, including that of paper and web publication elsewhere.