R-129

is a crystal controlled portable simplex HF radio in CW, AM and SSB mode. FSK (Frequency shift keying) can be transmitted, but not received.
It uses subminiature pencil tubes. The radio is difficult to repair, because it has no modules; the tubes are welded tight to the chassis.

It was used by all special forces (SPEZNAZ) of the Warzaw Pact and was meant to connect parachute landing forces to their staff. It was used to make contact over medium distances.
Not many of them were ever built. It is difficult to carry around, since it weighs 19 kgs.

It has 1000 switchable fixed frequencies at 10 kHz frequency spacing, to provide search- free connectons without fine tuning; to other R-129 radios and to R-130, R-130M and R-140.

Also older radio stations, like R-104M and R-112 can be connected in AM mode. In this case, however, certain ranges cannot be guaranteed.

Burst coders can be connected.

The frequency is selected by three knobs, the frequency also can be selected in total darkness.
Since there is no loudspeaker, a handset or headset must be used when talking in SSB or AM mode. When in SSB or AM mode, the radio also can be remote controlled up to 2 km distance by using a telephone TA- 57.

During the operation in CW, SSB and AM mode the sound is monitored through the headphones.

The batteries also can be charged by a handcrank generator, type Z-348m. Fully charged batteries provide 8 hours of continuous operation, at a rate of 1:3 transmitting/receiving.