US Navy AN/UGC-136AX, AN/UGC-136BX, AN/UGC-136CX
Teleprinter/Teletypewriter (Canadian AN/UGC-504)


Manuals

NOTE - The UGC-136AX and UGC-136BX are similar but not the same
 - UGC-136BX helpful hints are here


Ribbon Cartridge Photos - if you know of a source, please send e-mail


AN/UGC-136 Teletypewriter. The AN/UGC-136 teletypewriter is a militarized, low-level, automatic send and receive teleprinter. It has storage, editing, and self-test capabilities. The AN/UGC-136 is controlled by a microprocessor with an internal solid-state memory and has full message composition and editing capabilities. It prints data nominally at 120 characters per second (1200 bps), can transmit or receive at data rates of 50 to 2400 bps (45.5 to 2400 for the AN/UGC-136BX), and can operate in switch-selectable Baudot or ASCII codes. The message storage module has a capacity of 12,288 characters. The AN/UGC-136CX is installed onboard submarines and the AN/UGC-136BX is installed on surface platforms. The primary difference between the AN/UGC-136CX and the AN/UGC-136BX is the AN/UGC-136BX has an LED display incorporated on the front panel to allow viewing of text for editing purposes when typed. The keyboard printer weighs approximately 59 pounds, is 8.5 inches high, 15.75 inches wide, and 17.4 inches deep. The power requirements are 115 V ac, 60 Hz, and 100 watts.

The AN/UGC-136CX is a ruggedized send-and-receive teleprinter, controlled by a microprocessor with an internal solid state memory, and full-message composition and editing capabilities; it prints data at a nominal 120 characters per second (1200 bps). It can transmit or receive at data rates from 50 to 9600 bps to or from the message storage memory, and can operate in switch-selectable Baudot or ASCII codes. The storage capacity of 64 messages or 256K random access memory (RAM), permits the short-term storage of received messages while the operator simultaneously composes and stores outgoing messages for transmission. Multiple communication ports also provide a bulk-storage device compatibility.

UGC-136BX - 1984 NAVELEX contract
ugc136bx-84-contract.jpg (118744 bytes)
UGC-136AX - 1985 SPAWAR contract
ugc136ax-1710-02.jpg (212743 bytes)
UGC-136BX - 1987 SPAWAR contract
ugc136bx-87-contract.jpg (464545 bytes)
UGC-136BX - 1988 SPAWAR contract
ugc136bx-88-contract.jpg (964292 bytes)

AN/UGC-504 Photos and Information from Dave VY2AC

The commercial designation  is E-Systems T-1148 - see ads below

ugc136-ad-1.jpg (333202 bytes) ugc136-ad-2.jpg (353989 bytes) Submarine training system
ugc136-training.jpg (119138 bytes)
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April 2025 Auction - Lot of 46 AN/UGC-136BX

ugc136b-2504-01.jpg (564500 bytes) ugc136b-2504-02.jpg (677393 bytes) ugc136b-2504-03.jpg (637132 bytes) ugc136b-2504-04.jpg (630233 bytes)
ugc136b-2504-05.jpg (589187 bytes) ugc136b-2504-06.jpg (750954 bytes) ugc136b-2504-07.jpg (819871 bytes) ugc136b-2504-08.jpg (697778 bytes)
ugc136b-2504-09.jpg (631552 bytes) ugc136b-2504-10.jpg (705740 bytes) ugc136b-2504-12.jpg (650823 bytes) ugc136b-2504-13.jpg (683981 bytes)
ugc136b-2504-15.jpg (616975 bytes) ugc136b-2504-11.jpg (678677 bytes) ugc136b-2504-16.jpg (852231 bytes) ugc136b-2504-17.jpg (926236 bytes)

AN/UGC-136BX Helpful Hints - please send me more

Chapter 2 of the manual is worth reading!

Yes it does Baudot (ITA 2) as well as ASCII (ITA 5). Yes it will run 45.5 baud (60wpm)
AC Power connector - pin A and pin B are AC, pin C is ground - connector is MS3116F14-5SW
DB25M connector - Pin 1 for RXD, Pin 2 for TXD, Pin 24 for signal ground - See page 8-5
(pin 25 is chassis ground, and pin 24 is signal ground - they are tied together internally at the interface board)
You don't need to worry about other pins unless you are hooking up DTS, DTR, etc. for a modem
Normal Mark is -5v, Space is +5v - to invert this see below
RCV BUSY lamp is off when receiving Mark. RCV BUSY lamp is on when receiving Space
CONFIGURATION - I couldn't figure out how to invert the signals - the switch didn't seem to do anything.
AHA! See Table 2-4 starting at step 11
You have to re-initialize a port after changing a configuration switch (e.g. INVERT)
Set Port 1 to C.
See steps 11-20 of Table 2-4
Power-on will reset Port 3 to O, the one-line LED display.
In that configuration, composing/editing a message uses the  LED display but does not print.
If you set Port 3 to N, composing/editing a message prints but does not use the LED display (not recommended)
See 2-3.3.2 on page 2-17
Dry ribbon? Or maybe the print head is positioned back off the paper
 -adjust the head position forward using the carriage shaft lever - photo 
The R2 control knob in front of the configuration switches is the BELL volume control
Use CTRL-G to send BELL in Baudot
Baudot NULL character SSSSS prints as back slash \ - in spite of Figure 2-6 saying "non-printing"
A royal pain if receiving diddles - is it possible to change this?
KEYBOARD TRANSMITTING - XMIT ACT lamp must be lit to transmit characters from the keyboard.
Press TX MSG, then ENTER to transmit from the keyboard - see Steps 33-35 of Table 2-4
Huh! - it seems to auto-exit after 10 seconds of idle. 
-------
FIX for auto-exit - configure as follows:
XMIT ECHO OFF. XMIT PRINT ON.
Remember to reinitialize Port 1 to register the switches (see above). YMMV
TRANSMITTING MESSAGES - You can and edit compose messages using EDIT_MSG. You can send a message from memory by entering TX_MSG and the message number 
Line length default is 80. To set it to 72 for your mechanical teletype friends, see step 94 of Table 2-4
FIRST ON-THE-AIR - Zach W8ZJT checked in on the 40m 850 shift net 7/26/25
PRINTING - If PRINT ENABLE is ON, then the incoming character stream will be printed. If it is OFF, then the characters will stored and printed when the switch is turned back ON. This is true for unformatted or formatted messages. Only properly formatted messages will be numbered and stored in memory. See below.
FORMATTED MESSAGES - The machine must see SOM (start of message) and EOM (end of message) to recognize received messages. The usual military SOM is VZCZC and EOM is NNNN - and that's what my machine has set.  It prints out SOM and EOM at power-on -is your EOM/SOM different?
I get message numbering starting at MPN 1 when I create messages using EDIT_MSG.
And it stores received messages starting at MPN 129 if I begin the message with VZCZC and end with NNNN
You can change the default SOM and EOM using CTRL-3 (step 21 of table 2-4)
Radio Transmitter Keyline - is there a convenient way to control your radio transmitter?
DUPLEX - On the air, I sometimes run full duplex with my receiver un-muted when transmitting. If PRINT ENABLE ON and XMT PRNT ON, then I print doubled characters LLIIKKEE  TTHHIISS. 

If PRINT ENABLE OFF while  XMT PRNT ON then I print LIKE THIS while transmitting, but when I go back to receive and turn PRINT ENABLE ON, then the transmitted message prints again at high speed.

If XMT PRNT OFF then I only print what the receiver gets LIKE THIS.  Well, it is just gonna be awkward I suppose unless I mute my receiver while transmitting (half duplex). Any suggestions?

Observations when receiving text (AUTO PRINT ON, PRINT ENABLE ON)

A) When receiving traffic stops, after 10 seconds the UNPRNT lamp extinguishes and the printer will perform CR/LF. When the traffic resumes it prints A.P. then the new traffic starting on a new line. 

B) With XMIT PRINT OFF
Sending/Composing using only the LED display. The receive timeout behavior is the same as A) when I am in C/E or sending from KBD or sending a stored message MPN.

C) With XMIT PRINT ON 
In KBD transmit while receiving, the entered characters are printed interspersed with any received ones. Yuk!
If sending a stored message MPN while receiving, the transmitted message will transmit and later print after receive timeout. 
In C/E, composing is only via the LED display and receive print behavior is “normal” as in A). If you hit PRNT while composing it will do so after the receive timeout. 
YMMV

SOME TESTING
You do NOT need to connect anything to the RXD line to use the LED display and transmit
The LED display is not used for receiving

You DO need to set the configuration switches under the lid for proper Baudot
Set all these switches before turning the machine on 
- it only reads the switches at power-up or if you force a Port config.
Set switches from left to right 
LINE 1 or 2
ITA CODE 2
XMT ECHO OFF
XMT PRNT ON
MULT STOP
INVT DATA (if you want MARK= +6v)
TRM RDY ON
PARITY NONE
BAUD RATE 45.45
AUTO PRINT
beside the keyboard PRINT ENABLE ON

After power up and the initial print sequence you can verify the port status
CTRL-2 (POR STAT) and it will print the status of the 3 ports
Port 1 should tell you the switch settings you entered
Port 2 is not connected
Port 3 is for the LED display - automatically set - don't change

Lamps - PARITY, BUSY, PAPER all OFF

Now to send a message from the keyboard (into nowhere unless you have hooked up something to TXD)
MSG TX
ENTER
XMIT ACT lamp lights
prints MPN:KB indicating you are sending a message from Keyboard
LED displays blinking cursor
type some text - letters will be displayed on LED and also printed (prints TX PORT 1 first)
NEW LINE - LED displays symbols for CR CR LF
type some text for the second line of the message - LED letters will begin again
type some more lines, each followed by NEW LINE
to exit from transmitting CTRL-ENTER/EXIT or SHIFT ENTER/EXIT
LED display goes dark and XMIT ACT lamp goes out

You can type on the keyboard and print all you want and use it like a typewriter, but the LED display is only used when composing/editing or sending a message from the keyboard.
----------------------
Okay - if you want to experiment with sending to yourself, hook RXD to TXD on the DB25

MSG TX
ENTER
XMIT ACT lamp lights

If PRINT ENABLE ON and XMT PRNT ON, then it prints doubled characters LLIIKKEE TTHHIISS.
(one you are sending and one you are receiving)

If PRINT ENABLE OFF and XMT PRNT ON then it prints single characters LIKE THIS while transmitting, but when you go back to receive and turn PRINT ENABLE ON, then the received message (the one you just sent) prints at high speed.

If PRINT ENABLE ON and XMT PRNT OFF then it only prints what it receives LIKE THIS. 
Remember that you have to reboot the machine when changing anything under the hood (like XNT PRNT ON/OFF).
PRINT ENABLE ON/OFF can be changed at any time.
Constant beep at power on and no initialization printout?
Make sure all the circuit boards are well-seated, and check your power supply voltages.
 

AN/UGC-136AX

AN/UGC-136AX - video 100wpm ITTY (75 baud)   -   video 60wpm (receiving and sending 75 baud)

ugc136ax-1711-21.JPG (2083074 bytes) ugc136ax-1711-22.JPG (2023819 bytes) ugc136ax-1711-23.JPG (1821564 bytes) keyboard
ugc136ax-1711-24.JPG (1958104 bytes)

ugc136ax-1710-03.jpg (204969 bytes)


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Circuit Board Cage behind Paper Bin
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card cage to backplane jumpers
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backplane
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reverse side of backplane
ugc136-1711-34.JPG (2405939 bytes)
115vac terminal strip under backplane
ugc136-1711-33.JPG (1042780 bytes)
A1A5 - ROM and RAM
ugc136-1711-37.JPG (1768996 bytes)
A1A6 - 8080 microprocessor
ugc136-1711-36.JPG (1867468 bytes)
A1A7 - ROM and UART
ugc136-1711-35.JPG (2330530 bytes)
A1A8 - ? print control?
ugc136-1711-38.JPG (1955717 bytes)
Unit With Print Head But No Ribbon Cartridge
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Unit With Print Head But No Ribbon Cartridge
ugc136ax-1711-14.jpg (260701 bytes)
Unit without Print Head
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Unit without Print Head
ugc136ax-1711-12.jpg (288612 bytes)
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UGC-136AX - Some Early Restoration Info - from experimenting in 2017 before I got a manual - use caution!
Please send me any additions, corrections, etc.

Power connector

A = line
B = line
C = ground
115vac, 60 Hz Mating connector = MS3116F145SW - or do this....

ugc136-ac-conn.jpg (2169172 bytes)

USART 
  (on card A1A7)
AM9551 (8251) -- Line Receivers = uA9627 
Line Drivers = uA9616 
Signal Levels RS-232? -6v = marking
+6v = spacing
use INV switches for MIL-STD-188C Low Level Signaling
(+6v = marking, -6v = spacing)
Data connector 1 = RxD (RX DATA)
2 = TxD (TX DATA)
3 = DSR
4 = DTR
5 = RTS
15 = CTS
25 = GND
these signals are inverted from the USART pins by the line drivers/receivers
Tie DSR to DTR. Note - do not tie CTS to RTS
Operation

Movie

11/17 - I got it working!
ugc136-1711-40.JPG (2019097 bytes)

Power On Initialization - also caused by MASTER CLEAR

Compose/Edit Message - press EDIT MSG, then ENTER - C/E ACT lamp illuminates

  • PRINT ENABLE = ON prints the incoming characters and disables keyboard echo
                                   any buffered characters get printed at high speed (120cps).
    PRINT ENABLE = OFF - incoming message goes to a buffer for later printing. 
                                    Keyboard echo is enabled
                                    MSG ST ACT lamp lights
  • PRINT MSG - prints the composed message with line numbers
  • LINE xx, then ENTER - prints line xx
    • DLTE - deletes line xx
    • INSRT- inserts new lines after LINE xx - EXIT when finished inserting lines
  • DLTE - prints entire message then asks "DELETE ??" - I don't know how to say NO yet!
  • prints EXIT when finished composing 
  • I don't know how to number or save messages yet - there should be storage for 64 messages.

11/21/17 - I cannot transmit keyboard characters or transmit a message yet.....
       - the TX DATA line from the USART is working, because BREAK works, but I get no data...
Update 11/27/17 - I tacked on some wires to scope out the UART - and I found -CTS high. 
I had tied CTS to RTS on the DB25 but that was evidently a mistake.
 (Leaving CTS open works fine because of pull-up resistors on the line receiver input.)
Now I can transmit from the keyboard! - press XMT MSG, then ENTER => XMIT ACT lamp will light.
Turn off Transmit Echo switch, Turn on Transmit Print.
This will put you in full duplex mode - you can receive and transmit at the same time.
          (PRINT ENABLE = OFF lets you send while receiving into a buffer)
          (If PRINT ENABLE = ON, you can still send while receiving/printing but sent characters do not print unless Transmit Echo is on)
But there is no way out of this mode short of Master Clear - you can no longer compose messages.
So I am still missing something in the way this thing is supposed to create/send messages 
              - but at least I can run simple full duplex.

I have requested a manual via a Freedom Of Information Act request - we'll see how that works out.........