1920 to 1960 : Introduction - Salbu Experimental Radio Station

In 1952 David Larsen joined SMD and moved one of the Salbu Experimental Radio Stations to Pinetown. The station was again moved in 1965 - a few years after the establishment of RACAL-SMD in Pretoria - to the present site, on the farm Doornkloof. 

1960 to 1970 : Solid State HF SSB Tactical Radio Communication Systems

The "tuned" prototype was further developed and manufactured by SMD in Pinetown and later by RACAL-SMD in Pretoria - large numbers of the RT422B SSB Transceivers were soon in use throughout Africa. 

The "broad-band" SSB, Solid State, Packset Transceiver concept was initially rejected in the UK as "fundamentally unsound". The concept being later enthusiastically accepted by RACAL after the RACAL-SMD RT14 Packsets had been successfully evaluated - under battle conditions in the Malaysian jungle - by the British Army. As a direct result of the Malaysian trials RACAL received their "biggest order ever" for a product based on concepts deemed to be "unsound." 

The RT14 became the archetype for the development of the "Squadcal" packset and the RACAL "PIONEER" DIVISION was formed. Within a year "Squadcals" were being manufactured and exported in large numbers and Jim Diggins, the Racal UK engineer responsible for the PIONEER programme, received an MBE - a "first" for RACAL. (The Beatles received MBE's on the same occasion) 

After producing the "Squadcal" in large numbers - and receiving the Queen's Award for export achievement, another first for RACAL - a new company, headed up by David Elsbury, was established to exploit derivatives of this unique tactical radio. Tacticom soon became RACAL's most profitable company. In a 1992 CITY PROFILE interview with Jim Levi, Sir Ernest Harrison said "A South African offshoot gave him the tactical radio which was to make RACAL a byword of organic growth in the 1960's & 70's." Racal South Africa (RESA), further developed the SSB solid state broad-band concept into products such as the TR28 (B??), TR15 (C23), and TR48 (B22) transceivers. The Grinel TR?? (C21) and TR178 (B20) SSB transceivers are the latest additions to this family of products. (RT422Bs and TR28s are still in use in Africa and Squadcals are still being made in the UK.) 

1970 to 1980 : "UHF Troposcatter" - "HF Frequency Hopping" Systems

The AFCEA report (Defence Attach* No4 of 1983) under the heading "Milcom's show-stealer" refers to both the MILCOM GRC100 and MILCOM PRC150 tactical radios designed to hop in the HF band and states "there can be no greater tribute than to record that the PRC150 was often hidden from view by a throng of observers from rival companies, many of whom came away looking distinctly shell-shocked - the GRC100 is claimed to be the first "frequency hopping" HF radio to enter production as long ago as 1978." 

1970 to 1980 : Continuation "Parrot Relay" - "Meteor Burst" Systems

In the late 1970's Salbu established the basic parameters for "Compound HF Frequency Hopping", "Parrot Relay", "Meteor Burst" and "Thin Line Satellite" communication systems" - Salbu initiated informal negotiations for "Parrot", "Meteor Burst" and "Intelsat Ground Station" licences. 

1980 to 1994 : Meteor Burst and "Thin Line" Satellite Communications Systems

In the early 1980's, apart from demonstrating the feasibility of "Programmable Automatic Relays with Revert back checks of onward Transmissions" (PARROT) and "Compound HF Spread Spectrum Techniques," Salbu undertook a "Stand-Off HF SSB Repeater System" study and evaluation programme. Various "Stand-Off HF SSB Repeater Systems", including "Single Frequency Repeaters", were demonstrated to potential users. This programme initiated the development of a number of products. 

In the late 1980's Salbu undertook the Research and Development of a range of Meteor Burst and Thin-line C-Band Satellite Communication (C-MITT) products - some of these products have been successfully evaluated on operational networks and are presently in the process of being industrialised - Salbu was granted frequencies and licensed to operate Nation-wide Commercial Meteor Burst Communications Networks. 

During 1987 and 1989 Mark and Gernot Larsen, both university graduates, joined the Salbu team. 

In May 1989, the State President awarded "The Order of the Star of South Africa (Non Military), Grand Officer (Silver)", to David Larsen in recognition of his contribution to electronics over the years. 

Apart from the Thin-line C-Band Satellite System, Salbu has undertaken an investigation into Intelligent/Expert Macro and Micro "Cellular Microwave Interactive Television and Telecommunication" (C-MIT2) Communications Systems. 

1924 to 1994 : Summary

Press Release 3 May, 1972: 

Racal Electronics, South Africa's biggest exporters of communications equipment and part of the R40 million-a-year Racal international group of communications experts, today announced changes at top managerial level. 

Mr. H. Dainty, Managing Director and a leading figure in the development of electronic communications equipment in South Africa for the past 40 years, has been appointed Chairman. 

Mr. D. V. Larsen, Technical Director and the man responsible for much of the South African designed electronic equipment which has met with world success, takes over as Managing Director from Mr. Dainty, with with whom he has been associated for more than twenty years. 

Mr. S.J. Constance, the well-known Johannesburg director of companies, retires as Chairman but remains a Director. 

Two new appointments to the Board are those of Mr. R. L. Butenshaw, Managing Director of Racal Marine Electronics (Pty) Ltd with its headquarters at Simonstown, and Mr. B. Johnson, Managing Director of Racal Electronics (Natal) (Pty) Ltd at New Germany, Natal. 

The new appointments were announced by Mr. E.T. Harrison, Chairman of the Racal Group, when he visited South Africa this week. 

Mr. Harrison revealed that Racal South Africa exported 62% of its local turnover of communications equipment made in this country. 

He paid tribute to Mr. Dainty whose services would also be used by Racal International and to Mr. Larsen who had been responsible for the development of equipment which hod enabled Racal International to reach its dominating position, particularly in the world of military mobile communications. 

These included two of the biggest recent orders for military electronic equipment the manpack, the most modern of its kind in the world - amounting to R22 million. One was from the British Government for R12 million and the other from lran for R10 million. Racal UK was currently exporting more manpacks than any other company in the world and they had been developed from designs which originated through Mr. Larsen in South Africa. 

In addition, Mr. Harrison said that the successful invention of what had come to be regarded as the world's best communications receiver by the South African scientist, Dr. Trevor Wadley, which was in advance of anything of its kind designed in the post 50 years had earned the CSlR a substantial amount in royalties since it had been taken over by Racal. 

Mr. Harrison said Racal South Africa's activities had expanded considerably in the past few years and several factories and eight offices hod been established in Southern Africa.  The equipment range included HF and VHF communications equipment, Microwave, Broadcasting, TV and Data equipment, Computer peripherals and Electronic instrumentation. 

He added that the Company would step up its export activities and would seek a listing when conditions become suitable.