Talk:Signals Research and Development Establishment

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SRDE Christchurch was in Hampshire until at least the 1960s. I should know; I worked there one summer. 94.30.84.71 (talk) 19:56, 10 April 2014 (UTC)

Introduction – The work carried out at SRDE was secret and as such is largely unpublicised. This addition is to provide an insight into the work done at SRDE between 1945 and 1960. During WWII [Ronald Hugh Barker] was a Senior Scientific officer put in charge of a research programme on use of [Frequency Modulation] for Army communications. Between 1945-1947 he was responsible for devising and seeing into production the first system of telemetry for guided weapons. In 1947 he was promoted to a Principle Scientific officer in charge of the electronics group later becoming the Superintendent in charge of research in 1957. All the information in this proposed addition can be verified from research papers and other documentation held by the [The National Archives], The Institute of Engineering and Technology, Archives (IET) and [Malvern Radar and Technology History Society].

ADDITION

Post-war Developments (1945–1960)

Following World War II, the Signals Research and Development Establishment (SRDE) expanded its mission from wartime field communications to include the emerging use of digital communication, transistors and computing. During the late 1940s and 1950s, SRDE became a key centre for the application of pulse-code modulation (PCM) in British military systems, particularly for guided missile telemetry and radar data transmission. Research later focused on digital telemetry, speech encryption, gun fire control, digital transmissions, application of transistors to digital computer systems and transmission of application of high-speed telegraph signals over line. A major innovation in the 1950’s was the development of the [Barker code], a binary sequence designed by SRDE engineer [Ronald Hugh Barker] in 1953 to improve synchronisation in PCM signal decoding. {cite book | last=Barker | first=R. H. |author-link=Ronald Hugh Barker |chapter=Group Synchronizing of Binary Digital Systems |title=Communication Theory |place=London |publisher=Butterworth |pages=273–287 |year=1953}}</ref> Barker codes are characterized by having minimal off-peak autocorrelation, which made them ideal for reducing signal ambiguity and improving detection in noisy channels and particularly suited to radar. The invention of the Barker code significantly enhanced the reliability of PCM systems and remains in use in radar, GPS, and telemetry systems and many other applications today.

In addition to his work on error-resistant coding, Barker developed an optical decoder for binary PCM signals, offering a physical implementation for high-speed decoding. His designs translated the theoretical foundations laid by Alec Reeves (who first proposed PCM in 1937) and Claude Shannon (whose post-war work formalised digital communication theory) into practical technologies for defence applications. Although much of Barker’s research was classified at the time, key papers are now preserved in the IET Archives and by the Malvern Radar and History Society (MRATHS).

This post-war era marked a shift in SRDE’s focus—from tactical radio and analogue systems to advanced digital signal processing. These developments laid essential groundwork for later British work in satellite communications, fibre optics, and secure data transmission.

IET Archives: UK0108 NEAST301 Barker’s original papers and biography MRATHS: Custodians of Barker’s earlier, possibly unpublished research material The National Archives’ catalogue: AVIA, Records of the Signals Experimental Establishment and Signals Research and Development Establishment 1919-1980.

Disclosure: I’m the author of the IET Archives biography of Ronald Hugh Barker, which is cited in the proposed addition to the SRDE article. It draws on primary material from the IET, MRATHS, and the UK National Archives. The source is published by the IET and used here only to support verifiable biographical details. Feedback from other editors is welcome.

Windswept (talk) 09:45, 28 May 2025 (UTC)

I've switched the template from semi-protected edit request to the COI edit request template, as that seems to be the more appropriate one. meamemg (talk) 13:42, 28 May 2025 (UTC)