The TBR001A Squad Leader VHF FM Transceiver (TBR001A Squad Leader Radio) is an improved version of the TBR001 radio. The station itself has been completely redesigned, only the antenna, battery unit, headphones and charging station are from the TBR-001 station. It borrows some design elements from the TBR115 to make it more like a scaled-down version of the TBR-115 radio. It was introduced around 2000 with Chinese People's Liberation Army infantry units. It is designed to enable communication between squad leaders and platoon / company commanders and can also be used as repeaters on the battlefield.
The station weighs about 470 grams with antenna and battery. The station itself (with battery) measures 148x55x35 mm. It operates from 46.5 MHz to 49.5 MHz. There are a total of 10 preset channels (channels 1-8 for communication, channels 9/10 for relay), but another device is required to set the channel frequency. The radio is equipped with speakers and PTT control, so it can be operated without headphones. The output power is 0.1 watts in the low range and 0.5 watts in the high grade, and the normal communication distance is about 1000 meters.
The station is powered by a 7.2V battery unit connected to the bottom of the station, the same as the TBR001 station. Inside the battery cell, there are 6 rechargeable AA size nickel-cadmium batteries. Later production replaced nickel-cadmium batteries with rechargeable lithium batteries. There are two control knobs on the top of the station, one for selecting channels and the other for power switching, volume control, transmit power settings, and squelch settings.
TBR001A transceivers are still used in Chinese PLA infantry units. The need for another device to set up channels is the biggest drawback of this station. Without such a specific device, I couldn't even reset my radio channel. Now it is gradually being replaced by the more modern TBR002 squad leader VHF FM radio.