The shortwave transceiver SE-430 is used to communicate over long distances using ionospheric connections, the output power in CW (A1), single sideband telephony (A3JU/A3JO) and radioteletype (F1, F4) is 200 W PEP at maximum.

The complete communications system consists of a control unit / Bedienungseinheit BE-430, usually connected to a encrypter and a radioteletype machine. The signal is transferred over field telephone lines to the transmitter site, which can be installed at quite a long distance. The transmitter site equipment consists of the transmitter S-430, it's power supply SG-430 and the automated antenna tuner AG-510/430. The complete control unit has a weight of 32 kg, the remote controlled transmitter 37 kg and the transmitter power supply another 28 kg.

In the control unit BE-430, the receiver E-430, the transmitter control BG-430 and a battery power supply (BN-430 with an accumulator block) are united in one cabinet.
The microphone can be connected directly or via a SVZB (speech encryption system) for speech scrambling operation.
Usually, written messages have been sent: in earlier days a huge and noisy teletypewriter Siemens STG-100/A via a connector box FSA-430 or in the improved setup a TmS-430, a telematic set consisting of a notebook computer with necessary software, a modem and a printer, all in a huge green case.

The control unit BE-430 and the transmitter S-430 can be operated with direct connection or via a field telephone or public telephone line between control unit and transmitter for remote operation. There is the possibility to use a standard field telephone as service telephone to communicate between control and remote transmitter site.

The transmitter S-430 comes with it's own mains power supply SG-430, both in huge olive green cases. Usually, a dipole antenna which needs 15 x 80 meters is fed via an automatic antenna tuner AG-510/430. The transmitter can be fully remote controlled for frequency changes and antenna tuning. A test feature lets you perform automated test of the control unit as well as the tranmitter and antenna tuner systems.

The system can be used as SE-430/t portable or with fixed installation in a shelter, or as SE-430/m on a four wheel driven vehicle Steyr 4 x 4.