The story began from the First Counter-Campaign against Encirclement and Suppression. At that time, the Red Army didn’t have any radio equipment. They delivered letters on foot or on horseback, with a few wire telephones to deliver military command. This backward communication method was hardly to satisfy the needs of wars.

　　In December 1930, the Red Army won the First Counter-Campaign and captured a radio equipment during the war. The soldiers had never seen such a thing. Out of hatred for enemies, they damaged the radio. As a result, the radio could only receive but not transmit messages—becoming a half radio. Mao Zedong and Zhu De were still delighted when seeing this half radio because at least it can receive intelligence. Meanwhile, Mao gave the command that everything captured in the war must be handed in intact. Soon, the Red Army captured a second radio in Dongshao, Ningdu County, and they sent it undamaged to the headquarters. Since then, the Red Army had their own radio communication equipment—the so-called “One and a Half Radios”.

　　On January 6, 1931, the first radio training class officially opened. After four-month training, students began their work when the Second Counter-Campaign started. On May 15, Captain Wang was on duty with two students when they received the plain code announcement between the radio stations of the headquarter of Gong Bingfan’s troop and his other armies left in Ji’an.

　　Very soon, Captain Wang copied down the important information skillfully that the enemy would attack the stationed troops of the Red Army in Donggu. Based on this information, the Red Army immediately carried out the strategic military deployment before the war. On May 16, the first battle of the Second Counter-Campaign started. In the afternoon, the Red Army’s radio station in Baiyun Mountain command post received the “SOS” emergency signal sent by the enemy continuously. Thanks to their good preparation, the Red Army won the first victory of the Second Counter-Campaign.

　　This is the predecessor of technical reconnaissance force of Chinese People's Liberation Army,which are called “Golden Ear”. Now under the administration of Strategic Support Force, the technical reconnaissance force already has multiple investigation methods such as radio shortwave, ultrashort-wave, satellite, radar, etc. This is the story how “one and a half radios” grow up into a strong force. 

　　故事还得从第一次反‘围剿’战役开始说起，那时红军还没有无线电装备，都是通过徒步或者骑马送信，以及少量的有线电话来指挥作战。落后的通讯方式难以满足战争的需求。

　　1930年12月，第一次反“围剿”胜利，战斗中红军缴获了一部电台，可惜的是当时红军战士从没见过这种东西，他们出于对敌人的仇恨，就把这部能收能报的电台砸成了一部只能收不能发的电台，于是就成了“半部电台”，毛泽东、朱德看到这半部电台后，很高兴，因为虽然不能发送信息，但是它可以收听情报。当场毛泽东下达了一部命令：凡是战场缴获敌人的东西，一律要完好无损地上交。不久，红军在宁都东韶消灭敌人时又缴获了一部电台，并送到了红军总部。这样便有了后来‘一部半电台’起家的说法。

　　1931年1月6日，第一期无线电训练班在陈家土楼正式开课，从各军选调了12名同志，开始了为期四个月的训练班生活。学习结束，学员们开始上机实习。这时，第二次反“围剿”战役开始。5月15日，学员小刘小曹随王队长一起值班，忽然，电台传出了敌军公秉藩师部电台与该师在吉安留守处的电台明码通报。   

　　很快，王队长用非常熟练的手法把这份敌人将进攻红军驻地东固的重要情报抄下。根据这份重要情报，红军立即进行临战前的战略部署。16日，第二次反“围剿”战役第一仗打响了，由于红军的准备充分，下午红军电台便在白云山指挥所收到了敌人电台连续拍发的“SOS”紧急求救呼号，说明第二次反“围剿”首战告捷。

　　这就是中国人民解放军的“金耳朵”技术侦查部队的前身。现在技侦部队已经拥有无线电、短波、超短波、卫星、雷达等多重侦查手段，划归新军种战略支援部队管辖。“一部半”电台成长为了壮大的队伍。