[ARC5] Auction-site T-16/ARC-5, and BCB ARC-5 questions

[Mike Morrow]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4675&item=5737966020&
rd=1

An externally good looking T-16 at ebay, but the internal pictures show
re-wiring below chassis, as Sam mentions in his description.  To me it looks
like the PA tank coil had been re-wound for a much higher frequency than the
BCB.  If so, I'd guess the MO coil has been similarly assaulted.

I got a NOS T-16 at a Warren, Ohio, hamfest fleamarket in 1984.  Back then I
didn't know a thing about the T-15/16/17.  I know about such things now only
through having benefited greatly from the expertise of several members on
this and other related lists.  BTW, the outdoor tailgate part of the Warren,
Ohio, hamfest (in August each year) was nearly as good as a trip to Dayton
once was for finding decent military surplus radio gear.

There's been speculation on the intended uses of these transmitters.  I
wonder if they would have been paired up with the R-24 BCB "navigation"
receiver for two-way communication.  Even if not, I finally obtained an R-24
just to match with the T-16.

Otherwise, what would have been the purpose of the R-24 other than to
support the AN/ARR-1, since most R-24s have the MX-20 adapter installed?
But the AN/ARR-2 successor to the AN/ARR-1 appears to have been available at
the same time that the AN/ARC-5 was introduced.  That would seem to have
made it unlikely that an R-24 was ever actually used with an AN/ARR-1.

Another possibility would be that the R-24 was used to support the USN's
instrument landing system known as the ZA.  (Thanks to the three list
members who suggested that in response to the question I asked last week.)
William Donzelli also suggested the JAN version of the ZA, the AN/ARN-9.  I
know nothing of the technical details of the ZA or AN/ARN-9, except I
understand that part of it operated around 100 mcs, and the ID-24/ARN-9
cross-needle indicator looks a lot like the I-101 that the USAAF used with
their RC-103 and ARN-5 ILS.   I do not know how the R-23 or -24 supported
the USN's ILS.

If anyone cares to share any technical or historical details of the ZA or
AN/ARN-9, and the relationship to the R-23 and -24, I'd be eager to read it.

Mike / KK5F