[ARC5] New Person

[Mike Hanz]

Michael Tauson wrote:

>I've run into a couple pieces of equipment
>with which I'm not familiar, the BC-616 which was used
>with the SCR-274-N
>

An odd duck, to be sure.  It was teamed with the BC-608 contactor unit - 
essentially a clock timer - to turn a transmitter on for 14 seconds out 
of every minute.  It was originally designed by the British as a crude 
IFF for use by flight controllers during the first year of the war.  
http://www.qsl.net/vk2dym/radio/iff.htm has a good rundown of the 
system, called Pipsqueak.  There are a few indications of US use in the 
later stages of the war as search and rescue aids when a pilot (usually 
a fighter) was in extremis and needed to have his mind focused on flying 
a crippled aircraft.  It was also used with the SCR-522 and of course 
various British aircraft radios.

>and the F-5/AR which apparently
>was used with the ARC-5.  
>
RF filter for the 28vdc supply.  It was evidently used for other 
avionics as well, but the original purpose was to keep line noise out of 
the command sets and RF off the 28v aircraft bus.  Works pretty well.

Don't have any references on the later ARC stuff - sorry.

Best 73,
Mike de KC4TOS