[ARC5] T-126?

[Mike Morrow]

>I came across a reference to a T-126/ARC-5 which apparently was a T-23
>redone to group all the channels toward the lower end of the range.  I
>don't know whether I should buy into it or not.  Has anyone here ever
>heard of one and, if so, when were they made?

The T-126/ARC-5 definitely exists.  I've seen one in real life years ago, and several "on the web."  The last one I saw was being auctioned on ebay a couple of years ago by Max, art13a.

The T-23 can only have one each of its four channels in the four separate bands which span a limited sub-segment within the total 100 to 156 MHz coverage.  It is not *generally* possible to have two or more channels in any one of the four bands (outside segment overlaps).  If I recall correctly, the first and second segments of the T-23 and T-126 are identical, while the third segment of the T-126 repeats its second.  I think the fourth segment of the T-126 is the same as the third segment of the T-23.  I could be wrong on which T-23 segments were repeated on the T-126, for I can't find my notes on this.  But this all makes sense, since the most commonly used VHF-AM frequencies tended to be in the lower half of the 100 to 156 MHz range, while the high range coverage became disused.  From the factory, T-23 (and R-28) units seem to have been set for:

Channel  Freq-MHz
  A      116.10 
  B      126.18
  C      140.58
  D      142.74

Many SCR-522 units were similarly set.  Channels C and D were also standard for the RT-19/ARC-4.

Judging from the assignment of the T-126 nomenclature, I'd estimate that the T-126 was very late- or early post- WWII issue.  I've never seen any AN/ARC-5 documentation for the T-126.

If I can find any T-126 info, I'll let you know.

Mike / KK5F