[ARC5] ZB-* and R-1/ARR-1 Control Box and Antenna Relay Usage

[Mike Morrow]

A few days ago I commented on some interesting info found on Mike Hanz's site which stated that the ARB's internal homing/communications antenna switching relay allowed a ZB-* homing adapter to be connected simply through use of a power cable and RF connection between the ARB and the ZB.  No ZB control box or antenna relay is required.  That info is at http://aafradio.org/docs/atb-arb.html on page 9.

It should have been apparent that it's that simple to add a ZB to the ARB due to the ARB's internal homing antenna relay, but I'd just never given it any thought until reading Mike's info.

Further, if a ZB or AN/ARR-1 is used with a dedicated receiver (such as the broadcast band ARA, R-24/ARC-5, or BC-946-B units) that would never need to be switched directly to a MF antenna, then those installations also need only power cable and RF connections between the BCB receiver and the homing adapter.  No homing adapter antenna relay or control box would be required.

For example, many R-1/ARR-1 units have US Army Signal Corps contract numbers on them.  It would now seem very simple to pair it properly with its intended companion, the BC-946-B (which should come from the factory with the FT-310-A power adapter).  This would create the system that supposedly was used by the USAAF in the PTO to home on airfields with the ZB/YG beacon.

The only time the ZB control box and relay would be needed is if it is connected to the terminals of a receiver that must also provide non-homing functions, but does NOT have an internal antenna swap relay like the ARB (example:  RU-* series).

Does this explain why so many ZB and AN/ARR-1 adapter boxes exist, but the relay and control boxes seem rare (especially the ones for the AN/ARR-1)?

Mike / KK5F