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

[Mike Morrow]

>KK5F's cooments are most interesting as to the ZB-* and ARR-1 useage 
>sans remote box and ant. relay box.Makes a lot of sense to simplify a 
>somewhat complex system for the operator to have a "hands free" homing 
>capability.

In theaters where the Signal Corps BC-946-B was used with the R-1/ARR-1, presumably the beacon band receiver BC-453-B would not have been needed.  It would be logical that the BC-946-B would take the place of the BC-453-B in the standard SCR-274-N three-receiver rack, and the center dial of the BC-450-A control box be replaced with the MC-415 .52 to 1.5 mc dial.  Has anyone here ever come across the MC-415?  They don't seem to have been supplied in the box with the BC-946-B, although the FT-310-A power adapter is standard on all such receivers.  I've got an ID-26/ARC-5 for the R-24/ARC-5, which I suppose would be nearly identical.

All Signal Corps R-1/ARR-1 adapters that I've seen have two of the three power/control connectors on the rear of the R-1 plugged with M-163 metal covers.  The one large connector is not covered.  I've searched  high and low for a schematic for the R-1 or ZB-* to verify that the large connector has pins connected to the A+ and B+ busses in the receiver, but there seems to be nothing like that on the web, nor can I find the ZB-2 manual that I got from Robert/WA5CAB some time ago.  But two of the three connectors being covered would imply to me that a simplified AN/ARR-1 installation (without relay and control box) was the rule rather than exception in those rare instances that a R-1 was used by the USAAF.

Another oddity I've noticed.  All Signal Corps R-1/ARR-1 units that I've ever seen have the insulation plate broken and capacitor removed that connected to the front panel antenna align control.  All USN ZB-* and R-1/ARR-1 units that I've ever seen have this intact.  I don't know if this was an official Signal Corp mod to disable the align control for some reason, or just a slight de-mil effort of some sort before the equipment was surplused.

Mike / KK5F