[ARC5] C-38/ARC-5

[Mike Morrow]

Jay wrote:

>Thanks Mike for all the good info.Also on the auction block is a 
>C-38A/ARC-5.This one has no covers over REC. B switch,associated SET 
>FOR MAXIMUM TOLERABLE NOISE control, or the MIC selector switch as does 
>my C-38/ARC-5 box here.Are these covers the difference between a -38 
>and a -38A ?

Jay,

No, there's some very minor difference in the audio circuit.  Mike Hanz
sent me a description of the difference between the C-38 and the C-38A,
but I have it archived on another computer.  (Mike...do you care to post
the info again?)

The covers on the C-38(*) are the same out of the box.  The C-38, with all
covers in place, is to set up to be used as the receiver control box for
three receivers in the MT-65 three-receiver rack.  Most commonly these
would be the R-4(*)/ARR-2 VHF homing receiver, the R-26/ARC-5 lock-tuned
communications receiver, and the R-28/ARC-5 VHF receiver.  (See a picture
of such a collection at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/ARC-5 .)

The right third of the C-38 contains all the controls for the R-4/ARR-2.
The REC A switch turns ON or OFF audio from the R-28.  The REC C switch
turns ON or OFF audio from the R-26.  The MIC switch is used only in
systems with a separate interphone system (like the RL-7 or AN/AIC-4),
and/or separate VHF and MF/HF transmitter systems (like the AN/ARC-4 or
AN/ARC-1, AN/ART-13), which requires a selector switch for the microphone.
Otherwise, this switch was not in the circuit and is covered to eliminate
control cluter.  Note that are no BFO controls, no frequency controls, and
no power controls for any of the three receivers, except the R-4/ARR-2 (but
still no power control for the R-4).  The VHF receiver channel is selected
with the same select switch that is on the C-30A/ARC-5 transmitter control
box.  The REC B switch is used when an ARB receiver is in the mix, otherwise
it should be covered.

All of these various configurations are described in the AN/ARC-5 maintenance
manual, available at: http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/military/an-arc5/

So, the C-38 is an interesting device, utilized in many systems containing
the AN/ARR-2, the AN/ARC-1 or AN/ARC-4, the AN/ARC-5, the AN/ART-13, and
the ARB, and interfacing with interphone systems like the RL-7 or AN/AIC-4.
Get a C-30A/ARC-5 and you'll have the most commonly used control boxes for
a three-receiver, two transmitter system.

Mike / KK5F