[ARC5] Beacon band ART-13

[Robert Eleazer]

"At least the USAAF's manual-tune AN/ARR-11 (BC-348-*) covered almost all
of the frequency range of their T-47A/ART-13 with O-17/ART-13A, including
beacon band.  (I'm a great admirer of the AN/ARC-8, the finest aircraft
MF/HF set in the world in WWII.)

Mike / KK5F"

This raises a question I have had for some time now.  I know what the beacon band was used for on board aircraft - AN Ranges, NDBs, control tower traffic transmissions, and later, aviation weather reports.  But given that, what would an airborne 200-400 or 200-1500 KHZ transmitting capability be used for?  Presumably the towers did not have any reason for a receiving capability in that band so it is not like you could reply to tower transmissions on the standard frequency.  After all, the vast majority of aircraft could not transmit on the beacon band.  You could talk to other aircraft that had beacon receivers but why would they be listening for you there anyway?  Were the optional plug-in oscillators evidence that the ART-13 was used in a ground application?

Thanks!

Wayne
WB5WSV