[ARC5] ZB Discussion

[Mike Hanz]

I think you've described it very well, Mike.  I have had a decoding card 
and a list of the components on my documents page for quite a while:

http://aafradio.org/docs/ZB-_Homing_Decode_Card.jpg
http://aafradio.org/docs/ARR-1.html

73,
Mike  KC4TOS


On 5/24/2010 12:09 AM, Michael Bittner wrote:
> The information on this subject that I have gathered from various references
> is as follows:  The VHF carrier transmitted by the YG Homing Beacon
> Equipment was established prior to a mission and kept constant for the
> duration of the mission.  The VHF dials on the ZB, ARR-1 and ARR-2 were set
> to this frequency and locked with the dial locks each has on its front
> panel. The ARR-2 had six channels, any of which could be preset to a
> frequency between 540 and 830 kHz.  These were preset prior to a mission.
> In the aircraft, channel changing could be done mechanically via flexible
> shaft from the pilot's control box, or electrically if the ARR-2 had
> Electric Tuning Control Adapter, C-37/ARR-2 attached to its front panel.. To
> change channels in the case of the ZB and ARR-1, the pilot would have to
> manually tune the associated BCB receiver such as ARB, etc.  The YG
> transmitting antenna, which looked kind of like a bedspring, was taller than
> it was wide, indicating a narrower beam in the vertical than in azimuth.
> Also, the antenna was tilted slightly backward so as to launch the signal at
> a slight upward angle rather than straight out to the horizon.  As such it
> would be very difficult to detect by a surface ship or surfaced submarine,
> but easy to detect by aircraft at altitude.  Direction toward or away from
> the ship, and to a limited extent distance could estimated by increasing or
> decreasing volume.  Pilots were instructed to turn the volume down as they
> got closer to the ship. The Morse code sector IDs were subject to change
> based on time of day.  Mike, W6MAB
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Robert Eleazer"<releazer at earthlink.net>
> To:<arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2010 6:36 PM
> Subject: [ARC5] ZB Discussion
>
>
>    
>> A friend of mine who was a USN radio technician during WWII told me that
>> both the sector codes and the transmission frequencies were changed
>> multiple times during the day and pilots had to look at a chart they were
>> provided with in order to figure out what code to use when.
>>
>> I would presume that the encoding frequencies (IF settings) were changed
>> too, but I would guess that happened less often.
>>
>> My friend also says that the pilots were told until they received the
>> signal, were told to note the altitude where reception first occurred, and
>> they given charts that enabled then to equate reception altitude with
>> distance from the carrier, presumably simply based on Line of Sight.
>>
>> Now I wonder if all of the ZB and ARR-2 installations were accessible by
>> the pilot of a single seat fighter?  It sure sounds like it if they had to
>> change frequencies.
>>
>> Thanks for the info!
>>
>> Wayne, WB5WSV
>>
>>      
>
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