[ARC5] AN/ARC-3

[Mike Morrow]

Andy wrote:

>I have just (yesterday evening) acquired an ARC-3 Tx, RX and PSU. No cables 
>or control unit. I guess they are quite common in their country of birth, 
>but I don't think at all common here in the UK.

The control box C-118 or C-118A/ARC-3 and external volume control C-97/ARC-3,
with the even rarer FT-240 mounthing plate for the C-118, are not at all
common in the USA.  The C-118 is a large, awkward, complex, expensive-to-make
pushbutton abomination after the British school of WWII radio controls that
was unfortunately also copied for the SCR-522 (BC-602-B) and early VHF AN/ARC-5
(C-30/ARC-5).  Somewhat more common, much better designed, and much cheaper
to make, is the control panel C-404A/A for the AN/ARC-3.  It has an integral
volume control, but no audio jacks for mic and headphones.  (Those were in
the interphone system.)

For a AN/ARC-3 complete installation, you'll need:
AN-104-B antenna,
C-404A/A control panel,
CR-1A/AR crystals (16),
DY-21/ARC-3 transmitter dynamotor,
DY-22/ARC-3 receiver dynamotor,
J-68/ARC-3 power junction box,
MT-236, -237, and -238/ARC-3 shock mountings for the J-68, R-77, and T-67,
R-77/ARC-3 receiver,
T-67/ARC-3 transmitter,
PL-148-A (1), PL-151-A (1), PL-153-A (2), PL-259 (4), U-15/U (2), and
U-16/U (1) connectors, plus audio jacks.
RG-8/U coax cable.

>Can anyone point me in a direction where I could get a manual 
>(original, copy or download), please?

For downloading, there's a site in the UK that has both the
operating and maintenance instructions.  Click on the one(s)
you wish and instructions will appear telling how to get a free
password for the download.  I've never used this service, but
I understand that the instructions must be followed exactly to
make the process work.  I also don't know the quality of the scans.

http://www.royalsignals.org.uk/american.html

IMHO, the AN/ARC-3 is a very clever self-tuning design that must
have saved a lot of technician time when installed channel frequencies
were changed.

Mike / KK5F