[ARC5] eBay C-29/ARC-5

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

I have had this thought during earlier threads but never said anything.  
I'm afraid that I have to disagree about the utility (ease or accuracy of use) 
of push-button versus rotary switch selectors.  In a blind test, one will 
find that the likelyhood of pressing the correct button out of four in a row 
is probably much higher than that of one rotating a rotary switch to the 
correct position.  And the push-button array can go from 1 to 4 without 
momentarily selecting 2 and 3 in between.  I therefore find the four-push button 
designs as found in SCR-522/542/624, AN/ARC-3, 4 ,MAH, MAL and some AN/ARC-5 
control boxes as being the superior or preferred design.  Rotary switches are 
OK if no one is shooting at you and you have time to look at them (and can 
see them).  Otherwise, a small push-button array is superior.  Once you 
learn it, you don't have to look at it to use it.

On the other hand, if cost is the only criteria, the rotary switch is 
certainly cheaper.

In a message dated 4/14/2011 7:25:39 PM Central Daylight Time, 
kk5f at earthlink.net writes: 
> Taigh wrote:
> 
> >http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&_trksid=p4340.l2565&
> item=270733572979
> 
> The C-29/ARC-5 for MF/HF always brings a premium, regardless of condition.
> That's because it's seldom seen.  And that's due to it being *totally*
> superflous for use in *any* AN/ARC-5 system after the C-30A/ARC-5 replaced
> the abominable British-style push-button C-30/ARC-5 for MF/HF/VHF.  It
> was likely never used anywhere afterwards.

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480