[ARC5] ARC-18 / -28 (Was "Radio Comm...)

[David Stinson]

One has to wonder how they got this repeater lash-up 
to work reliably over time.  Sorry Collins fans;
I say that because, having re-worked two ARC-1s now, 
I wouldn't want to count on them after the first good "bump"
on the runway.  For all the ARC-1's "fancyness" and expense,
the oscillator and especially the receiver front-end tuning 
are incredibly touchy.  Moving one of those auto-tune units 
even a fraction of a degree can change
receiver sensitivity by an order of magnitude- it's that bad.
Just a little wear on the clutches and you're setting at
7 microvolts instead of  .7 microvolts.  The ARC-3 is 
worlds better and more rugged.  Looks like the Army
finally got one over on the swabbies.  Someone used 
a grease pencil to mark "Davy Jones" on mine.  
It missed that little sight-seeing trip 
but I bet I know why they bought the ticket.
Not the first time I've caught (IMHO, of course)
Collins in a "flub."  The band-switching of 
the PTO in the ATC / ART-13 is something I'd 
expect from low-end Halli-scratchers, not Collins.
73 Dave S.