[ARC5] My "ARC-5" Impressions (long)

[Mike Morrow]

> Maybe there was some logic behind the wide band width of the receivers' IFs.

Certainly so.  But even that would NOT prevent communications failure due to
either inadvertent or intentional mis-tuning of a command set receiver in flight,
with no way for the pilot to recover the required setting.

That issue is the reason the AN/ARC-5 command sets were developed to use stabilized
(yellow S in a circle stamped) lock-tuned communications receivers that were usually
operated from the C-38*/ARC-5 or C-27/ARC-5 control boxes that provided an audio level
control as the ONLY control that the pilot had for the associated receiver.  If the
R-23*/ARC-5 beacon band receiver was sometimes installed in the rack, then for THAT
receiver only a C-26/ARC-5 (with tuning, BFO, and RF gain controls) or a C-125/ARC-5
(with tuning and RF gain controls) would be available.  Only in rare instances (like
some trainer aircraft) would a R-25, -26, or -27/ARC-5 communications receiver be
provided with a C-26 or C-125 for use by the pilot.

Mike / KK5F