[ARC5] BC-617 on Ebay

[Mike Morrow]

The airborne RC-64 target control receiver worked in conjunction
with the ground-unit RC-65 target control transmitter.  The equipment
could be operated from 30 to 40 MHz FM, with ten-channel controls
selected by AF filtering.  However, 38.54 MHz was the normal
frequency, with 35.30 MHz being an alternate.  (FWIW, my interesting
little 1943 USN type RAY-3 drone receiver operates on 36.58 MHz.)

The BC-617-() tube complement is
  12SK7   - 3
  12SA7   - 1
  12SJ7   - 2
  12H6    - 1
  12J6GT  - 1
  12SL7GT - 1  
  12SN7GT - 6

The RC-64 is 24 vdc primary power, and the RC-64-Z is 12 vdc primary
power.

It used a 6-foot mast antenna AN-117-A.

These were used to control target-towing drones like the PQ-14A
(USN TD2C-1):

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culver_PQ-14_Cadet

This information is from the post-WWI "Graphic Survey of Radio and
Radar Equipment", Section 5:

 https://ia802600.us.archive.org/33/items/GraphicSurveyOfRadioAndRadarEquipmentUsedByTheArmyAirForces/1946-04-01GraphicSurveyofRadioandRadarEquipmentUsedbytheAAFSection5RemoteControlandTVEquipment.pdf

All five pdf files (for the five sections) may be selected and
downloaded from:

 https://archive.org/details/GraphicSurveyOfRadioAndRadarEquipmentUsedByTheArmyAirForces

These remote-control receivers are interesting.  The RC-64 was not
intended as a one-time-use device, because the PQ-14A towed a target
but was not supposed to be *the* target.  I have, in addition to the
RAY-3, a R-64/ARW-17 (four AF control channels) that was intended for
glide bomb control.  It operated between 30 to 40 MHz...crystal-
controlled.  Obviously, it was not likely to show up back in the
maintenance shop any time after it got used. :-)

Mike / KK5F

-----Original Message-----
>From: WA5CAB--- via ARC5 <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
>Sent: Jan 17, 2015 3:47 PM
>To: frledda at att.net, arc5 at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: Re: [ARC5] BC-617 on Ebay
>
>Frank,
>
>I've no idea of the operating frequency as the only paper I have on it is 
>the spare parts list.  But it is part of Target Control Receiver RC-64.  The 
>"Z" suffix indicates that it uses an alternate power source from the plain 
>model.  In this case probably 14 VDC instead of 28 VDC.  Or vice versa.  
>Can't make out that information on the dynamotor nameplate.
>
>Robert Downs - Houston
>wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
>MVPA 9480
>
>In a message dated 01/17/2015 13:20:07 PM Central Standard Time, 
>frledda at att.net writes: 
>> 
>> Item 371237252943
>> 
>> Never heard of this beast!  Looks in good condition.  What is it?
>> 
>> Frank
>> KF5RXV