[ARC5] Nomenclature Nuances

[Mike Morrow]

Jack wrote:

> Oops, that should have been SCR-274N.

Well...picking nits...there has never been a "SCR-274N".  It is correct only as "SCR-274-N".  The popular ham custom of omitting the hyphen between 4 and N violates the standard taxonomy and application of the pre-JAN Signal Corps nomenclature system. 

Similar:  Incorrect BC-348R vs. BC-348-R.

Hyphens are so inexpensive that there seems to be little profit from economizing on them where they are wanted.  :-)

In contrast, in JAN-land the opposite convention is used.  Nomenclature for a modified component or system like

R-23A/ARC-5 or R-148/ARC-5X

is incorrectly expressed if a hyphen is inserted as in

R-23-A/ARC-5 or R-148/ARC-5-X.

Of course...the earth won't stop spinning...but imagine how much more effective and efficient web searches for equipment would be if proper nomenclature format had been used everywhere.  Impossible dream!

Mike / KK5F