[ARC5] ARC-5 components seen in Science Fiction Movies

[Mike Morrow]

Bill wrote:

> The local PBS station showed "ALIEN" on Saturday night. I turned it on to
> watch the alien exploding from John Hurt's stomach. The next scene is in
> the main control room. The characters are in front of a CRT/LCD screen
> - in the lower right corner, sitting in front of the screen is a BC-451
> - a transmitter remote control !

That scene is about 58 minutes into the 2003 Director's Cut version.  It's not a BC-451-A.  It's actually a C-30A/ARC-5 MF/HF/VHF transmitter control box for up to four transmitters, one of which may (but does not have to) be the four-channel VHF-AM T-23 or T-126/ARC-5 transmitter.  You can see the two connectors on the bottom side and the cover on top that prevents access to the emission mode switch.  There's also an A-B-C-D channel selector switch on the front for the VHF transmitter and R-28 receiver.  There's no doubt on its identity.  :-)

The C-30A shows up much better and very well illuminated earlier in the movie, around minute 08, at the side of a panel in which the commander is entering an access code.

I first noticed the C-30A in 1986 on a VHS tape I'd rented to view before seeing the ALIENS sequel.  At the time I was envious because I needed (but did not have) a C-30A to replace the horrifically bad-designed pushbutton C-30 in a HF/VHF AN/ARC-5 and AN/ARR-2 system I wanted to build...and did not complete until 1997.

ALIEN and ALIENS are two of the finest sci-fi movies ever made, IMHO.

Mike / KK5F