[ARC5] SCR-522: Rethinking The Old Gal

[David Stinson]

The ARC-type-12 sets are a good place to start.  Much easier to
find an unhacked one and get it going.  You need an amplified speaker.

On 4/26/2020 2:26 PM, Mike Bracey wrote:
> Hello to David and everyone.
>
> I would love to have some model of command set to monitor VHF aircraft 
> transmissions. I'm also in the DFW area and there's a lot to listen 
> to. I was wondering what y'all would recommend as a good starter set. 
> I like to power my sets by dynamotor. Thanks for your help.
>
> 73, Mike Bracey, KE5YTV, Dallas TX.
>
>
>
> On Sunday, April 26, 2020, 1:49:33 PM CDT, David Stinson 
> <arc5 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
>
> On 4/26/2020 10:31 AM, Mike Morrow wrote:
> >
>
> > IMHO the SCR-522-A was the MOST important aircraft
> >command set on any frequency used by any armed service
> >of any nation during WWII..
> >Unfortunately, its horrific complex "Rube Goldberg" push-button
> >mechanical nightmare BC-602-B control box inspired
> >similar control box abominations like
> >the C-118/ARC-3 and C-30/ARC-5. :-)
>
> It's not just the 602 control box.  The channel switching to the
> back-a**-wards use of relays ( Antenna and B+ switch relays are
> picked in receive and unpicked during TX!) to needless junction boxes
> that added nothing but expense and complexity (wisely dispensed-with
> in U.S. installations).  There's a relay you pick by providing ground,
> so it can close a contact and provide ground to another terminal:
> "Do WHAT?"  A *balanced," magnetic mic audio input; you
> need an external adaptor to use a standard unbalanced carbon mike.
> The manuals and schematics can't agree on the standard for showing
> those relays.  Some appear to be picked, some not.  I pulled what little
> hair I had left trying to cypher-out the PTT sequence in this thing to
> correct a cabling error.  I think Einstein could have understood the
> diagrams
> and the keying sequence- if he was having a really good day.
> For a bonus, there are three different versions of the receiver with
> different
> Mongolian Goat-Script and Atlantian Hyroglyphs in their individual 
> diagrams.
> Rube Goldberg would have given-up on
> this electro-mechanical robo-train wreck.  I don't think the people who
> designed it could explain it.
>
> But all that being said, it is not hard to service and, once one finally
> solves
> the puzzles and mysteries- like the "plain girl" at the dance, the set
> has charms to reward the effort.
> As Mike suggested- it was a very important and historic step in
> aviation comms evolution, thus worth the effort to preserve.
> When done, it will be fully operational in as-designed configuration.
> If I actually live long enough to build a REAL shack where I can display
> and operate my treasures, it will look awesome next to it's direct-
> lineage "grandfather," the operating U.K TR9-D.
>
>  The receiver is crystaled for the local AWOS
> (Automated Weather Observation Station),
> DFW Departure, the local UNICOM and for chat-around freq 123.45 MC.
> The transmitter is also "Go" on two channels.   Of course, it would be
> illegal and un-hammish to exchange greetings with private pilots on
> this set, comment on the lovely weather and wish them a safe flight,
> and hear their kind and cheerful replies.
> One should never do such a thing.  Heavens, no.  Perish the thought....
>
> GL OM ES 73 DE Dave AB5S
>
>
> -- 
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>
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