[ARC5] SCR-522: Rethinking The Old Gal

[hwhall at compuserve.com]

Is there a recommended WWII period set to look for, for the same monitoring purpose?

WayneWB4OGM

-----Original Message-----
From: David Stinson <arc5 at ix.netcom.com>
To: Mike Bracey <mikebracey at att.net>; ARC-5 <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sun, Apr 26, 2020 12:29 pm
Subject: Re: [ARC5] SCR-522: Rethinking The Old Gal

 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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