[ARC5] HF/MF Mission Speculations (was ARC-39)

[David Stinson]

I won't say the vet was making up stories.  If the BCB Broadcast thing 
was done- and many of us can remember instances in this group where 
argument became a bit heated and "never say never" was good advice 
(AMA,  RBD/ARA rename, others).  It's more likely his memory of which 
aircraft did what has faded, or he doesn't remember the story was 
second-hand, etc.  If this mission was ever undertaken (and I'm not 
saying it was- only that someone who was there said it was),  it would 
make sense only with larger, more powerful equipment and a trailing-wire 
antenna as one might have in a large patrol bomber ala PB4-Y.

I know a bit about MF and LF communication with electrically-small 
antennas, having been the first to break the 1000 and the 2000 mile 
marks on 1750 Meters back in the early 1980s, and having worked 30 
states and Canadian provinces on 630 Meters in one season with what 
amounts to a "mobile whip" antenna and an ERP of about a Watt on that 
band.   I submit that, given the design of the AN/ARC-5 MF system with 
the TN-6 tuner, it can only have been intended for use with smaller 
antennas for short-range communication.  The system ERP would be wholly 
inadequate for use as an ADF source (or a Broadcast source).   The only 
credible use for the system is for short-range, Command Set-like 
communication with  other units equipped to operate in the MF spectrum. 
Remember the German Armor vehicles which used even smaller- near 
vanishingly small- capacitive antennas with MF-LF equipment for 
effective local communication.  If there is any other plausible purpose 
(granting that speculation is all we have), I'd enjoy hearing about and 
discussing it.

Regards,
Dave AB5S

On 5/4/2020 8:58 AM, Mark K3MSB wrote:
> Not weighing in on the "fantasy" aspect,  but I would like to hear 
> what you have say Hue.
>
> 73 Mark K3MSB
>
> On Sun, May 3, 2020 at 4:11 PM Hubert Miller <Kargo_cult at msn.com 
> <mailto:Kargo_cult at msn.com>> wrote:
>
>     Dave, I suggest this is complete fantasy.
>     If you wish, I will cite specifics.
>     -Hue
>


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