The R-24/ARC-5 beacon receiver had a very short lived military career. It was being replaced by the R-4/ARR-2 starting in late 1944. The R-4/ARR-2 combined the beacon receivers ( R-23 and R-24 ) with the US Navy ZB Homing adapter. And the ZB homing device went out of USN service in about 1960. It was replaced by VOR and TACAN.

The Navy really didn’t require a receiver using a directional loop. The Transmitter used with the ZB adapter ( YE transmitter ) used a directional antenna to send a different cw letter, as well as a transmitter specific identifier ( again in cw ) every 30 degrees of the of the 360 degree rotation of the directional transmitter antenna. The pilot/navigator simply had to listen for what letter they heard on their headset to know their position in relation to their landing field ( normally an aircraft carrier )

The R-23/ARC-5 and R-24/ARC-5 were set up to use a loop antenna. The ARA CBY-46145 and BC-946 ( SCR-274-N) were set up for a single antenna lead. The R-4/ARR-2 also had a single antenna lead.

Mark D.

WW2RDO

“In matters of style, float with the current. In matters of Principle, stand like a rock. “. - Thomas Jefferson

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 15, 2025, at 2:10 PM, robert meadows <[email protected]> wrote:

Not really rare, just the latest iteration of the receivers, from my memory of reading the US Navy manuals on the radios. In fact, I have a control for the Broadcast receiver that is the standard ARINC width.

From memory, the USN didn't standardize the ARC/ARA radios until early 1960s.

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 02:03:23 PM EDT, J Mcvey via ARC5 <[email protected]> wrote:

I never saw one of those (ARC?) broadcast receivers with the loop option.

That's a rare beast.

The Arc beacon receivers all had the loop option. I've seen lots of those.

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 11:35:05 AM EDT, Al Klase <[email protected]> wrote:

Gang,

Recent discussion of CBY-46145 and BC-946B bring to mind my experience with R-24/ARC-5 as a BCB DX receiver.

<2012 DX Station.jpg>

Here's my log from our radio club's DX contest back in 2012:

<ARC-5 1-22-2012.png>

Sadly, YVKS has been QRT for a while now.

95% of the time you'll bemuch better off with a tuned loop rather than a wire antenna.

More info here: https://www.skywaves.ar88.net/homebrew/ARC-5_PS/ARC-5_PS.html

Have fun,
AL

Al Klase - N3FRQ
Jersey City, NJ
http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/
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<2012 DX Station.jpg>

<ARC-5 1-22-2012.png>