[Milsurplus] AN/ARC-8(?) (ART-13B + ARR-15)

[Mike]

Jim Berry wrote:

> I was told that the R648/ARR41 was the replacement for the BC-348.
> The ART-13 and the R648 combination was used on such Navy patrol
> aircraft as the SP-2E.

As wiser men than I have said before (Dave S. just last night), one can
probably find some instance where almost any combo of radios were used
by any branch of service, so anything is possible.  But ...

I don't believe the R-648/ARR-41 came in to service as a replacement for
the BC-348, though one hears that a lot.  I think the USN was the only
service that used the AN/ARR-41, and by the second half of the 1950s
when the AN/ARR-41 appeared I don't think there were many USN BC-348s to
be replaced.  In addition, the frequency range of the AN/ARR-41 goes
beyond that of the AN/ART-13, plus the AN/ARR-41 would probably have
been less effective as a match to the AN/ART-13 than the older
10-channel autotuned AN/ARR-15.  Also, there is no provision for muting
the R-648, as there is in a BC-348.  I'll admit that the R-648 makes a
tempting mate to a T-47/ART-13 for ham setups.

My understanding of the "general" evolution of things is that the USN
replaced their AN/ART-13 and AN/ARR-15 installations with the AN/ARC-38
AM/CW 2 to 25 mcs set.  The AN/ARC-38 was "digitally" tunable in 0.5 or
1.0 kc channels, depending on what frequency range the set was
operating.  This set is infamous for the difficulty in which the
frequency is selected.  A series of alphanumerical dials must be
positioned according to a code book stored in the control box to enter a
particular frequency.  One could not just dial in the numerical value of
the desired frequency.

The AN/ARR-41 seems to have appeared right along with the AN/ARC-38 to
provide a more readily tunable direct readout receiver covering the same
range and emissions as the AN/ARC-38.

Many Collins AN/ARC-38 sets were later modified by RCA to become the
AME/USB/CW AN/ARC-38A.  No USB mods were made to the associated
AN/ARR-41.

The AN/ARC-38 and AN/ARR-41 combo was present in many larger USN
aircraft from the second half of the 1950s.  Has anyone any info about
the use by the USAF of the AN/ARC-38 or AN/ARR-41?  I've seen none.

> Anyway, I have an ART-13 and a R648 all hooked up.

How do you mute it on transmit?  The B+ was removed to portions of the
BC-348 circuitry during transmit, but the four-pin connector to the
R-648 has only power and audio connections.

> ... I would like a nice BC-348 instead, but ever finding one that
> I can afford that has not been hacked up is not going to be easy.

More often, the R-648 is significantly more expensive on the market than
a BC-348.  It is actually quite a bit better receiver than the BC-348. 
In the last year alone I've seen several good-looking unhacked BC-348s
with dynamotors go for well under $300 on eBay.  When you consider
inflation, that makes the price of one at $300 today much less in actual
money than when Fair was selling them for $70 more than 35 years ago.

BTW, thanks to Bruce Stewart and others on this list, I've got a
complete AN/ARC-38A, CU-351/AR, and AN/ARR-41 installation (except for
wiring up the connectors).  I would, however, like to locate someday an
RT-311/ARC-38 and C-1398/ARC-38 control box in order to be able to
duplicate the AM predecessor.

73,
Mike / KK5F