[Milsurplus] Radio Identification

[Morrow, Michael A.]

Norman wrote:

> I have recently acquired...
>
> Collins 618T HF transceiver 
> power supply
> associated relaying and connections, racks etc
> control box (mounted on outside of case)

What type of power supply?  The 618T-series required
some 400 cps AC, unless it was the model that operated
from 28 vdc and had a 400 cps inverter attached as part
of the mounting.  I think the military called that
version the AN/ARC-102.  IIRC, some models of the 618T
tuned in 0.1 kc increments, but most tuned only in
1 kc increments.  I think it is rated for about 400 watts
PEP.

The 618T-series are interesting units.  Various
versions had military nomenclatures like AN/ARC-94,
-102, -105, and perhaps others.  They were probably the
most commonly installed full-feature HF rigs on larger
aircraft from the 1960s to the 1980s.  But all the
sophisticated HF aircraft gear from the 618S onward
seem to be a real challenge to keep working and to operate
for any practical purpose (even more than is usual for
most of our military boatanchors).

Does your setup have an automatic antenna tuner? 

> Collins ARC 51 UHF transceiver
> Collins VHF transceiver (aircraft freqs)
> power supply for radios
> associated relaying, connectors, racks etc.
> control boxes for both units mounted on outside of
> case.

Is the AN/ARC-51 a -51X or -51BX version?  That was probably
the most commonly used UHF (225 - 400 mcs AM) aircraft
sets in the world in the 1960s and later, and was more or
less a replacement of the early 1950s classic AN/ARC-27.
It is mostly solid state with about four weird vacuum tubes.
It operates on 28 vdc, and has a solid state HV power supply
built in the pressurized case.  There should be an integral
(but removable) blower unit on the rear, and VSWR unit on
the front.

I think you are also saying you've got a VHF R-T also.  Is
it an AN/ARC-73 or equivalent (separate 17L transmitter and
51X receiver units in a common rack)?  If so, it should tune
the full 2 meter band directly, but where will you find someone
else on 2 meter **AM** nowadays?

It sounds to me with everything you have that you've got most 
of one of those AN/MRC-?? communication systems used for mobile
control towers in the 1960s.

You've got some neat 1960s-era stuff to play with!

73,
Mike / KK5F