[Milsurplus] The AN/ARC-65 (and AN/ARC-58)

[Mike Morrow]

>Does the TRC-75 relate to the ARC-65?

The AN/TRC-75 is a modification of the Collins AN/ARC-58.

It is a US Marine Corps ground set that used the same receiver-exciter R-761/ARC-58, but used an amplifier-power supply unit T-730/TRC-75 instead of the T-605/ARC-58.  Also, I believe the coupler CU-749/TRC-75 varied from the ARC-58 version in not having the parallel multiple receiver circuits, and the C-3141/TRC-75 control box had control label letters in a circle in addition to the normal labeling found on the ARC-58 version.  There were other differences too, plus the large amount of 115 vac 400 cps power that the AN/TRC-75 needed could be supplied from 28 vdc through a large inverter unit, while the AN/ARC-58 expected to get its ac power from the aircraft directly.

There are details of the TRC-75, as part of the Vietnam-era AN/TSC-15, at:

http://www.hypertools.com/tsc15.html

I think the Collins AN/ARC-58 pretty much eventually won out over the RCA AN/ARC-65 in USAF service.  I know, from having visited the avionics repair shops many times, that the B-52 and KC-135 aircraft at Blytheville AFB were all using the AN/ARC-58 in the late 1960s.  The total AN/ARC-58 installation was much lighter and had significantly higher power output (1000 watts vs. 400 watts) than that of the AN/ARC-65.  I've read somewhere that an AN/ARC-58 installation cost more than $20,000 in mid-1960 dollars, or more than $100,000 in today's cost.  To think I got my T-761/ARC-58 and T-605A/ARC-58 for $100 total!  This system is difficult to locate all the necessary items, so I look upon my AN/ARC-58 gear as the ultimate USAF cold war radio relics.  Forty years ago, when looking at the units at BAFB, I never dreamed I'd be able to get ahold of this type of gear.

73,
Mike / KK5F