[Milsurplus] ARC-65

[Ray Fantini]

I have my ARC-38 inside and watching all the servos and coils spin is the best part of the radio. The radio has never had the case on it after I got it running, I did disconnect the blower because without the box you don't need it and it is noisy. The next project on the list is an ARC-94/618T but that don't appear to have as many moving parts. Assuming I can operate it without the two side plates and no blower except maybe in transmit? Don't know if the PA tubes are always on in standby.
Ray F.

-----Original Message-----
From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jim Haynes
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 10:56 AM
To: Glenn Little WB4UIV
Cc: Milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] ARC-65

I had one running for a while around 1970.  I built AC power supplies instead of using the dynamotor, also had an AC powered 400Hz inverter.
And I took it out of the tub for better cooling.  I'd say it took a few hours of maintenance for every hour of operation, and eventually I gave up on it.  Subminiature tubes were part of the pain.  The thing made a lot of audible noise, so I had it out in the garage and controlled remotely over a piece of cable.  Had the Univac antenna tuner and attached an end-fed wire.  When it worked it worked very well.

The whole experience made me lust after a 618-T, which I eventually acquired.  Like the ARC-65 there is a lot of audible noise from the 400Hz blower, so I wish it were remoted out in the garage.  It belongs somewhere in the back of an airplane.  I don't currently have an automatic tuner on the 618-T, am using it with the B&W folded dipole that has 2:1 or better SWR across the HF range.