[Milsurplus] WTB: AN/ARC-38 transceiver

[Mike Morrow]

> ...most were converted to ARC-38A and the SSB conversion was not
> a good thing.

Really?

I suppose it depends upon whether the set is being used for military purposes
or for ham hobbyist purposes.  The USB AN/ARC-38A was far superior for long
range aircraft communications than the AM AN/ARC-38.  The RT-594/ARC-38A
from 1961 into the mid-1970s had more than twice the military active duty
service life of the RT-311/ARC-38.  It was gradually replaced by the AN/ARC-94
(Collins 618T-2).  The AN/ARC-38, 38A, and associated auxiliary receiver
AN/ARR-41 were all US Navy sets.

The Collins 618S-1 system was purchased by the USAF, and one of those will
have USAF property marks on the nomenclature plate.  It will not have a JAN
nomenclature.  Fifteen years ago it was hard to give away 618S-1 units. 
Fair Radio sold them for $75, and they would go unsold at Dayton at $50.
If you don't mind crystals, the 618S-1 would be the easiest set to get into
operation.

The set I've been looking for is the RT-380/AR, part of AN/ARC-59.  It is
the military version of the Collins 18S-4, AM 20-channel crystal-controlled.
At one time, the RT-380/AR was also dirt cheap from Fair Radio.

When you come right down to it, in *all* truth, AM-mode really sucks if the 
communications really matter!  For us hobbyists, it doesn't matter.

Mike / KK5F