[Milsurplus] Fwd: NAVY BEACON RECEVER

[Mike Morrow]

> Stromberg-Carlson maybe...

I think you meant Setchell-Carlson, which made the BC-1206-C, -CM,
and -CM2 military variants of their Model 524 beacon band receivers,
as well as the mechanically similar AN/ARR-13 (Model 512) and AN/CRR-1
(Model 591) sets.  Their MF coverage ends near 420 kHz, not 500.

All these had an RF stage, which agrees with the reported three-gang
capacitor.  But the AN/ARR-13 used 14 and 250 vdc from an RCA AVA-126,
and the AN/CRR-1 operated from a dry-battery pack.

The Detrola Model 438 became the BC-1206-A and -B.  I forget who made
the BC-1206-D.  Any of these also meet the criteria as potential
candidates as well, but the Setchell-Carlson units are much more
popular.  The BC-1206-C is still very common and very cheap on ebay.
It's not uncommon to find one for about $20, including shipping.

The U.S. Navy does not appear to have used these types of sets as
frequently as the USAAF did, hence the "Navy" description is likely
(but certainly not definitely) specious.

There was a small aircraft receiver for 500 kHz designed specifically
to monitor and alarm (with flashing light) when A2 500 kHz signals
were detected from distress transmitters like the two-watt SCR-578-*
"Gibson Girl" units.  It was the R-XA-18/ARR-6(XA-1).  It was the
same size as late-WWII marker-beacon receivers like the BC-1333,
so it was very small and light-weight and operated totally from
28 vdc.  That seems very sensible and useful, but apparently it
never left the development phase.  I'd love to find one!

73,
Mike / KK5F