Ray

All that you say is most likely true but would have Britton survived long enough to develop a better VHF transceiver in the 1940s?
See:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/am-i-right/201411/the-cult-of-the-imperfect
The B-17G was equipped with the SCR-522, don't know if VHF was even on the B-24.  You are correct, the ARC-3 served a long time.  The MPN-13 RAPCON (radar approach control) had three ARC-3s and three ARC-27s.  They are the only avionics sets I ever saw as a Ground Radio Tech in the Philippines, circa 1969.

Jim

Logic: Method used to arrive at the wrong conclusion, with confidence.  Murphy


On Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 02:13:04 PM CDT, Ray Fantini via Milsurplus <[email protected]> wrote:


That radio may have provided happiness or pleasure for you but I will stand by my original comments, poor or no high level injection on the first mixer, tuning too touchy and a mechanical monster!  That is why radios like the ARC-1 and 4 served decades beyond WW2 with later designs like the ARC-3 serving well into the seventies but the SCR-522 was dumped in mass at the end of WW2

Think if your doing a WW2 ETO B-17 the SCR-522 has to be included, but a B-24 used in the North African theater or a B-29 in the Pacific theater would have the newer sets and not that first generation radio.

But, that’s what I think.

 

Ray F/KA3EKH

 

 

 

Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] [ARC5] SCR-522 Playing.

 

 

In my opinion, the SCR-522 design was highly utilitaristic to fit its mission.

 

It was simple to put together, easy to maintain, fairly reliable, cost effective and easy to use.  I believe that the SCR-522 perfectly fit its initial application (single pilot fighter).  

 

Its good performance made the SCR-522 a stable cornerstone for aero VHF communication.  From an ham point of view, its crystal control and rudimentary tuning made it a unusual set to work with. I played with them in the early 70s, and in a moment of nostalgia, I did acquire a brand new 522 a few years ago.

 

Best, Francesco K5URG

 

 

 

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of kgordon2006
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 9:56 AM
To: David Stinson <
[email protected]>; ARC-5 <[email protected]>; [email protected]; MMRCG <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [ARC5] [Milsurplus] SCR-522 Playing.

 

Well, IMHO, it is a typically British design: not particularly ergonomically arranged and too spread out.

 

It is just plain ugly.

 

However, as you say, it was very important.

 

The ARC-3 and its later developments were better rigs, but, again, IMHO, the 522 started the process.

 

Ken W7EKB

 

 

 

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