UHF Aircraft Radio 618W-2B AN/ARC-552

Collins; Toronto

  • Year
  • 1961 ??
  • Category
  • Military Transceiver (TRX)
  • Radiomuseum.org ID
  • 342769

Click on the schematic thumbnail to request the schematic as a free document.

 Technical Specifications

  • Number of Tubes
  • 43
  • Valves / Tubes
  • Number of Transistors
  • Semiconductors present.
  • Semiconductors
  • Main principle
  • Superhet, double/triple conversion; Special type of reception - please describe.
  • Wave bands
  • Wave Bands given in the notes.
  • Power type and voltage
  • Other, details in remarks or not known. / 28 VDC and 3PH 400 Hz,115 Volt
  • Material
  • Metal case
  • from Radiomuseum.org
  • Model: UHF Aircraft Radio 618W-2B AN/ARC-552 - Collins; Toronto
  • Shape
  • Boatanchor (heavy military or commercial set >20 kg).
  • Dimensions (WHD)
  • 170 x 290 x 600 mm / 6.7 x 11.4 x 23.6 inch
  • Notes
  • UHF AM Sende-Empfänger für den Frequenzbereich 225-399,9 MHz mit 3500 Kanälen im 50 kHz Raster. Basierend auf AN/ARC-52 von Collins USA, wurde das Gerät von Collins Canada für den Einbau in  F-104G Starfighter modifiziert. Das Gehäuse steht unter Überdruck für den Einsatz bis zu einer Höhe von 70000 ft.

    Mit Einführung des Starfighter in Europa wurde im Rahmen der transatlantischen Partnerschaft das ARC-552 von der niederländischen Firma van der Heem mit fast 1000 Stück in Lizenz gebaut.

    Aufbau: 3-fach Superhet mit einer 1.ZF variabel von 20 ... 29,95 MHz (10 MHz Schritte)
    2.ZF 1,8/1,85 MHz (umschaltbar wegen Erweiterung von 100 kHz auf 50 kHz Kanalraster)
    3.ZF 500 kHz fest.

    Die 10 MHz Schritte werden durch einen Spectrum Generator aus Quarzen zwischen 31 MHz und 45 MHz durch Versechsfachung bzw. Verneunfachung erzeugt. weitere Details siehe Blockschaltbild.
    Abstimmung für die 10 MHz / 1 MHz / 0,1 MHz Schritte durch 3 unabhängige Getriebesätze.
    Sender-Endstufe: luftgekühlte UHF Tetrode 7609 mit Scheibentriode 6442 als Treiber
    Power: 115V / 400 Hz 3Ph  225/400 VA (rcv/trsmt) sowie 27.5 VDC  max. 175 W für Relais.

    English Text

    The AN/ARC-552 is a UHF (225 to 399.9 MHz) AM transmitter/receiver for air-to-air and air-to-ground communication.It is based on AN/ARC-52, but in contrast to its predecessor, the number of channels has doubled to 3500 at a spacing of 50 kHz. The cabinet was adapted to fit into the F-104 Starfighter aircraft. It is sealed and pressurized to be used up to an altitude of 70,000 ft .

    While the original AN/ARC-52 has been developed by Collins USA, the AN/ARC-552 transceiver has been adapted and built by Collins Canada. Under the trans-atlantic partnership with the introduction of the F-104 Aircraft in Europe, it was built in license by van der Heem at a total quantity of nearly 1000 units.

    Circuitry (see block diagram): triple conversion receiver with a variable 1st IF at 20 ... 29.95 MHz to serve the 10-MHz tuning steps. The 10 MHz steps for this conversion are generated by a spectrum generator from crystals between 31 MHz and 45 MHz by sixfold or ninefold multiplication. The 2nd IF is switched between 1.8 and 1.85 MHz due to the 50 kHz channel spacing. The 3rd IF is fixed at 500 kHz.
    Tuning is accomplished by an autopositioner which drives a mechanical linkage of 3 independent gears (10 MHz / 1 MHz / 0.1 MHz) to the accurate positions of the tuning elements.

    Integrated in the aircraft, the AN/ARC552 transceiver needs for operation

    - Control Panel Collins 313F-2
    - Channel Selector Collins 313G-4
    - Directional Coupler, Antenna Switch, Antenna

    For later versions of the German F-104G Starfighter, a Remote Indicator RI-5502 with Diode Adapter DA-5502 and Remote Adapter RA-5502 has been added

  • Net weight (2.2 lb = 1 kg)
  • 61.3 lb (61 lb 4.8 oz) / 27.830 kg
  • Mentioned in
  • -- Original-techn. papers.
  • Author
  • Model page created by Franz Harder. See "Data change" for further contributors.

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