Frequency range : 100 to 156 MHz
Power Output : 8 watts
Channels: 24
Modes: Voice and MCW (1,000 Hz tone, max 15 wpm)
Primary Power: 28 VDC
Made by: Sylvania
RCAF Receiver Reference:          10EU/39165        R5009/ARC502
RCAF Transmitter Reference:      10EU/39164        T5015/ARC502
RCAF Junction Box Reference:    10EU/39167        J5007/ARC-502 (it incorporates the power supply)
RCAF Control Unit  Reference:   10EU/39166        C5037/ARC-502
Canadian Overhaul Facility: Electronic Materials International Limited  (1960)
Vintage: March, 1955

(L-R, top to bottom) Control Unit, Dynamotor Junction Box/Power Supply , transmitter and the receiver. There are four connectors on the front of the junction box marked "Battery",  "Transmitter", "Control Box"  and "Receiver" . In outward appearance, the ARC-502 resembles the 8 channel AN/ARC-3.

The ARC-502 depicted in these photos came from two different Canadian F-86 Sabres .One is the gate guardian at the Oshawa Ontario airport, while the other crashed at an airshow in California many years ago.

Inside the T5015/ARC502 top cover is a decal indicating "Alignment Instruction when Replacing Tubes in the T-67B/ARC3". This suggests it's an ARC-3 modified to Canadian specifications.

The ARC-3 used large CR-1A (FT-243 ?) crystals, while the ARC-502 uses the smaller CR-18  (HC-11) size crystals, with some extra relays inside to select one of the three banks of crystals. This receiver was last overhauled in June 1960. The Control Unit atop does not resemble any of the three units in the ARC-3 family.

Interior views of the transmitter (L) and receiver (R). The transmitter was last overhauled in May 1959.

All photos and copy in this table by Bill Griffith VE3WGX.

 

This view, from a different ARC-502 than above, shows the RCAF modification history and the transmitter nameplate. (Photo by David Pope)

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Credits and References:

1)  Bill Griffith VE3WGX <ve3wgx2(at)sympatico.ca>

 
Mar 20/09