[Milsurplus] ARC-65

[Jim Haynes]

I had one running for a while around 1970.  I built AC power supplies
instead of using the dynamotor, also had an AC powered 400Hz inverter.
And I took it out of the tub for better cooling.  I'd say it took a few
hours of maintenance for every hour of operation, and eventually I gave
up on it.  Subminiature tubes were part of the pain.  The thing made a
lot of audible noise, so I had it out in the garage and controlled
remotely over a piece of cable.  Had the Univac antenna tuner and attached
an end-fed wire.  When it worked it worked very well.

The whole experience made me lust after a 618-T, which I eventually
acquired.  Like the ARC-65 there is a lot of audible noise from the 400Hz
blower, so I wish it were remoted out in the garage.  It belongs somewhere
in the back of an airplane.  I don't currently have an automatic tuner on
the 618-T, am using it with the B&W folded dipole that has 2:1 or better
SWR across the HF range.