A bit of propagation sure helps, and two things are evident: An ARC-5 sounds better on CW and the band spread is awful. Just imagine relying on this radio as if your life depends on it.
The transmitter shown above uses a 6L6 built using a bread board, more or less on a whim, but does show this could have been OK for a station rig. At 12 watts output it would certainly be the bottom level for consistent reliable operating as a main rig. I always suspected that the design would support perhaps as much as 20 to 25 watts output.
The shortfall I reason likely lies in the low plate voltage at 300 VDC and a non-optimized output network. The Variable cap in the upper right-hand corner of the bread board was an attempt to provide additional "Loading" in the output network.
Featuring front panel selection of "rocks" the FT-243 crystals sound much better than the plated HC6-U type. There are three frequencies 7.010, 7.028 and 7.o58 in the rig. These were found in the junk box but certainly ideal for operation today. Not quite a Si5351 but a bit of QSY wiggle room.
Plug In Tank Coils facilitates operation on 20 Meters using two of the crystals doubling their frequency to 14,020 and 14.056 MHz which are OK for 20M. Thus, part of the tank circuit on a plug-in coil form.
We have reached the reader gag level so time to move on with more exciting adventures from N6QW's junk pile.
Them that know can make things go.
73's
Pete N6QW