USAF HF selcal problems

[Selcalweb.co.uk]

As a prolific HF listener to the aviation bands, I've noticed over the years that the USAF AMC aircraft have been equipped with selcal codes that more often that not, the selcal won't "check" when Shanwick/Gander/Santa Maria/New York transmits the code.

It seems to be particularly apparent on the C17's and C5's.

Does anyone know - or have any idea - why this is?

I'd be very interested to hear comments from any of the crews of these aircraft.

:ok:

Cheers,

Rob K :)

[galaxy flyer]

Well, first it hasn't been the best of equipment; write-ups were common. SELCAL was an add-on in the last few years as part of an internal HF radio modification. Most pilots had trouble making it work, believe it or not. Once, we got past the training, the entire HF package (C-5 anyway) has always had reliability issues. Many crossings started out using Nr 1 radio until it quit and forced us to Nr 2 which was dodgy in the beginning. Lastly, most of us were used to maintaining a listening watch (never had SELCAL until about five years ago), so never tried once it flunked the check.

Not at all like the dead easy and reliable HF on the CL-604.

GF