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How good are the AR-88 RCA receivers?
I just picked one up a few months ago. Are they worth restoring,
and how does their performance stack up? Pete |
How good are the AR-88 RCA receivers?
Uncle Peter wrote:
I just picked one up a few months ago. Are they worth restoring, and how does their performance stack up? In my opinion - they are a quite worth-while receiver - not quite in the R-39Xx class - but not all that far from it. Definitely in the upper end of the scale for that era and technology - being built more like a military radio (using ceramic wafer switches, and sealed transformers, etc.) Like some of the National and other "upper end" commercial units - the AR-88 was used by the military quite a bit - some receiving formal ID plates, etc. some of the later ones receiving Signal Corps designation R-320 (though these were actually labeled by RCA as SC-88 receivers). The FAA used them for many, many years - there was even a "triple receiver" diversity rack having three stacked with supporting equipment... best regards... -- randy guttery A Tender Tale - a page dedicated to those Ships and Crews so vital to the United States Silent Service: http://tendertale.com |
How good are the AR-88 RCA receivers?
Randy or Sherry Guttery wrote:
Uncle Peter wrote: I just picked one up a few months ago. Are they worth restoring, and how does their performance stack up? In my opinion - they are a quite worth-while receiver - not quite in the R-39Xx class - but not all that far from it. Definitely in the upper end of the scale for that era and technology - being built more like a military radio (using ceramic wafer switches, and sealed transformers, etc.) Like some of the National and other "upper end" commercial units - the AR-88 was used by the military quite a bit - some receiving formal ID plates, etc. some of the later ones receiving Signal Corps designation R-320 (though these were actually labeled by RCA as SC-88 receivers). It's wide as hell. Consequently the audio quality on shortwave broadcasts is excellent. It's not a DX machine, though. I remember seeing an RCA Globecomm facility when I was a kid which was equipped with three AR-88 sets and two Collins R-388 sets, and all of the operators preferred working on the R-388 positions. Still, saying "not as good as an R-388" is decent praise. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
How good are the AR-88 RCA receivers?
"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message ... It's wide as hell. Consequently the audio quality on shortwave broadcasts is excellent. It's not a DX machine, though. I remember seeing an RCA Globecomm facility when I was a kid which was equipped with three AR-88 sets and two Collins R-388 sets, and all of the operators preferred working on the R-388 positions. Still, saying "not as good as an R-388" is decent praise. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." I'm surprised that it is that "wide." The selectivity curves are very impressive; and RCA put a lot of effort into the IF transformer design. I suspect aligning the IF and filter will be a bear to do. This receiver is from an RCA Global Communications facility, it still has the RCA sticker and inventory number on the front panel. There's also a custom calibrated BFO plate that wasn't on the orignal RX either. Pete |
How good are the AR-88 RCA receivers?
"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message It's wide as hell. Consequently the audio quality on shortwave broadcasts is excellent. It's not a DX machine, though. I remember seeing an RCA Globecomm facility when I was a kid which was equipped with three AR-88 sets and two Collins R-388 sets, and all of the operators preferred working on the R-388 positions. Still, saying "not as good as an R-388" is decent praise. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." I've owned a couple 88s in my time and yes it's no 390 but still a nice rig if working well. They have decent audio and with a good antenna they are capable of broadcast DX work to a point. Their no utility DX machine, but no radio from that era really is. -- Regards B.H. Hill Amplification http://hillamplification.com Brian's Radio Universe http://webpages.charter.net/brianhill/500.htm |
How good are the AR-88 RCA receivers?
Uncle Peter wrote:
I'm surprised that it is that "wide." The selectivity curves are very impressive; and RCA put a lot of effort into the IF transformer design. I suspect aligning the IF and filter will be a bear to do. To align the IF correctly - one needs a sweep generator. And yes - not aligned correctly - they would imitate the nearest "barn door" for bandwidth. Best regards... -- randy guttery A Tender Tale - a page dedicated to those Ships and Crews so vital to the United States Silent Service: http://tendertale.com |
How good are the AR-88 RCA receivers?
"Randy or Sherry Guttery" wrote in message To align the IF correctly - one needs a sweep generator. And yes - not aligned correctly - they would imitate the nearest "barn door" for bandwidth. Best regards... -- randy guttery A Tender Tale - a page dedicated to those Ships and Crews so vital to the United States Silent Service: http://tendertale.com Yes a sweep gen and oscilloscope are nice in this regard but the job can be done correctly using a accurate sig gen or at least close enough for this type of rig. -- Regards B.H. Hill Amplification http://hillamplification.com Brian's Radio Universe http://webpages.charter.net/brianhill/500.htm |
How good are the AR-88 RCA receivers?
In article , Brian Hill wrote:
"Randy or Sherry Guttery" wrote in message To align the IF correctly - one needs a sweep generator. And yes - not aligned correctly - they would imitate the nearest "barn door" for bandwidth. Yes a sweep gen and oscilloscope are nice in this regard but the job can be done correctly using a accurate sig gen or at least close enough for this type of rig. I believe that the IF on the AR-88 is peaked and not staggered, which means you can indeed get away with just a signal generator and a scope. Again, the IF on the AR-88 may be pretty tight for something with only LCR networks, but it's not anywhere near as tight as crystal or mechanical filters will allow. This is either a substantial advantage or disadvantage depending on your application. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
How good are the AR-88 RCA receivers?
Brian Hill wrote:
Yes a sweep gen and oscilloscope are nice in this regard but the job can be done correctly using a accurate sig gen or at least close enough for this type of rig. Yes, someone with a mile of patience might get all sections tuned right with a stable gen - I'm just not that patient, and "close enough" probably depends on how good of performance someone is willing to settle for. best regards... -- randy guttery A Tender Tale - a page dedicated to those Ships and Crews so vital to the United States Silent Service: http://tendertale.com |
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