Post by BBB on May 6, 2013 12:29:21 GMT -5
Saw this Ranger AR-3500 at the ham fest the other day and it found it's way into my collection. After reading up a bit on these rigs, I figure no-one wanted it because it said Ranger AR-3500 on the raddy looking front bezel and (myself included) thought that the AR-3500 was the 100 watt high power unit and the AR-3300 was the lower 30 watt unit. I just figured that someone swapped the bezel. Even as I was walking around with it, other operators said "that radio should have the amp on the back" but there was no indication that there ever was. Output on this 3500 radio is about 35 watts PEP.
I now understand that Ranger (not RCI), back then AKA :Clear Channel, now days known as RF Limited & Magnum, imported these and added the 100 two pill amp on the back of the units after they got stateside. They apparently offered the 3500 in both the amplified and non-amplified versions. What reportedly set the 3500 apart from the 3300, was narrower SSB filters in the 3500. I'm not sure exactly how you would be able to tell what filters it had in it to rule out a possible bezel swap though. This radio came with a factory (8) pin "up/down/scanning" mic but did not have the optional scanning microphone pc board inside.
Audio reports during it's debut on the SNUBWAP (10 meters) were good enough to keep running it there ;D Thank you. It was surprisingly stable after a few minutes of warm up.
Remember I said it had a raddy looking front bezel? Well that's because it still had the original factory protective plastic wrap on the face. Simply pealing off that scratched and bubbled mess revealed a bezel underneath that was untouched and pristine!
Just thought I'd share this example of early Export radio history with you.
I now understand that Ranger (not RCI), back then AKA :Clear Channel, now days known as RF Limited & Magnum, imported these and added the 100 two pill amp on the back of the units after they got stateside. They apparently offered the 3500 in both the amplified and non-amplified versions. What reportedly set the 3500 apart from the 3300, was narrower SSB filters in the 3500. I'm not sure exactly how you would be able to tell what filters it had in it to rule out a possible bezel swap though. This radio came with a factory (8) pin "up/down/scanning" mic but did not have the optional scanning microphone pc board inside.
Audio reports during it's debut on the SNUBWAP (10 meters) were good enough to keep running it there ;D Thank you. It was surprisingly stable after a few minutes of warm up.
Remember I said it had a raddy looking front bezel? Well that's because it still had the original factory protective plastic wrap on the face. Simply pealing off that scratched and bubbled mess revealed a bezel underneath that was untouched and pristine!
Just thought I'd share this example of early Export radio history with you.
