[Milsurplus] R-648

[Mike Morrow]

John asked:


>Guys, what is an R-648. Saw one today on "that other place". It looks like
a
>mini R-390...

The R-648/ARR-41 was made by Collins, but I don't know of any module or
major assembly in the R-648/ARR-41 that is interchangable with one in the
R-390, -390A, or -392 receivers.  The similarity is coincidental and
cosmetic.

The R-648/ARR-41 is the auxilary HF receiver that was normally installed
with the US Navy's AN/ARC-38 HF AM/CW receiver-transmitter (also made by
Collins) in larger aircraft.  The AN/ARC-38 was the USN's mid-1950s
replacement for their earlier AN/ARC-25 HF set (combo of the T-47/ART-13 and
the R-105/ARR-15).  The frequency coverage and modes of operation of the
AN/ARR-41 are identical to that of the AN/ARC-38 (2 to 25 mc), plus the
AN/ARR-41 covers the LF/MF beacon band.  Anyone re-creating an AN/ARC-38 set
should include the AN/ARR-41 with it as a matter of course.

Don't believe the common ham operator BS stating that the R-648/ARR-41 was a
replacement for the USAF's BC-348 for use with the T-47A/ART-13.  It wasn't.
There's at least one ham's ARR-41 web page that persists in putting out that
nonsense long after that ham was shown otherwise.  The USAF did not use the
AN/ARC-38 or AN/ARR-41 except in the few aircraft they got from the USN that
already had them installed, and there's absolutely no documentation of the
military ever pairing an AN/ARR-41 with an AN/ART-13.

73,
Mike / KK5F