[Milsurplus] ARR-7 Again

[Hue Miller]

My point about the ARR-7 is Goodheart touted it, with their
product detector added, as a fine SSB receiver. As i pointed out,
there's no bandspread, so feature the fun you would have tuning
in SSB say on 21 or 28 MHz.
I didn't say the USAAF touted the receiver as an SSB receiver,
nor did any conversion manual. R E Goodheart did. In the same
ads, i think, that called the RBM "The Navy's Pride".
The BC-348 has a better tuning rate on its bands than the ARR-7
and if the crystal filter is healthy, actually can be selective.

> Talking about dial non-resolution - the ARB is a champion in this
department.
> Otherwise, it's an amazingly well performing receiver.
> I don't use it as a bandcruiser. It's presently paired up with my
> recently restored ATD, and is normally sitting on 3570 KHz (The Old
> Military Radio Net CW frequency). The ATD is set on two channels on 80
> M - one is the OMRN frequency and the other is the 3885 KHz AM calling
> frequency which is also used by OMRN for the Saturday morning AM net.
> It's easy to set the ARB on frequency - just zero beat it with the
> appropriate channel on the ATD. To make it even easier to spot
> frequencies, I just found a nice LM-13 with the shock mount and book
> so it'll get plugged in to the ARB for power and the RF connector will
> be hooked up to the CFI connector on the ATD.
> This is basically the same setup as used in the original Navy system.
> The only modern addition I use is an external audio filter - it helps
> on CW when the band is crowded - 915 KHz IF but no crystal filter a la
> BC-348.

> The ARR-7 is a much more sophisticated receiver than the ARB.

For its time, i don't think so. The ARR-7  repackaged SX-28 was just
the same typical 2-dial 550 - 30,000 kcs or so, 4 or 5 band civilian
receiver, a design plan that was well established by the 1940s. The
ARB packed a lot more electronics in a small package, switched
dual IF frequencies, motor band change. I would say it is a remarkable
set compared to aircraft radio receivers of any other nation, for its
purpose, which covered  all the way from combat attack aircraft
( "assault planes" ?? )  all the way to ASW patrol lighter than air
craft,
to large patrol amphibs.
-Hue Miller K7HUE