[R-390] R-648

[WF2U]

Interesting, this discussion came up just recently on another list.
Instead of composing the information I have, I'll just copy and paste the
info from existing messages. This info agrees with what I've known regarding
this receiver. I had one myself but I traded it for another piece of
military surplus gear some 15 years ago.

I'm quoting Mike KK5F, who is a real airborne radio equipment
expert/collector:

"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 interchangeable with one in the
R-390, -390A, or -392 receivers.  The similarity is coincidental and
cosmetic.

The R-648/ARR-41 is the auxiliary 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."

Courtesy of Scott Johnson:
"I might add, the ARR-41 has several modules in common with the ARC-38, so
one might think of it as a manually tuned receiver from an ARC-38, Mike is
absolutely correct, the USAF never procured them, early ones were Collins,
later ones were made by another contractor that slips my mind.  At any rate,
it is one of my favorite receivers (next to the ARR-15), which ,
interestingly enough share design features with the ARC-2 receiver section,
and the 18S- receiver section."

I hope this answers your question.

73, Meir WF2U
Landrum, SC

> -----Original Message-----
> From: r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of James A. (Andy)
> Moorer
> Sent: Sunday, October 02, 2005 9:07 AM
> To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [R-390] R-648
>
>
> Anybody know anything about the R-648? There is one you-know-where (item
> 5814012399). It looks a lot like our good friends - slug racks, PTO,
> mechanical filters. It looks like someone took a lot of parts from a 51J4
> and an R-390 and put them back together without a manual. Interesting
> receiver.
>
> James A. (Andy) Moorer
> www.jamminpower.com
>
> _____________________________________________________________
> R-390 mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/faq.htm
> Post: mailto:R-390 at mailman.qth.net
> Unsubscribe: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/options/r-390
>