Ar 88

Robert Bergeron · #1 10-04-21, 03:58

Found this today . Lugged it in the back of my truck all the way from our provincial metropolis . Started reading on it . David Dunlop had alluded to this receiver model a few weeks ago . I have the speaker that goes with it in my truck . Any info on it’s use in the military in Canada during the war ?

Robert Bergeron · #2 10-04-21, 04:01

The speaker .

Bruce MacMillan · #3 10-04-21, 11:05

The AR88 was chosen to be the main receiver for the military. There were a few different models. It was used in point to point stations like the NWT & Y radio system, Y stations and other sigint sites. The photo is of banks of AR88 sets near Vancouver used on a link to Australia. When maintained it is a nice receiver.
Performance was great and you could set the dial to a frequency and turn the set on and it would be spot on. The only kicker was the weight at just over 100 lbs. Here is a good link on the AR88 history: https://www.radioblvd.com/ar88.htm

Mike Kelly · #4 10-04-21, 11:37

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNpxIlxKH9M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2If5STBmbRE

Chris Suslowicz · #5 10-04-21, 11:58

I sometimes think _all_ WW2 era communications receivers were built to a weight specification as well as an electrical/performance one!

All the ones I've used have been in the 1 cwt./50 kg. class - AR88, S27C, R107 were all around that weight (and I have back pains to prove it).

The Admiralty were even worse, and appear to have required all kit to have been machined from the solid (usually steel or bronze) - and there was a requirement in the early days that the equipment could withstand the operator climbing up the rack (wearing steel-capped boots).

Best regards,
Chris.

(Who once nearly lost an R107 (on a folding trolley) down the gap between the train and the platform edge at Waterloo station. Admittedly it was a big gap due to the curved platform, but it gave me a nasty moment.)

Robert Bergeron · #6 10-04-21, 18:47

Thanks for the replies , very interesting !

maple_leaf_eh · #7 10-04-21, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce MacMillan

The AR88 was chosen to be the main receiver for the military. There were a few different models. It was used in point to point stations like the NWT & Y radio system, Y stations and other sigint sites. The photo is of banks of AR88 sets near Vancouver used on a link to Australia. When maintained it is a nice receiver.
Performance was great and you could set the dial to a frequency and turn the set on and it would be spot on. The only kicker was the weight at just over 100 lbs. Here is a good link on the AR88 history: https://www.radioblvd.com/ar88.htm

Look for something called North 40 Reserve to see what once was at RCAF Station Westham Island.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/No...4d-123.0220646

Also, http://seaislandhome.org/rcaf-station-sea-island.html

Robert Bergeron · #8 11-04-21, 02:29

Thank you Terry , very informative . Had i known ! I worked in Esquimalt and Patricia Bay . Next time i am out there i will go for a visit .

Bruce MacMillan · #9 11-04-21, 08:37

Here's an article by a friend on a restoration of an AR88LF.
https://sparcradio.ca/wp-content/upl...-for-SPARC.pdf

Pay attention to the part about leaking capacitors, they contain PCBs.

Mike Kelly · #10 11-04-21, 10:14

https://www.radioblvd.com/ar88.htm

https://www.radioblvd.com/AR88part2.htm

I have come across a few of these but not owned one.

Robert Bergeron · #11 13-04-21, 02:28

Thank you Bruce and Mike , very informative . Amazing piece of radio kit .