Clear Channel Ranger AR-3500
Clear Channel Corporation
Ranger AR-3500
- Frequency range: 28-30 MHz
- Mode: AM/FM/SSB/CW
- 5 memories with scanning
made by: RF Limited / Clear Channel Corporation
There is a 30W and a 125W version. The ranger is comparable with the Uniden President HR2510.
Look for the "Clear Channel" manufactured radios as opposed to the RCI knockoffs.
This is a full 10 meter HAM radio with powerful output.
- 10 meter monoband LED readout, microprocessor controlled
- 5 memories, frequency scan and split operation
- output in CW mode and 120 watts
POWER MOD ADJUSTMENTS
1 - VR-15 SIDEBAND POWER ------------------------- Turn fully clockwise ------------------------- 2 - VR-16 AM POWER ----------------------------- Turn fully clockwise ---------------------------------- 3 - VR-17 AM MODULATION ------------ Turn fully clockwise - Also cut diode 58 ----------- 4 - TALKBACK in AM mode --------------------------------- Cut diode 73 ---------------------------------
There are mods allowing you to operate on 12 meters and receive down to 3 MHZ.
History
Clear Channel Corporation developed the Ranger AR 3300 and Ranger AR 3500. They were built by Nissei of Japan. The Clear Channel Ranger radios have nothing to do with the RCI Radios also marketed under the name "Ranger." RCI is a Chinese company, and has no affiliation with Clear Channel.
In 1982, RF Limited started developing the Ranger AR-3300 and by April 1984 they had it on the market. The AR-3300 was Clear Channel Corporation's first product, although it was a flawed product that had issues. The issues with speech modulation were quickly cleared up on subsequent units. By the time the AR3500 rolled out, many improvements had been incorporated producing a solid 10-meter HAM radio.
There are AR-3500 radios in both 30 watt and 100 watt models. It is believed that the 30 watt lower power models were actually born 100 watts and were factory modified to lower the transmit power. Then owners would have to purchase a 100 watt upgrade from a 3rd party.
There are also AR-3500 units with 4 pin microphone and 8 pin microphone jacks. Later units were made with the 8 pin jack.
Disambiguation
What's in a name? That which we call a rose.
Ranger 2950 and 2970 are NOT Clear Channel radios and have no relation to their product going by the same name "Ranger." RCI Company, aka Ranger Communications Inc. has no relation to Clear Channel Corp. Ranger radios (RCI radios) makes 10, 12 meter Ham radios and gray market 11 meter CB radios. RCI radios are inferior low-end Chinese made and have no collectable value.
One has to understand that the Chinese knockoff company is using "Ranger" as a company name, whereas Clear Channel produced a couple models of radio using the name "Ranger." One is part of a company name, the other is part of a product name. Yet, there seems to be a lot of confusion among people concerning the name "Ranger."
Ranger Communications, Inc. aka RCI capitalized on Clear Channel Corporation's failure to trademark their Ranger model name. This gave the new RCI company some name recognition even though it is the result of confusion. RCI quickly sent their model 2900 to the market where some unsuspecting consumers thought they were getting an updated AR-3500. The 2900 was a failure and RCI later released models 2950, 2970 and also by a third name, Sommerkamp TS-2000 DX. These RCI units covered a wider frequency span than the Clear Channel Radio, from 26MHz - 32Mhz once modified. However, it is still an inferior radio made with low-end Chinese components.
Ironically, another company had used the name "Ranger" for a model of radio clear back in 1954. E.F. Johnson company produced a big clunky tube transceiver known as the Johnson Viking Ranger. It is a beautiful old rig that was also available in a "build it yourself" kit form. As collectable as the Clear Channel Ranger is to 10-meter enthusiasts, the E.F. Johnson Ranger is even more so to antique radio collectors.
