I took both of these Ranger AR-3500 radios out for a test spin. I must say that I am really impressed by the SSB and FM performance. Simply put, this radio had SSB audio that sounded like it was still on AM. Rock-solid stable. In fact, everyone used me as a reference to lock on to - a smooth move. More radios should be like this on SSB! A couple of guys with Cobra 148/2000 said it sounded absolutely outstanding. While the guys with the Galaxies were drifting and crying about it - you could easily hear that. You should hear a Ranger AR-3500 for yourself, if you can. These regulars that helped me out with radio checks - are a roundtable discussion/local radio group that I've known for awhile - were all very impressed with it. Even the 35 watt radio got the same reports.
Keep in mind that this radio was built and engineered for 10 meter use. A true Ham radio with Ham radio sound and performance. But it can also do 12 meter and 11 meter with practically the same performance. Remember also, that this radio is almost thirty years old!
The recieve performance on both the 100w/35w radios are xlnt; but I did have to adjust the LED meters so that they were spot-on for S-units and RF/modulation. Modulating on AM, it isn't loud like my OmegaForce with the 'Top Gun Modulator' on. But it is insanely clean and precise. The audio reports were telling me that it was one of the cleanest radios they ever heard. One report was from a radio tech - too. He works on helicopter radios at the San Jose int'l airport.
You won't find a channel indicator on the radio's face plate. Only a frequency counter. It must be programmed to get the desired frequencies of operation. It is a bit tricky to program, but once you've done it a couple of times it isn't that hard at all. Considering that you can program it for different kinds of bandwidths and bands, it makes it unique. Once the power/battery is is disconnected from the radio, it resets itself. Then, you have to go thru the same process to reprogram it - which takes about a minute or so. Considering when this radio was made, it is a stellar performer!
Then I hooked up a D104 handheld mic to it. It has a 4-pin plug; but I had to reverse pin 1 for pin 2 and then pin 3 for pin 4 from the stock Cobra wiring on an Astatic. Now the audio reports said it was outstanding and clean w/o being bodacious or an audio monster. Guess the circuitry is geared for a Ham's taste for non-splatter. With a stock mic it sounds kind of anemic, but clear. Overall, I would give this radio a 10 for performance, a 9 for looks, and a 10 for features. The 100 watt radio is actually rated at 115 watts AM and 150 watts SSB. The swing it produces on a receiving radio is very good to xlnt.
I thought that it was strange that the heat sink/final output on the 100 watt radio looked a lot like the Powerband RFX 75. One would think that the RFX people got the idea from this radio and made it work for everyone else. I really wouldn't be surprised if that was so. This radio has set the standard for a lot of radios that are on the market today. When I opened up the radio, it reminded me of a dual-final version of my TR-696FD-1.
The Ranger AR-3500 radio was and is -IMO- clearly ahead of its time...
