{"id":27209,"date":"2017-07-21T05:00:10","date_gmt":"2017-07-21T09:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=27209"},"modified":"2017-07-17T09:37:58","modified_gmt":"2017-07-17T13:37:58","slug":"mike-spots-the-rca-ar-88-in-series-prime-suspect-tennison","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/mike-spots-the-rca-ar-88-in-series-prime-suspect-tennison\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike spots the RCA AR-88 in series “Prime Suspect: Tennison”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post<\/em>\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Mike Hansgen (K8RAT), who adds the following to\u00a0our growing archive of radios in film<\/a>. Mike writes:<\/p>\n

Near the end of the current episode of “Prime Suspect: Tennison”<\/a> [the radio operator mentions] he was listening on “the RCA 88”.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“Tennison” is set around the early ’70’s.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Great catch, Mike (and thanks to Eric WD8RIF for the screen cap).<\/p>\n

According to the Crypto Museum<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The AR-88 was a valve-based shortwave general coverage communications receiver, developed and built by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in the early 1940s. Although the receiver was initially intended as the successor to the AR-77 amateur receiver, the outbreak of WWII made it evolve into a professional high-end military-grade receiver for which cost was no object.<\/p>\n

The AR-88 is a 14-valve (tube) receiver, which covers a frequency range of 535 kHz to 32 MHz. Unlike the National HRO receiver, which had pluggable coil packs for each frequency band, the AR-88 uses a six-position band selector. A special version of the receiver, the AR-88LF, was suitable for LF and MF, covering 70 to 550 kHz (continuously) and 1.5 to 30 MHz (continuously).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Continue reading at the Crypto Museum online…\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

The Crypto Museum photo of the AR-88 jogged my memory…<\/p>\n

Last year, I visited the Mus\u00e9e de la D\u00e9fense A\u00e9rienne<\/em><\/a> at the\u00a0Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Bagotville<\/a> (a museum I wholeheartedly recommend, by the way).<\/p>\n

I snapped this shot of this display:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I’m sure I actually have a close up of this receiver somewhere. It also appears to be an RCA AR-88 based on dial and control configuration, though I certainly could be wrong.<\/p>\n

Do any SWLing Post<\/em> readers have an AR-88? Please comment!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor,\u00a0Mike Hansgen (K8RAT), who adds the following to\u00a0our growing archive of radios in film. Mike writes: Near the end of the current episode of “Prime Suspect: Tennison” [the radio operator mentions] he was listening on “the RCA 88”. “Tennison” is set around the early ’70’s. Great catch, Mike (and thanks to Eric […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5984,1271,3,305,26,43],"tags":[4345,3422,5506,1827,6345,5235,681],"class_list":["post-27209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aviation","category-boat-anchors-2","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-radios","category-shortwave-radio","tag-ar-88","tag-mike-k8rat","tag-radios-in-movies","tag-rca","tag-rca-ar-88","tag-shortwave-film","tag-vintage-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-74R","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14196,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/07\/mikes-thrift-store-find-a-panasonic-rf-888\/","url_meta":{"origin":27209,"position":0},"title":"Mike’s thrift store find: a Panasonic RF-888","author":"Thomas","date":"July 27, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post contributor Mike (K8RAT) writes: I happened upon a good find of a vintage radio recently when I visited my local Goodwill store in a small city in Ohio. Among the electronic equipment on a shelf I discovered a Panasonic RF-888. I was not familiar with this radio. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mike's Panasonic RF-888 (left) and his GE Super Radio II (right)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/20150716_142405.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/20150716_142405.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/20150716_142405.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/20150716_142405.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30864,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/cbc-1940s-transmitter-finds-new-home-in-old-jail\/","url_meta":{"origin":27209,"position":1},"title":"CBC: “1940s transmitter finds new home in old jail”","author":"Thomas","date":"February 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Some of you might recall our story about this 1940s RCA transmitter--here's is the follow-up: (Source: CBC via Mike Hansgen) The massive transmitter is being moved from the former RCI site to the former Dorchester jail Bill Steele is a collector of odd things. A year ago, for example, he\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/1940-RCA-Transmitter-Door-1024x682.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/1940-RCA-Transmitter-Door-1024x682.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/1940-RCA-Transmitter-Door-1024x682.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12438,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/a-photo-tour-of-the-national-capital-radio-and-television-museum\/","url_meta":{"origin":27209,"position":2},"title":"A Photo Tour of the National Capital Radio and Television Museum","author":"Thomas","date":"March 1, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"On Tuesday afternoon, I made a pilgrimage the to the National Capital Radio and Television Museum in Bowie, Maryland, USA. \u00a0The museum is located in a modest and beautiful historic house on the corner of Mt. Oak and Mitchellville Roads in Bowie. Museum\u00a0Curator and volunteer,\u00a0Brian Belanger, kindly gave me a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"RadioMeseumExterior","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/RadioMeseumExterior-1024x678.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/RadioMeseumExterior-1024x678.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/RadioMeseumExterior-1024x678.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":53655,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/08\/video-how-vef-radios-were-made-in-1936\/","url_meta":{"origin":27209,"position":3},"title":"Video: How VEF radios were made in 1936","author":"Thomas","date":"August 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Hansgen, who shares this video showing how radios were made in the VEF (Valsts elektrotehniska Fabrika) factory in Riga, Latvia in 1936: https:\/\/youtu.be\/01o1zClYapA Click here to view on YouTube.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/VEF-Logo-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/VEF-Logo-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/VEF-Logo-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/VEF-Logo-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/VEF-Logo-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11220,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/10\/tecsun-pl-380-displaying-temperature-in-fahrenheit\/","url_meta":{"origin":27209,"position":4},"title":"Tecsun PL-380: Displaying temperature in Fahrenheit","author":"Thomas","date":"October 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I have owned the Tecsun PL-380 for years now. When my buddy Mike (K8RAT) recently asked if the temperature display could be switched from Celsius to Fahrenheit, I gave him a firm \"no\" as a response. A few hours later, Mike wrote back: \"Just found out that the PL -380\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tecsun-PL380-Temperature","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Tecsun-PL380-Temperature.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Tecsun-PL380-Temperature.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Tecsun-PL380-Temperature.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7321,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/10\/shortwave-listening-swling-how-did-you-get-your-start\/","url_meta":{"origin":27209,"position":5},"title":"Shortwave Listening (SWLing): How did you get your start?","author":"Thomas","date":"October 21, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I love hearing stories about how shortwave radio listeners and ham radio operators got interested in the hobby. I'll tell you about my experience, but I would enjoy hearing yours either in the comments section or by sending me an email. In the coming months, I will select stories to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Analog Radio Dial","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/swdial.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27209"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27209\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}