Note
The AR-2 was a significant refinement of the AR-1. It is a superheterodyne design employing both octal and miniature tubes.
The AR-2 uses six tubes and its frequency coverage has been expanded, covering 535 kHz to 35 MHz in four bands. The IF is 455 kHz. Heath added a few amenities missing on the AR-1. These include a built-in speaker, a bandspread, BFO, RF gain control with AVC, a headphone jack and a noise limiter. Not included on the AR-2 were the AR-1’s tone control, phono/radio switch and pilot light. The dial is not illuminated.
Advertised briefly as the “perfect companion” for the AT-1 novice transmitter, the AR-2’s poor selectivity and stability would have made it a dismal choice for that purpose.
Within a year Heath had replaced the optional metal cabinet with an optional gray fabric-covered plywood cabinet—still $4.50.
Alignment requires a VTVM and signal generator, although in a pinch it can be aligned by ear.
Overall, the AR-2 worked about as well as any receiver of the genre.
Caution: The receiver is not fuse protected, and the power supply does not include bleeder resistors.
References:
Review. Electric Radio. Jun 2005.
Review. Popular Electronics, Nov 1954, p. 16.
Tubes: (1) 12BE6, (2) 12BA6, (1) 12AV6, (1) 12A6, (1) 5Y3
Photos, general information and specifications from "Heathkit: A Guide to the Amateur Radio Products," by Chuck Penson, WA7ZZE. Used with permission.
