E.F. Johnson Viking Ranger
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| Frequency | TX: 160–10 m (incl 11 m) |
| TX power | 50 W |
| Modes | AM, CW |
| Weight | 20.4 kg (45 lb) |
| Connector | SO-239 |
| Year | 1954 |
| antenna | SO-239 |
One of Johnson's most popular kit transmitters. Simpler than the Viking I, with a built-in VFO and band-switching. 75W CW / 65W AM input (~40-50W out) from a single 6146 final, plate-modulated by push-pull 1614s. Easy to build, and the 6146 is common and cheap. TVI suppression kept peace with the neighbors.
AM and CW only. 45 pounds. The built-in VFO drifts more than an external VFO would. Power output is modest. Audio quality on AM is adequate but not impressive.
The Ranger was one of Johnson's most popular transmitters and the radio that introduced kit building to thousands of hams who found Heathkit too complex. Many still operate on AM nets today.
The Johnson Viking Ranger is one of the most popular amateur transmitters of the 1950s, a mid-sized AM and CW transmitter from E.F. Johnson, available as a kit or factory-wired, that put a complete, capable transmitter with a built-in VFO within reach of the average ham. It covers the 160 through 10 meter bands (including the old 11-meter band) and delivers around 40-50 watts of output (mode-dependent) from a single 6146 final, using plate modulation for clean AM.
Its combination of a built-in VFO, solid AM and CW performance, attractive styling, and a sensible price made it a runaway success and a fixture of countless 1950s and 60s stations, often paired with a separate receiver. It could also drive a larger amplifier for more power. Reliable, good-sounding on AM, and plentiful on the used market, the Viking Ranger remains a beloved and frequently restored vintage transmitter, especially among AM operators.
It is a discontinued classic. See the earlier Viking I and the high-power Viking Valiant.