[Boatanchors] A question

[Barry Hauser]

Hi Chris & Gang:

I'm catching this thread a bit late, but here goes anyway:

Given your background as an auto technician, I would stress the R-390 and
R-390A as the boatanchors of choice.  They are among the best supported
in terms of getting help and parts as well as available documentation. 
However, the main reason for you, is that they are probably the most
mechanically complex receivers ever made.  There is also the R-391, the
autotune verson of the R-390.  It's electronically the same, but has an
8-position electromechanical autotune system. The autotune motor requires
28 vdc and most of the autotune mechanisms are not in working condition. 
They are rather complex with tuning heads that look like they were made
by locksmiths or came out of an adding machine factory.

The 51J-3 is not a bad choice either - basically the same as the R-388
which is the pre-cursor of the R-390 series.  The '390's are several
times more complex than the 51J's. 

I did not see the replies that explained the tuning effort issue.  Part
of this is in common between the 51J's and '390's -- 1 MHz bands.  This
is an advantage in tuning accuracy, but gets in the way of "band
cruising" as most band assignments are not "metric" and some straddle the
MC boundaries.  There is no flywheel action on the '390's KC knob.  

Another receiver to consider, if your wrists and fingers are really
strong, is the R-1051.  These are also mechanically complex.  Tuning is
by means of five decade knobs plus a vernier control.  The R-1051's are
mostly solid state, however there are two tubes in the RF module which
contains a turret with 28 one-mhz tuning strips.  It is motor driven in
response to selections made on the two Mhz knobs.  It takes quite a bit
of torque to turn the knobs as they have deep, heavily spring-loaded
detents.  This assures they remain properly centered when the 16 inch
guns are fired.  Notable features include extremely high frequency
accuracy and stability, plus ISB -- independent sideband -- sort of like
AM stereo.  You can hook up two speakers or stereo headphones.  Any
stereo effect is accidental, however this helps with fade, some say as
effectively as synchronous detection.  Be aware though that the tuning
range of the 1051's is from 2 Mhz to 29.999.  No BC band coverage at all.
 Relative to the 1051's, the '390's are band cruisers.

With that automotive experience (unless it was loathsome and a thing to
avoid ;-), I would feel strongly that an R-390 or R-390A would be the
best choice for you.  These days radio is like cable and satellite TV --
100's of channels and yet sometimes nothing to watch.  With a '390, you
can always look at the gears and cams turn and the slugracks go up and
down.  It's one radio that entertains even when the power is switched off
-- if you are mechanically inclined.

Hope this helps.

Barry

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