[Boatanchors] R-390A

[Jim Brannigan]

I have had a '67 EAC for 25 years and stand by my original statement.  The 
R-390A is an AM radio and good for sitting on 75M chewing the fat.
If you have any desire to Contest, DX or slug it out on 20M, find another 
radio...

However, it is good to know that when the next sand storm hits the East 
Coast, I will still be on the air.

Jim

> Gary,
>
> There is NO question that you got a *GREAT* deal on a *GREAT* radio.
>
> Commentary regarding "the most over-hyped radio on the planet...."  is 
> VERY debatable.
>
> I've yet to see ANY Amateur Radio receiver stand up to it AND it's 
> relatives, when it is up to snuff!
>
> Even the Harris HF gear that was used in the 'Gulf War', (Bush "41"), 
> could NOT take the dessert sands.  The static voltages from blowing sands 
> kept blowing the front ends on the Harris'.  The R-390A has a 'neon' bulb 
> built into  the connector block/relay on the inside rear panel.  It will 
> arc over when such things occur, and take it to ground.  A BIG bunch of 
> these that have/had been in storage, were resurrected and shipped there in 
> 1991.
>
> Those that have NOT been to 'THAT' part of the world do *not* understand 
> the Middle East Dessert Sand.  It has the consistency of talcum powder.