[Boatanchors] R390 & R390A in Teletype Service

[Doug Hensley]

I served at sea during the latter hay-day of the R390A receiver and so lived with both the 390A and 390.  We copied a LOT of teletype code back then as that was THE way to fly.  There was no such thing as computers, ASCII or the like.  To make the copy, the R390 or R390A IF output was fed to the AN/URA-6 converter which easily accomodated diversity reception.  It was a 3 unit stack with demods on top & bottom (think A and B) and a comparator/selector in the middle.  The demods had scope to set up the correct signal pattern and the comparator listened to both defaulting the stronger signal bit to its output.  That output was then patched to the loop and away the Model 28's went.  It was really swell back in those days.


All to say, I have two complete AN/URA-6 units that I have been holding on to.  If there is an R390x enthusiast with a burning desire to set this up for his own shack, get in touch and be willing to pay a fair price.  As Perry has already pointed out, if you are looking for a free lunch and/or have to ask about shipping, then you don't want these.  One set weighs MORE than an R390A.  So "PICK UP ONLY" in central Louisiana or be willing to have your own shipping company come get them.


Will send a picture to anyone wanting to consider.  Both units are operational (or at least were when stored).  One is mounted in the original Navy rack frame, the other requires a short Bud rack.  Connections are the standard WW2/Korean era "circuline" or BENDIX type and are readily available from Allied.  Or use molex pins with H/S around them.


Cheers,


Doug W5JV


P.S. More equipment available.  See my QRZ page.


Cheers,