[Hammarlund] Collins or Hammarlund?

[Cecil Acuff]

Hi Craig,

        That's a tough question...most of the folks I know own both.  The
R-390A is not the best of band cruisers because of the effort required to
tune the thing.  The SP-600 is the ultimate band cruiser but lacks the
selectivity and sensitivity of a properly set up R-390A.  I think the normal
drill is to locate it with the SP-600 and dig it out with the R-390A.

Another factor in the decision would be your listening style....if you are a
SW/MW program listener...the SP-600 would the choice because it will have
better audio due to it's filtering design.  On the other hand if you are
into DXing and weak signal work the R-390A can't be beat.

One other thing I have not mentioned is the Frequency readout.  The R-390A
wins that one hands down for ease of use...but the dials on the SP-600 are
quite sexy!

One could add an outboard digital display and take care of that problem on
the Hammarlund.

As far as ease of repair...It's hard to say....the R-390A is modularized and
somewhat easier to work on to a degree but the SP-600 is not really any
harder....all this being said if you have experience working on tube gear.
Spares are more available for the R-390A series today....5 years from now
who knows.  SP-600's are fairly plentiful...a junker chassis could be found.

I have also assumed you were referring to the R-390A as opposed to the
R-390...big difference between the two....Look a lot alike but the R-390
uses R-C filtering like the SP-600...and sound wonderful I understand...but
not the DX machine the R-390A is because of the selectivity.

My recommendation..unless you have experience rebuilding tube gear and a
fair amount of test gear, is to pick up a restored unit from one of the
various folks who specialize in the particular radio you decide on.  I
wouldn't expect to pick up an Ebay queen and it perform up to spec.

I would recommend avoiding the SP-600 JX-17....not that it is a bad
radio...just different.  It's AGC is designed for diversity use and it
doesn't perform exactly right used non- diversity.  Plus the little red
knobs seem to drive the price up considerably.  A JX-14 or 21 would be
great!

Hope all that helps....

Cecil.....

(I didn't post this back to the collins list because I am not a member
there)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Craig Roberts" <crgrbrts@verizon.net>
To: <hammarlund@mailman.qth.net>; <:collins@listserve.com>
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 11:17 PM
Subject: [Hammarlund] Collins or Hammarlund?


> Okay -- just for fun -- R-390 or SP-600? I want to finish my shack with a
> big ole, honkin', bulletproof band cruiser.
>
> I think the Hammarlund's a much sexier LOOKING receiver, but the
> Collins-designed set--though it looks like a piece of Soviet military test
> gear -- must have very something special going for it to have earned its
> legendary status.
>
> Tell me about them, warts and all, please.  Which one performs better
(yeah,
> I know -- it's the Collins, et al; but is it a matter of inches or feet),
> and which one's easier to work on. I assume I'll have to work on whichever
> one I buy -- especially if it's an eBay queen.
>
> This should be fun.
>
> 73,
>
> Craig
> W3CRR
>
>
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