[Milsurplus] R-808 versus SRR-13 resolution

[Ken Gordon]

Well, I agree with all you have mentioned here, Ray. I really like the SRR series of receivers, 
and when working up to spec, they work very well indeed.

I have never (yet) had an R-808. I have a "thing" for receivers, probably because my first 
ones were so terrible.

I have a couple of detailed fixes on my website for those pot-metal crank arms, and for at 
least one other needed fix, burned out or open coils.

When I had both an SRR-11 and an SRR-13 in operation here, I really and thoroughly 
enjoyed using them. Unfortunately, my operational bench space is severely limited now, and I 
don't have the space I would like or need. 

For instance, I REALLY would love to have an RAK/RAL setup, an RBB/RBC and SRR 
setup, but simply do not have the room. An RAL-7 was my most-used ham receiver for years.

Thanks for posting the info you have done. I enjoy your missives.

Ken W7EKB

On 22 Jul 2024 at 18:54, Ray Fantini via Milsurplus wrote:

> 
>     To continue your thought experiment! The R-808 looks older and is
>     larger than it needs to be, and will always be in the shadow of
>     the R-392 Just speculation on my part but would say the 808 will
>     always be regarded as a R-392 wan be. The SRR receivers look more
>     modern than they are, looking at the size, shape and the cool
>     projected display you would think it out of the sixties or
>     seventies and a modern box but then the circuit reveals the same
>     design that´s been kicking around for decades to try to
>     de-throne the R-390A, I would propose that in order to try to
>     build something that was easy for first level maintenance they
>     ended up with a monster that was only repairable at depo, maybe
>     the shape of things to come in the future who knows? Do know one
>     thing that for all the money that was dumped into developing the
>     SRR line those receivers were dead on arrival in terms of length
>     of service with the R-1051 that soon replaced them. I owned
>     several SRR radios mostly back in the seventies and eighties when
>     they were common and cheap. Had the opportunity to meet someone
>     who worked on the design, he provided me with the jumper cable for
>     operating the radio outside the case, a ton of spare mods and
>     filters and best of all a box full of steal levers that were
>     designed to replace the stupid pot meatal levers on each internal
>     switch that often broke because of over torquing. From what I
>     recall they were quiet, sensitive great on strong signals and
>     overloads (BCI) and I would have put one up angst any R-390A out
>     there, the problem is that a R-390A is way easier to maintain, get
>     parts for and has a far better pedigree then the RCA box.    
>     Ray F/KA3EKH  



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