[PCR-1000] 390 Station & PCR1000

[Michael Melland]

> No reason to wonder about the size, the perfomance is
> also 10 times better on the R390 than on the PCR1K.

I was going to point that out but Max did it for me <grin>.

Seriously.... the R-390/R-390A is a fantastic receiver.  Many pro's will
tell you it's still the standard by which all COMINT and ELINT guys rate
radios.  They were last produced for the USN in 1984/86 in a very limited
run. Not bad for a radio placed into service in 1952.  The one I have beats
the pants off my Racal solid state rig..... .3 (yes that is "point 3")
microvolt sensitivity on AM with the 4 KC wide filter.... and a -146 dB
noise floor.  The $21,000 USAF Racal RA-6790/GM-3 has a noise floor of -118
dB.... I can hear signals on the 390 that are not even perceptable but by
ESP on the Racal.  Interestingly there was a mad rush to get some out of
mothballs in 1992's Gulf #1.... the sand and static caused by the blowing
(read:drifting) sand and dryness was taking out the front ends of the solid
state receivers...

Mike, W9WIS
"Spinnin 'n Grinnin"