[R-390] R390/Solid State

[Ed Tanton]

I don't believe it was anything but an honest inquiry about something he 
was interested in doing. Now, I feel bad about ribbing him about it... 
things did get a bit out of hand.

OTOH... Michael should understand that he was advocating a relatively 
unpopular idea, on this, and any other reflector that discusses BoatAnchors.

My best recollection of solid-state tube substitution-as a project-is that 
similar conversions (to other receivers) have been performed in the past, 
with never-better-than-mixed success... and, frequently, resulting in 
poorer-or worse-performance.

Most of us revere our equipment, and suggestions regarding major surgery 
are anathema. Personally, I have two simple rules. Rule 1: 1) I don't make 
no new holes; and 2) I don't ever violate Rule 1. While I am humorously 
suggesting these two rules, the truth is that I make no visible 
modifications whatsoever to anything I own... and that is the reason that 
most people on these BoatAnchor Reflectors get riled up when a major change 
like this is suggested.

My own advice would be to either make a project out of turning it into the 
nicest R-390 you can; or, sell it and use the money to do something along 
major-from-scratch homebrew lines. That way, the very finite remaining 
number of R-390s isn't reduced by one; and, just possibly, that remaining 
number of R-390's will have one more excellent example of American HF Tube 
Radio Design at its very finest.


73 Ed Tanton N4XY <n4xy@earthlink.net>

Ed Tanton N4XY
189 Pioneer Trail
Marietta, GA 30068-3466

website: http://www.n4xy.com

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