[R-390] R-390A's, Sandstate sets and Desert Storm static damage

[Philip Atchley]

Hello all.
You know, I keep reading about how "Uncles" modern radios used in Desert
Storm suffered so much static damage from windblown sand etc that he rushed
in R-390A's, KWM-2's etc.

I have seen large static buildup on wire antennas, so I know it's real.
When I was in the Barracks in Spain (mountaintop site) I had a longwire
about 120' long or so stretched between two wings of the building.  On more
than one occasion I saw arcs over an inch long jump from the disconnected
antenna to the radio case (tube radio 8^).  And this on what seemed to be
clear but windy days!

But, what doesn't make sense to me about these stories are two things.

1. It seems to me that on a receiver (or even a transmitter) it wouldn't be
all that difficult to couple the antenna to the set through a Balun or Unun
so that the receiver ALWAYS has a DC path between the antenna and it's
ground thus making sure that a high DC couldn't be coupled into the radio
and likewise on the antenna side a DC path to ground to prevent any Voltage
buildup.  Where you get into trouble is when there is no DC path to drain
the static off.  Any Radio man worth his salt ought to know this.

2.  In desert conditions like Desert Storm it "seems" to me that dirt and
grit getting into the gears (and slug tuned coils) of a R-390A or tuning
mechanism/tuning slugs of a KWM-2 would prove far more troublesome to
reliability!  (Ask those who bought "Blue stripers" and had to clean em).

73 de Phil  KO6BB

Loving home provided for wayward Boatanchor Receivers.
LF Modified R-390A '67 EAC  W/Heath HD-11 Q-Multiplier.
Hallicrafters  SX-71 ('53) & 5R10A ('53).
Homebrew 'Hybrid'  Longwave CW receiver.
Realistic  DX-160 & SP-150 ('78).
Merced, Central California,
37.18N  120.29W  CM97sh.