[R-390] Gulf War 390A's?

Tom M. [email protected]
Mon, 28 Oct 2002 04:18:16 -0800 (PST)


Gentlemen:

I don't doubt that the static is a big problem.  Heck it gets bad in the US
with long ants.  I have a note from a chap with Harris who had a devil of a
time keeping thier stuff running.  However I've never heard a first hand
account of 390A's being used in the Gulf.

Contrary to what's been metioned on this list, the Mac-Cabinets were not built
for the Gulf War.  They were built in the mid eighties by Laboy Industries in
Camden, NJ, years before the Gulf War.

Through FOIA, I wrote to Ft Monmouth and asked for inventory, and last known
requisition for 390A's from CECOM.  They replied that they had none on hand,
and sent me a copy of the last requisition for a handful of sets for an outfit
in Germany. 

I'd be happy to add to my files any first hand accounts or photos of 390As used
in the Gulf War.

Patriot Radar "ON"

Tom
--- [email protected] wrote:
> Phil - Read comments made throughout.
> 
> Bob
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Philip Atchley"
> Subject: [R-390] R-390A's, Sandstate sets and Desert Storm static damage
> 
> 
> | 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.
> 
> The FIRST thing to consider - Uncle is MOBILE.  The Hummers, Jeeps, 2 1/2
> tons, Tanks and the rest are "moving".  This doesn't allow for a "ground".
> 
> They are using vehicle mounted whips, not dipoles or the like.
> 
> The few times they set up a command post, they are still using whips (for
> the most part) to maintain polarity with the masses.  They may get lucky and
> drive a gound rod or two - IN DESERT SAND.  Essentially NO GROUND.
> 
> The only thing I can attest to - from spending time out "there", the static
> buildup is horrendous!  The sand provides NO MEANS of a ground.
> 
> Tactical necessity doesn't allow for digging deep trenches, heat issues
> preclude using water to soak grounds.  The people NEED IT MORE.
> 
> Sliding an R-390A out of the case and blowing compressed air through it is
> not a problem.  Keeps them functional.
> 
> What do you do with a finicky Harris - Watkins Johnson, or whatever?  They
> can't take the static, can't take the heat!, and die faster than you can
> replace them.
> 
> That's why Uncle keeps R-390As in a warehouse in Northern Calif, all
> refurbed, and ready to go.  "Spares included"!
> |
> | 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).
> |
> 
> Bob - N0DGN
> U.S. Army Spec Ops Retired
> SFC
> 
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