[R-390] R-390 or R-390A

[Todd Bigelow - PS]

Ron H wrote:

>riatla is selling an R-390 for $400+ on E-pay but I think it's really an R-390A. Did I miss something?
>
>
>K3PID
>
No Ron, it's yet another case of 'lack of knowledge' to put it mildly, 
or assumption. Those who don't really understand the radios or the 
differences (they look fairly similar at first glance) tend to call them 
all R-390s as do many who used and maintained them. The equally-clever 
response was to make up a new name ('non-A') to try to differentiate 
between the two, rather than calling them by their actual production 
designation. Essentially, the R-390 is the original or 'complete' model, 
the R-390A is a cost reduced version with mechanical filters added. Of 
course, the A model is also an R-390, just a different model. Who ever 
knew one letter could confuse so many?

One quick way to tell is the location of the tag and the addition of an 
antenna trimmer control in the upper center of the panel on the A model 
which the R-390 doesn't have. The tag (or space for it) is below the 
trimmer on the A model, higher on the R-390. The A is also considerably 
lighter, but unless you have an R-390 in the other hand, you probably 
won't notice.

Beyond that Ron, I don't know what to tell you. There are other models 
like the R-391 which is an auto-tune version of the R-390, but it 
somehow escaped having an imaginary name made up for it like "R-391 
non-A". It has locks in the middle of the large tuning knobs too, to 
prevent confusion if the tag is missing.....

"Hey......whassat? Looks like an R-390 non-A with locking knobs! I sense 
a conflict - we'd better call it the 'R-390 non-A locking knob' just to 
be safe."

The R-389 is similar in appearance too, but a different radio. I've yet 
to see one tagged as the "R-390 non-A LF", though. Same with the R-392 
or "R-390 non-A Green with bumps". Then there's the R-648 airborne 
version or "R-390 non-A Black 28VDC much smaller".

Or, compare it to the Collins KWM-2. There is also an 'A' model of this 
radio. Is the KWM-2 called 'KWM-2 non-A'? Y'know, I'll bet there's 
someone out there right now saying "yes!".

We won't get into the 75S-3 non-A non-B non-C......  (-:

You're not missing anything, Ron. You've actually got it right!

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ  (still searching for that elusive R-390 non-A 
nomenclature plate!)