[R-390] not yet

[Bob Camp]

Hi

Sometimes the process of coming up with a radio takes a while. This is 
especially true around the opening days of deer season or when it gets 
real hot in the shop in the middle of summer ....

If the radio is coming from Fair then they very definitely run a pull 
one and check it routine. The first  check is to see if they can at 
least hear something on some band at each of the filter settings. Next 
is a quick check of the BFO and maybe the noise limiter.  If it makes 
it past that they then try to get a radio with both the AM broadcast 
band and a couple of the HF bands working. Last time they explained it 
to me it sounded like the tech had a certain amount of discretion about 
what did and did not constitute a working radio. The good news is that 
if they mess up you can get them to make it right without much hassle 
at all.

There are different opinions on what to do about the RF connectors on 
the R-390. As it came stock from the factory the BNC antenna connector 
goes to the whip antenna input on the RF deck. The balanced antenna 
connector (an IBM LAN connector) goes to the main antenna input on the 
RF deck.

Things that have been known to work:

1) simply stuff a piece of wire into one side the twin lead connector 
and ground the other side of the connector.
2) modify the cables from the back panel to the RF deck so the BNC goes 
to the main antenna. This is a Navy mod if I remember right.
3) The LAN connectors are < $2, so buy the right connector and wire it 
up to the right cable (twin conductor coax - weird ...).
4) Get an adapter from the LAN connector to a SO-239. This is certainly 
the best looking solution.
5) Make a 50 ohm to 120 ohm balun, put it in a box, mount it on the 
back of the radio, cable it with the right connectors .... ugg...
6) Just use the whip antenna input (not as good for RF overload)

There are probably other things that also work, but you get the general 
idea. On a radio fresh out of the box I would just use option one above 
and get playing with the new toy.

	Take Care!

		Bob Camp
		KB8TQ



On Aug 7, 2004, at 6:10 AM, Charles B wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I had hoped my R-390A would have been setting here in front of me by 
> now, but I guess there will be more time elapse before that happens?  
> I ordered a Rebuild R-390A which was scheduled to be shipped within 
> four weeks.  That was over 4 weeks ago.  I am wondering if the vendor 
> might have run out of spare parts?
>
> I already got a spot cleared where it will set when the R-390A 
> arrives.  I have been wondering about the antenna connections.  Will I 
> be able to hook up ordinary connectors or does the R-390A require 
> something different?
>
> Tnx
>
> Chuck
>
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