[R-390] Antenna Noise

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

Concerning noise levels below 30 Mhz: while I agree that noise 
in this range averages 8db, as implied by the word "average", 
there are times when it is both significantly lower, and 
significantly higher than 8db.

Although, hanging a pre-amp on an R-390(A) is completely 
unnecessary, IMHO, there ARE times when, with OTHER 
receivers, a lower receiver noise level would be very useful.

In my experience, some of these times were when I was doing 
'phone patching into SEA during the Vietnam troubles. I was 
operating for AFMARS and working above the 20 meter band.

I purposely modified the driver I was using, an SB-101.5 (!), for 
lowest receiver noise possible, and could often run phone 
patches long after the SEA stations could not be heard at all on 
a KWM-2A sitting along side the SB-101.5, because of the 
higher noise level in the KWM-2A.

Admittedly, this did not often occur, but it did often enough 
that I thought the effort well worth while. Hopefully, the guys 
in SEA thought so too.

Ken W7EKB