[R-390] FW: R-390 Digest, Vol 2, Issue 4
Bob Camp
ham at cq.nu
Sat Jun 5 19:12:44 EDT 2004
Hi,
The biggest thing to watch out for are the "wings" on the radio. The
edges of the front panel, the edges of the back panel and the edges of
the top and bottom of the radio are all vulnerable to damage if the
radio is not tight in the box. That does not mean that you need a fancy
box or exotic packing. You do need something that is dense enough to
support the radio and a box that is heavy enough to take the weight.
More or less, loose wadded up news paper probably isn't good enough,
rolled up news paper may be better or tightly pack wads. Normal packing
peanuts won't do the trick, heavy bubble wrap works ok. Foam sheet from
Home Depot usually is heavy enough to do the trick (the blue stuff not
the light tan kind). The boxes U-Haul sells are to light, they shred
during shipping. Plywood boxes work fine but they are overkill. Double
wall military cardboard boxes are a good choice if you can get them.
UPS will tell you that you need a couple of inches of padding on all
sides of a shipped item. They also have some maximum dimensions that
they will ship. The USPS has a different set of dimensions and a
different maximum weight. I seem to recall that UPS will go up to 150
pounds and USPS stops at 75 or 100 pounds. Not a bad thing to check on
before you go to the trouble of figuring out a box.
If you want to go a little nuts then pull the power supply out and ship
it in a separate box. I have never done it that way or seen it done
that way. It is pretty heavy though and the idea makes some sense.
The best way to look at it is you want a stiff heavy duty box and you
want to wedge the radio in the middle of it with strong stuff. If you
put it in peanuts or loose stuff the radio will just pound them to dust
and then rattle around inside the box. Even with a decent box the radio
banging around will create trouble pretty quick.
Fair Radio probably has the most experience of anybody in packing and
shipping these radios. They pack them tight in newspaper in a heavy
box.
Hope That Helps
Bob Camp
KB8TQ
On Jun 5, 2004, at 6:03 PM, Benzon Robert wrote:
> Gentlemen:
>
> Well, how does one properly pack an R-390A for shipment? I bought a
> great Motorola R-390A over the internet a couple of years ago and
> trooped up about 40 miles to pick it up personally. Works fine, I
> think, but you experts are waxing me with details on all matters
> concerning this fine receiver. This mailing list has actually made me
> afraid of the radio! Ha! I am a new user, rather than a repairer,
> and believe I have bit off too much, so to speak. It is too advanced
> for me now, and am thinking of selling it. My old BC-348 is about my
> speed. Any specific advice out there about how to safely crate up an
> R-390A? Thanks.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of
> r-390-request at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2004 4:01 AM
> To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: R-390 Digest, Vol 2, Issue 4
>
>
> Send R-390 mailing list submissions to
> r-390 at mailman.qth.net
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> r-390-request at mailman.qth.net
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> r-390-owner at mailman.qth.net
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of R-390 digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. R-390 Visual Alignment (David C. Hallam)
> 2. Re: R-390 Visual Alignment (Kenneth G. Gordon)
> 3. Shipper Packing (B Riches)
> 4. Re: Solid State Ballast 'quirks'? (Drew Papanek)
> 5. Re: Shipper Packing (Barry Hauser)
> 6. Re: Shipper Packing (David C. Hallam)
> 7. Re: R-390 Visual Alignment (Kenneth G. Gordon)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2004 10:27:06 -0400
> From: "David C. Hallam" <dhallam at rapidsys.com>
> Subject: [R-390] R-390 Visual Alignment
> To: "R-390 List" <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <NFBBJDPKCPDDNNAFOPDGCEJOCNAA.dhallam at rapidsys.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Is the visual alignment procedure for the R-390 as described in US AS
> ATC&S
> ST 32-152 a worthwhile procedure to carry out?
>
> David C. Hallam KC2JD
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 04 Jun 2004 09:57:40 -0700
> From: "Kenneth G. Gordon" <kgordon at moscow.com>
> Subject: Re: [R-390] R-390 Visual Alignment
> To: dhallam at rapidsys.com
> Cc: R-390 at mailman.qth.net
> Message-ID: <40C04794.15447.22732209 at localhost>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>
>> Is the visual alignment procedure for the R-390 as described in US AS
>> ATC&S ST 32-152 a worthwhile procedure to carry out?
>
> I don't know about using in with the R-390-A, but I know from
> experience, it is really the only way to ACCURATELY adjust
> the IF tuning in multi-transformer IF stages in most superhets.
>
> I have used it with a number of receivers and it always
> produces amazingly better results.
>
> Ken W7EKB
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2004 16:44:36 -0400
> From: "B Riches" <bill.riches at verizon.net>
> Subject: [R-390] Shipper Packing
> To: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <009f01c44a74$c02860f0$0200a8c0 at gateway8rv1l44>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> A heads up!! When you purchase a piece of equipment from someone make
> sure that the seller agrees to refund your money if it arrives damaged
> due to poor packing and the Post Office or other carrier refuses to
> honor a claim because of poor packing.
>
> I purchased a Tek 465 scope from a person that used shredded paper
> along with a very beat up carton. The scope took a hit on the face
> and bent a few controls and ruined the attenuator. The postal
> inspector laughed when I tried to file a damage claim. I now have an
> expensive parts unit. This person sells a bit of equipment - contact
> me off list if you wish more info. Buyer beware.
>
> 73,
>
> Bill Riches, WA2DVU
> Cape May, NJ
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Fri, 04 Jun 2004 18:29:33 -0400
> From: "Drew Papanek" <drewmaster813 at hotmail.com>
> Subject: [R-390] Re: Solid State Ballast 'quirks'?
> To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
> Message-ID: <BAY17-F8xq1kv33SM3t000fc66c at hotmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
>
>
> Mike wrote:
>
>> I have a Collins 390a that has a solid state ballast
>> replacement that I got as part of the restoration.
>> Sometimes, while listening, the station will suddenly
> '>go away' and just have static.
>
> (snip...)
>
> ... should I zero in on the solid state ballast first - I suspected
> that
> unit since the only thing that seems to go away is the tuning/bfo
> - any one seen this before??
>
> Mike,
>
> If the ballast is causing trouble you will see that the BFO tube
> (V505) and
> the PTO tube (V701) will go
> dark.
>
> If those tube heaters are dark, it is also possible that one of those
> tubes'
> heaters is thermally intermittent . Either of those tubes could be
> swapped
> into another 6BA6 socket (IF stage); failure to light (perhaps after
> waiting
> for the radio to quit) would indicate a defective tube.
>
> Similarly, if during testing neither of those tubes goes dark in
> another
> location (and tubes taken from the IF sockets and installed at V505
> and V701
> do go dark), suspect the ballast.
>
> Replacements for the ballastube are myriad and controversy-generating.
>
> For a wealth of information on the topic, go to r-390a.net Click
> on
> references, Pearls of Wisdom.
>
> Drew
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Getting married? Find great tips, tools and the latest trends at MSN
> Life
> Events. http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=married
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Fri, 04 Jun 2004 18:55:41 -0400
> From: Barry Hauser <barry at hausernet.com>
> Subject: Re: [R-390] Shipper Packing
> To: B Riches <bill.riches at verizon.net>, r-390 at mailman.qth.net
> Message-ID: <017301c44a87$0fdfebb0$6d0aa8c0 at V2Premiere>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Tell me about it! Some people like to sell & ship whatever without a
> care
> about packing. Some use all new (but inadequate) materials and charge
> for
> it. Some use trash. Before a seller ships me something delicate, I
> send an
> email describing how it should be packed. If I get "bubble wrap and
> peanuts" back, I then go into my routine.
>
> Once in a while I get something like "don't worry -- I pack very well
> --
> sent plenty of this stuff...." etc. Good packing is in the eye of the
> beholder, I guess.
>
> There's another issue for many pieces of gear -- prepping the unit
> itself.
> Wobbly tubes, like 5U4's with only 5 pins of the octal? Right next to
> the
> transformer? Chassis loose in cases? Fine if it's kept rightside up
> and
> not moved. Other missing screws? Heavy transformers and chokes held
> down
> with small screws... into aluminum? (Gets dropped sideways or
> upside-down,
> heads shear off and then it's loose-cannonball-in-the-china-shop-time.
> Big
> dial glass -- loose? (Crackaroonies are in order.) Even if super
> packed
> with foam sheet, double boxed, etc. some radios are prone to damage
> from an
> "inside job". Here's an example of something otherwise innocuous:
>
> Anyone familiar with tube type Zenith Transoceanics? A major feature
> affecting their value is that big clear plastic front panel. Many have
> developed a few stress cracks from vibration around the screws, or
> worse,
> from slamming the front door closed. The chassis are fastened to the
> wooden
> center shelf of the cabinet with just two screws. If they're missing
> or
> loose, the whole chassis can shift -- then it does a number on the
> panel --
> through the control shaft holes or whatever. Those panels are all
> clear
> plastic -- painted in black, grey and gold on the reverse side -- (or
> brown,
> tan, gold for the leather models) -- so virtually impossible to detail
> out.
>
> R-390's are more rugged, but there are plenty of opportunities. If a
> tube
> shield is not fully twisted down, a bounce will activate the spring
> and --
> according to Mr. Murphy -- it will head straight for the ballast tube
> which
> will have no shield. If there are loose or missing screws all over the
> place, the H-frame can twist a bit.
>
> Sounds like you got what I call a "beanbag" shipment there. That's
> when the
> carton is flimsy and the stuffing is inadequate. Got one of those a
> few
> years ago with an SP-600 in it. Bottom right corner of the front
> panel was
> broken right off -- and the roughly 1 inch square piece was still in
> the
> box -- so it wasn't that way before. Packed in an oblong U-Haul box
> with a
> trick/quick setup (criss-cross bottom), clearly emblazoned "for
> lightweight
> items" -- stuffed with rags. Didn't bother going to UPS claims with
> that
> one. The seller did settle privately, though. More often, one gets
> stonewalled or told to send the thing back -- right -- lay out double
> shipping and keep your fingers crossed.
>
> Oh, there's the other thing -- well-intentioned folk who fashion
> themselves
> as crate-builders. This was an SP-600-VLF (read @RARE@). The guy put
> a
> labor of love into top and bottom plywood, with firring strips and
> even used
> a router to groove out where the front panel set in. Then he wrapped
> really
> good foam all around it and then put four steel strapping bands
> (nevermind
> plastic) around the bundle. That whole assembly went into a sturdy,
> but
> too-tall box. Built a perfect SP-600 Destructo-Wrench. SP-600 panels
> aren't
> fastened to the chassis all that well -- eight self tapping screws into
> stamped "combs" at the edges of the side panels. These weren't regular
> screws, but threaded studs with acorn nuts on the panel -- some loose.
> The
> box must have twisted a bit and the plywoods were flush with the box,
> so ...
> ripped the upper right corner of the panel forward, wrecking the
> crystal
> osc. switch -- yanked the shaft forward, breaking the wafers and
> rotors.
> So, sometimes the road to Heck is also paved with good packing
> intentions.
>
> Avoid crating, unless the guy knows what he's doing (hard to tell) and
> it's
> going truck freight -- palletized. Otherwise, the crate has to be
> built
> just so and then padded and put into an oversized box with more
> padding --
> to protect the crate, so it doesn't break and wreck the radio.
> Someone can
> be a pretty good carpenter/cabinet maker, but not really know how to
> crate
> things. Otherwise, you're putting a stronger immovable object in close
> proximity to the delicate goods. It's like that game -- paper, rock,
> scissors or whatever -- plywood can break aluminum - and even steel on
> a bad
> day. If a good corrugated box package gets dropped a foot on its
> corner, it
> should dent and absorb the shock and compression. How about a wooden
> box?
> About a half-dozen ways to go wrong.
>
> Finally, some parts should be braced at the strong points -- not padded
> over, like the front panel of a scope. I guess that one was missing
> it's
> front cover, which might have helped. Without that, it needed a block
> of
> styrofoam with indentations for the controls or similar -- like a
> modified
> foam insert from a computer case so that the front was supported by the
> edges. Even if heavily padded with bubblewrap or polyurethane foam,
> the
> controls can work their way through -- and sometimes, air ain't so
> soft, if
> you know what I mean.
>
> Y'see, here I've been quiet and you got me started ... ;-) Well, keep
> up
> the ol' caveat emptor-ing. I think I've beat this dead horse enough,
> right?
>
> Barry
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "B Riches" <bill.riches at verizon.net>
> To: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 4:44 PM
> Subject: [R-390] Shipper Packing
>
>
> A heads up!! When you purchase a piece of equipment from someone make
> sure
> that the seller agrees to refund your money if it arrives damaged due
> to
> poor packing and the Post Office or other carrier refuses to honor a
> claim
> because of poor packing.
>
> I purchased a Tek 465 scope from a person that used shredded paper
> along
> with a very beat up carton. The scope took a hit on the face and bent
> a few
> controls and ruined the attenuator. The postal inspector laughed when
> I
> tried to file a damage claim. I now have an expensive parts unit.
> This
> person sells a bit of equipment - contact me off list if you wish more
> info.
> Buyer beware.
>
> 73,
>
> Bill Riches, WA2DVU
> Cape May, NJ
> _______________________________________________
> R-390 mailing list
> R-390 at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2004 19:38:58 -0400
> From: "David C. Hallam" <dhallam at rapidsys.com>
> Subject: Re: [R-390] Shipper Packing
> To: "R-390 List" <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID: <NFBBJDPKCPDDNNAFOPDGAEKDCNAA.dhallam at rapidsys.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> I agree that you have to be careful. It's tough to ship these heavy
> pieces
> of electronic gear. UPS says that if the packing can't withstand a
> fall
> from their conveyors, they don't want to take. I shipped a Johnson
> Invader
> once. UPS just about took the package apart to see how it was packed.
>
> I have bought and sold things on eBay for several years now. In the
> beginning I used a commercial packer, who said they specialized in
> electronic and heavy stuff, to prepare and ship some heavy items. He
> told
> me he used foamed in place and other methods to protect the items. His
> foamed in place turned out to be several layers of bubble wrap. I
> dropped
> him as soon as I found out what he was doing. Now I try to stay away
> from
> things that are difficult to pack.
>
> I bought a capacitor checker a couple of weeks ago on eBay. When I
> got the
> package from FedEx, it rattled, opened it up, and piece of broken tube
> fell
> out of the holes in the bottom of the case. The exterior was fine,
> but the
> chassis inside had broken loose. I will have to admit that the seller
> handled it very well. He refunded my money within a day or two and
> said he
> would file a claim with FedEx.
>
> Companies have packaging engineers on staff to design shipping
> packages.
> Even then some things get broken. Nothing is absolutely bullet proof.
>
> If you are buying an irreplaceable piece of equipment, you are better
> off to
> arrange for pick up.
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Fri, 04 Jun 2004 21:00:36 -0700
> From: "Kenneth G. Gordon" <kgordon at moscow.com>
> Subject: Re: [R-390] R-390 Visual Alignment
> To: ToddRoberts2001 at aol.com
> Cc: R-390 at mailman.qth.net
> Message-ID: <40C0E2F4.6682.3D55A9 at localhost>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>
>> Ken, I have never heard of a visual alignment procedure for a
>> multi-stage
>> transformer I.F. strip. Where can I find out more about this? Thanks,
>> yours
>> truly, Todd Roberts WD4NGG.
>
> For those who are not familiar with this method, it consists of using
> a sweep
> generator covering the IF frequency, and an oscilloscope, preferably
> with a
> triggered sweep and blanking on re-trace. It would also help if the
> o'scope
> had a long persistence phosphor on the screen.
>
> For a single-conversion receiver with a 455 Khz IF, you connect the
> sweep
> generator through a DC blocking capacitor at the plate of the 1st
> mixer tube.
> Set the sweep genny frequency so that it sweeps from 440 to 460 Khz,
> and
> set the sweep rate as slow as it will go.
>
> Connect the output of the sweep generator also to the scope so that it
> controls the horizontal sweep and in synchronized with it.
>
> Connect the vertical input of the scope to the plate of the detector
> tube. You
> may find that connection to the grid of the detector tube makes a
> slight
> difference so try it both ways. I prefer the plate. Again, I use a
> large value
> capacitor.
>
> With the lights dimmed so you can see the trace, start your sweep
> generator.
>
> When you have everything set right, you will see, on the scope screen,
> a
> visual representation of your receiver's IF passband.
>
> If your scope doesn't blank on re-trace, you will see two images. By
> proper
> manipulation of the controls, you can separate the two traces.
>
> Now, when you make any adjustment to any transformer in the IF strip,
> you
> will instantaneously see the effect. You may have to adjust the sweep
> generator amplitude until you get a large enough trace.
>
> Once you figure out how to use this method, it is REALLY NEAT and makes
> perfect adjustment of IF strips really easy.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> Ken W7EKB
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> R-390 mailing list
> R-390 at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
>
>
> End of R-390 Digest, Vol 2, Issue 4
> ***********************************
> _______________________________________________
> R-390 mailing list
> R-390 at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
>
More information about the R-390
mailing list