[R-390] Framingham, MA Flea report Nov. 8 New R390

[mikea]

On Mon, Nov 08, 2004 at 01:11:22PM -0500, flood at Krohne.com wrote:

> Greetings,

> This is a small but usually well attended flea that is put on by the
> Framingham Amateur Radio Assoc. two times a year (spring and fall).   John
> >From CT, (forgot his last name) was there with some spare parts
> PTO/knobs/gears.  Next to him a someone had driven up from NY with a good
> looking R-390/URR.  a '51(for Collins) and it was looking for a new home.
> It had meters, top cover, power cord with connector, all internal covers
> and a good looking engraved  front panel.  It was stated that it was
> working and in current use.  Asking price was $500.  Fair considering the
> going price in "E" land.  As the morning went on and I sold a few things I
> started offers.  At the end of the show, I had $425 in hand and just enough
> left over to pick up the favorite coffee for "she who must hold the door
> open and let it pass incoming inspection".  I was lucky enough to convince
> the seller that although less than he wanted, with todays high fuel costs,
> the elimination of about 100 pounds of ballast would help to reduce fuel
> consumption and help to offset the difference.

> Powered up at home it seemed to overload on some of the local BC stations.
> A quick adjustment of the gain control helped that and then the AGC was
> AG'ing again.  I let it run on a local station a few hours and after
> getting the kids to bed started tuning around HF.  Not much heard.  Tried
> the BBC on 5975 and found them weak.  Got depressed at that point and went
> to bed.  The baby was crying at about 4:00AM and when I went in to sort
> things out I was wondering why the sun was coming up so early.  It turned
> out to be an aurora.  The baby and I checked out the light show and other
> radios on HF and they were dead as well.  I guess things are OK after all.

> One thing I have noticed is that the tuning seems to be offset a couple of
> kHz depending of the filter settings.  Is this a sign of impending doom?
> Now that I have some experience on the "A" It's nice to get this one as
> well.  The main question is, should this go on top of or below the '67 EAC
> R-390A/URR in the rack?

Congratulations! While the R-390A is in all respects a Real Radio, the 
Non-A R-390 is Even Realer, or More Real. 

Wherever you put it, _do_ please make sure it has some support from   
the back, and ditto for the R-390A: supporting them from the front    
panel only is A Bad Thing. I'm mounting mine on angle iron or 90°     
aluminum extrusions, lust to make sure I don't stress the gearing.    

There's not a whole lot to be done when the Wendigo is walking; you 
might be lucky to pick up local BCB stations when it's really severe.

Do keep us posted on the R-390, please. 

Any word on the T-827? 

-- 
Mike Andrews
mikea at mikea.ath.cx
Tired old sysadmin