[R-390] Incomplete IF module (matched numbers)

[Flowertime01 at wmconnect.com]

In a message dated 12/1/05 6:06:31 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
tfrobase at kitparts.com writes: Begs another question, were all of the module serial numbers in 
a given radio identical?  ... Tom, N3LLL

No way. Some days someone tried to get a few of the modules of the same 
number into a chassis and then the final inspector would pass a bunch of receivers. 
The last act was to put the tag on the front panel and make it government 
property. Some times someone would try to match the tags to the internal modules.

Field stations had hundreds of receivers. At the initial "building of the 
station" several hundred receivers from likely the same contract would arrive all 
at once. This provided a lot of receivers with consecutive numbers. Over the 
years, the technicians had time to play games and match up modules and 
numbers. Some technicians though the receivers once were all together as matched sets 
and the miss matched modules had been swapped out and needed to be put back.

On some small contracts, things fell into line fairly well.

There is this holy grail of a receiver with all matching modules inside.
It did happen. But more from bored assembly crews than a matter of assembly 
requirements. Some times technicians in the field would swap a few modules 
around to get the last one back in place. Some front panel tags also got swapped 
to make a matching set. But this was from technicians have some free time on 
their hands.

Roger KC6TRU