[R-390] Nuvistaplug?

[Cecil Acuff]

Hey Folks,

        Les Locklear can speak better to this...as can Andy and Al Parker 
but there aren't really 21 different models....I think there were just a 
group of different contracts of sorts over the years in the JX series and 
the JX numbers were not in order of manufacture.  Just because it had a 
different JX number didn't mean it had a change to the circuit 
configuration.  I think the JX-1 through JX-14 were pretty much the same 
then came the JX-17 which is know as the "Diversity" model and then back to 
the pretty much standard circuit configuration from that point on up to the 
top...which was what the JX-26 or 31 or something like that.....Then there 
was the VLF!

There were a few field modifications released by the military such as the 
variable IF gain control on the front panel which is a nice mod!

They changed from paper caps to ceramic caps at some point.

I'm not partial to the Diversity model but they seem to bring more when sold 
than the others....

If buying I would be more concerned about the condition of the radio than 
the model designation, but they are all getting more expensive for sure!  I 
own a JX-1 and a JX-14 and I think the JX-1 is the nicer of the two and will 
probably be my keeper along with the VLF and the SP-600 Leary.

Those who are more knowledgeable in the models please correct me if I have 
led anyone down the wrong path!

Cecil.....
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Huss" <mhuss1 at bellatlantic.net>
To: "Cecil Acuff" <chacuff at cableone.net>
Cc: "Michael Murphy" <mjmurphy45 at comcast.net>; "r390 net" 
<r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, December 24, 2005 9:18 PM
Subject: Re: [R-390] Nuvistaplug?


> Oh, I could go on and on about the comparative performance of the 
> R-390/R-390A as opposed to the Sp-600 (including you need 21 major changes 
> to get it right!), but to be honest, I’m one of the guys that have been 
> bidding unsuccessfully for an SP-600 on E-Bay, so I shouldn’t talk. 
> Indeed, the only reason I don’t have one yet is trying to decide which of 
> the 21 different models is best for MW DX’ing. I saw some down in the Air 
> Force place, and was not impressed with it’s ability to dig some very weak 
> signals out of the noise that you knew were there. But for scanning for 
> unknowns, it felt very good. A hassle converting the tuning to an exact 
> frequency. So anybody want to sell me their #5 SP-600? Maybe give me a 
> better idea of the differences in the various models off the group. P.S. 
> Another writer sent me an e-mail at my direct address about the 
> Nuvistaplug. Said that it gave his SP-600JX1 another 9dB S+N/N, dropping 
> the noise floor to about equivelent to the R-390A, and he liked the 
> broader slope of the filters. Gave it more of an R-390 sound.
>
>
> Cecil Acuff wrote:
>
>> Group,
>>
>> Well whatever the SP-600 may lack in performance against the R-390A (the 
>> boys radio I'm told) it makes up for in it's tuning system, audio and 
>> classic looks......we don't call any of them "Depot Dawgs" either do we 
>> Mr. Moorer. (does have a pedigree though!)
>>
>> It's molded paper caps fail just as often as the ones in the R-390A and 
>> the government never set a mountain of them out in the weather for an 
>> extended period (that I've heard about anyway)....which has been blamed 
>> for the failures of those in the R-390A. Much scientific testing, such as 
>> boiling (or was it baking) and freezing of them many times over to 
>> simulate the SJC conditions has been conducted, as I understand it, to 
>> substantiate that conclusion. (results published elsewhere)
>>
>> HA!....just a little Christmas Eve fun folks...they are both great 
>> radio's and I am proud to own several of each!
>>
>> Merry Christmas to all....
>>
>> Cecil Acuff
>> WB5VCE
>> Gulfport MS (Katrina Central)
>>
>
>