[R-390] Nuvistaplug?

[Les Locklear]

I saw that remark earlier, but let him slide. He obviously doesn't know what he is 
talking about. And, I have tuned up enough people this year, my quota is almost used up.

Actually there were over 40 different suffix numbers, the highest suffix number being 
the JX-39 which was built for the FAA. The last SP-600 series built was the JX-21A which 
had the product detector and 22 tubes vs. 20 in the standard models. Early versions 
didn't have a suffix number, simply marked SP-600JX.

A properly aligned and operating will hear anything you can hear on a R-390/URR or R-
390A/URR (see how simple that is) (for the NON-A crowd). Those that whine about the 
frequency readout don't know the bands very well, I know exactly what I'm listening to 
when tuning with an SP-600. But, knowing the bands has become a lost art for the digital 
generation.


Les Locklear
Gulfport, Ms.
Professional Curmudgeon
Equal Opportunity Annoyer

On Sun, 25 Dec 2005 16:46 , 'Cecil Acuff' <chacuff at cableone.net> sent:

>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)
>>>
>>
>> 
>
>
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