[R-390] Depot Dawgs

Mon Jul 25 14:22:32 EDT 2005

Oh no -- another Barry.  Well, I guess we may be missing one or two, but 
there's another who also just has "Barry" as the display name, so might be 
helpful if you added something to it.

"Depot Dawg" is more of a realistic "term of endearment".  Whether done at 
the depots or some time later, as you've affirmed, R-390's are modular and 
you're supposed to be able to swap modules around.   Some have in mind the 
"holy grail" of R-390A's -- the one where the modules all match.  From where 
I sit, I don't even know if all of the new receivers direct from the various 
manufacturers matched in the first place. (could have "borrowed" modules 
from other subcontractors if they needed them to complete rigs. ) The "NIB" 
find on the e-place may well be a matching one.

Are radios with matching rubber stampings on the modules better than the 
majority?  Probably not.  It's just the rarity and novelty, I guess.  Not 
motivating enough for me to go chasing one for a primo price.

I don't know of a single "radio snob" on the list.  OK, some are 
opinionated.  Some say that it's the original R-390 that's the "man's 
radio", etc., but really not coming from an elitist position.

Actually, it's pretty tricky to even set out to become an R-390A snob. 
What's better?  Some prefer Collins made, but they are, on average, older. 
There is the segment that want EAC '67's or nothing.  How about an all 
Collins with matching modules except one, an SW audio deck, vs. an EAC '67 
with matching modules, but isn't working and has seen better days.  Or that 
Collins with one mismatch vs. a Teledyne with all matching ones?  There are 
some practical reasons to prefer the EAC '67's -- better Teflon insulated 
cables, etc, but not the smoothest gear train.  And, going on 40 years old 
anyway, subject to the same rebuild caveats as all of them.

Even that NIB -- if it is really so, is way overdue for PM and is sitting 
there with failed caps needing replacement.  Functionally, you're better off 
with a privately preowned one that's been worked on and running up to 
yesterday.

But, back to simpler things.  The origin of the "depot dawg" term is that a 
radio with mixed modules is analogous to a mutt, while a radio with matching 
modules has some sort of pedigree.  The mongrelization may have just as 
readily occurred long after the military, by private owners and even as you 
read this, somewhere in Lima Ohio, modules are being mixed 'n matched to 
cobble together working radios from the remains of St. Julien Creek massacre 
victims.  They may be closer to "Franken-radios" than dawgs.  But after 
they're purchased, cleaned up, restored and tweaked, they're as good as any.

Some still seek the matching modules pedigrees, the grails.  Don't know what 
happens after they find 'em.  Either they get really lucky or struck by 
lightning.  Maybe that explains what happened to some of the missing list 
members. ;-)

To be clear, "depot dawg" is not a putdown of the depot work.  Just an 
expression that covers the majority of the receivers, including the ones 
that have been professionally rebuilt at high cost.

Nobody's casting aspersions on your work at the depot -- at least I'm not. 
The problem we have is with the guys who ordered the guys who ordered the 
tank drivers to run over and put down the other puppies.

best regards
Barry

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barry" <BarryG at visi.net>
To: "Dan Arney" <hankarn at pacbell.net>
Cc: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>; "Tom Bridgers" <Tarheel6 at msn.com>
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 12:38 PM
Subject: [R-390] Depot Dawgs

On Sun, 24 Jul 2005 17:47:34 -0700, you wrote:

>Anyway you look at it, it is and has been a "DEPOT DAWG"
>
>Hank
>KN6DI

I have been on this list for years, I enjoy the 390A es 390 tech talk.

This is my first post, I hate the off topic stuff, but having put up
with it this long, maybe you can indulge me.

This has been discussed in the past, however, not recently.

I worked in a Depot for 5 years, Naval Air Rework Facility (NAS
Norfolk).

EVERY ITEM WE OVERHAULED HAD TO PASS THE FACTORY SPEC.

PERIOD.

Were there different manufacturer's for the same item? Yes.

Did various modules from various manufacturer's end up in a different
mainframe? Yes.

Did the build quality differ from vendor to vendor? Yes.

Zero defects were the stated goal at my facility, EVERY piece of gear
I personally overhauled had a document with MY artisan stamp (number
unique to the tech) on it. Plus, there was a SEPARATE Quality
Assurance Dept. that sampled 50 to 100 percent of the output of
equipment from the shop.

God forbid you got a QDR (Quality Deficiency Report) back from the
customer on a piece of gear you certified as spec.

It created a real problem for the shop and tech.

I suspect and have seen, this "DEPOT DAWG" moniker used by various
morons and radio snobs over the years. Who might not have a TRUE
appreciation for the depot overhaul process as I saw it.

Of course there could be one bad apple in every barrel, however, in
this case THAT apple didn't spoil the bunch.

To reiterate:

EVERY ITEM WE OVERHAULED HAD TO PASS THE FACTORY SPEC.

PERIOD!

Barry/W3AFH (Yes another one)

P.S. Don it was nice meeting you at Dayton this year (I was the big
guy with the long hair and utter disdain for the morons and radio
snobs)     ;-)

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