[R-390] Please spare us

[Roy Morgan]

At 07:13 PM 6/5/2005, Kenneth Arthur Crips wrote:
>... Instead of arguing which radio is better the discussion sho(uld) 
>center on what is different and why they are different.

Ken,

There is a fellow in my antique radio club (www.maarc.org) who has had a 
long and varied career in radio, both military and civilian. He's VERY 
knowledgeable about all sorts of radios. I heard him say once that the 
Racal RA.17 was ten times more sensitive than the R-R90A.  At the time, I 
though "probably not!"  Then later I got a manual for the Racal (and later 
yet a radio itself) and found that the specifications for sensitivity are 
very similar.

I have not yet repaired and aligned the Racal RA.17 UC that I have, so I 
can't report on it's performance.

I was interested to see in a Navy training manual, "Cryptological 
Acquisition Equipments" (or some such title) that both the R-390A, and the 
Racal RA.17 under a military number, are described.

>...the Lysco model 600 Transmaster which has to be one of the worst 
>transmitters ever produced for sale, the engineers who designed this turd 
>must have been drunk.

OR ... under directions from their employer  that were a severe compromise 
of quality and performance in the interest of cheapness to make and/or 
production schedules.

I have just acquired an RBB and an RBC, Perhaps the original Boatanchors at 
85 pounds each plus 55 pounds each power supply.  Designed in the late 
1930's, these have been described as a "dream project" for the RCA 
engineers, with no cost spared for quality and reliability.  I look forward 
to the day that they are restored and aligned and pulling in the moderately 
high signal levels they are only capable of.

Roy

- Roy Morgan, K1LKY since 1959 - Keep 'em Glowing!
7130 Panorama Drive, Derwood MD 20855
Home: 301-330-8828 Cell 301-928-7794
Work: Voice: 301-975-3254,  Fax: 301-948-6213
roy.morgan at nist.gov --