[R-390] R390-A Contract Choices.

[Bob Camp]

Hi

This is kind of turning into the "buy a new radio" thread so I suppose 
we might add a few things in here.

Probably the biggest thing that gets me excited is the implication that 
you can simply buy one of these and run it forever with no problems. 
Certainly there are radios like that and I have a couple of them. I 
also have a couple that require a bit of attention from time to time. 
Every so often a radio decides all on it's own to switch groups. That's 
true of R-390's, other tube radios, and the solid state stuff. The main 
difference is that if you are used to the better solid state gear the 
tube gear is a bit more maintenance  intensive.

Don't get me wrong here. The R390's are reliable radios and the work 
very well. They are arguably the most reliable and easiest to service 
high end tube radio radios ever made. However when they were designed 
it was *assumed* that they would be serviced from time to time. It's 
not hard to do if you have the simple test gear to do it.

Here's what you probably should think about getting with your new R390 
if you don't have them already:

1) A VTVM. Don't worry a lot about which one, just don't pay a lot of 
money. $20 to $30 gets a great meter.
2) A signal generator. Again keep it cheap. Probably stay in the below 
$50 range.
3) A set of tubes. Best guess would be below $40

That adds another $100 to your $400 investment in a radio. Trust me - 
it will be worth it in reduced frustration. The manuals are very good 
on explaining how to use the gear and the alignment work is 
straightforward. Doing the simple stuff yourself sure beats putting it 
in a box and shipping it off each time something goes wrong.

Of course if you want to go a bit further there is more gear you can 
get. I think I'd put a second radio next on the list ...

	Take Care

		Bob Camp
		KB8TQ