[R-390] Another R-390A Carrier Meter Question

[Leigh Sedgwick]

Hi Gang,

Guess I'm just lucky or something.  I did the full IF/RF alignment of my 
R-390A per procedure then checked the carrier meter alignment using the 
little XG1 signal generator made by Elecraft (kit).  The XG1 is a crystal 
controlled RF generator that supplies a precision 50uV signal (also 1uV 
switchable) on 7040 kc at 50 ohms.  The carrier meter should read 40dB for 
an S-9 signal at 50uV per established guidelines.  Well, that is exactly 
what the carrier meter reads.  Checked a few other bands using my HP8640B 
for the signal source and they were right on the money too.

BTW, I replaced the carrier meter zero pot on the IF deck with a 10-turn 
precision pot as recommended by Chuck Rippel.  That is a modification I 
would recommend to everyone.  There is no issue with adjusting the carrier 
meter once that mod is made.  The 10-turn pots are readily available from 
standard sources.  Even saw some on the dreaded e-Bay for around $5.  I also 
did this modification on my Collins 51J4 with similar success.

Just my 2-cents worth!

73 de Mike
K7PI
Mercer Island, WA


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Miles B. Anderson" <mbalaw at optonline.net>
To: "R-390 Mailman" <R-390 at Mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 6:58 AM
Subject: [R-390] Another R-390A Carrier Meter Question
> The easiest way to hook up a "real" S-Meter for an R-390A or any other
> receiver for that matter is just to pick up the AVC bus and meter it with 
> a
> very high impedance (preferably 10 Meg) meter. I did this with a GRR-5 and
> homebrewed a meter amplifier with an FET. It's even easier with an R-390
> because the AVC voltage is available at the Diode Load pin on the back 
> panel
> (or the front panel pin jack if it's a Navy modified unit). If you don't
> want to compromise your principles, you can build a genuine hollow state
> meter amplifier (VTVM) with a 12AU7 12AT7 or any other dual triode. Just 
> see
> look at the print for a Heathkit or EICO VTVM or any tube era ARRL 
> Handbook.
>
> Miles, K2CBY
>
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