[R-390] Autotune ARR-15

Tom M. courir26 at yahoo.com
Sun Apr 9 17:00:34 EDT 2006


I had a ARR-15 with good autotune.

The motor was made by Hamilton Beach so I could mix beverages with it and tune
the radio.

Roy Morgan has it now.  How is my radio Roy?

Tom

--- Barry Hauser <barry at hausernet.com> wrote:

> I have a couple of '391's and had the autotuners working -- for a short 
> while.  If I were to let one of them just run on (I pulled the plug), it 
> would probably self-modify the 10-turn stops to infinite-turn and 
> theoretically tune the RF deck to UHF, or maybe even Wi-Fi ;-)
> 
> >From what I've heard, most of the '391's never, or hardly ever, had their 
> autotuners in use.  Of course, they require a heavy-duty 28 volt DC supply, 
> but there's another thing.  The motor is fairly high rpm and geared down. 
> Sounds like a mixmaster or an A/C (not rechargeable) drill -- and no 
> wonder -- motor is courtesy of Hamilton-Beach.  The PTO, it's gearing and 
> the RF deck is stock, but the R-390/URR -- "the man's radio" -- has somewhat 
> heavier components.  Even so, it puts some stress on things.
> 
> In addition, it makes a racket and quite a bit of vibration -- not too kind 
> to tube elements and some other components.  Not great for coils and 
> trimmers, nor probably crystals, for that matter.  An even greater 
> consideration with mechanical filters, in the case of an "A" rendition. 
> Probably a good idea to have a few spares of those and maybe a dozen extra 
> ballast tubes on hand.
> 
> I don't know if such considerations helped put the cabosh on the R-391A such 
> that only 2 were made -- or did even those get fully completed?  While the 
> autotune is an interesting curiosity -- and does work when it works on the 
> '391 -- it isn't all that practical.
> 
> Downright scary when you fire one up.  ("Omigosh!  What's that thing doing 
> to my radio!  So much for that RF deck alignment I just did!")
> 
> If you want to get an idea, just remove either or both of the MC and KC 
> knobs from your R-390A or R-390, chuck up one of the shafts in your old 3/8" 
> Black 'n Decker variable speed drill, and give 'er a spin.
> 
> Barry
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Les Locklear" <leslocklear at cableone.net>
> To: <paul at pdq.com>; <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Sunday, April 09, 2006 10:52 AM
> Subject: Re: [R-390] wow... the R-391A does exist
> 
> 
> > The existence of that particular experimental R391A has been known for a 
> > while. There more than likely not a "small handful" to be found anywhere. 
> > This prototype and possible one more exist.
> >
> > All of the R390X, R-725 were originally built with the X or XC designator. 
> > Looks rough as 40 grit sandpaper to me. YMMV
> >
> > Les Locklear
> > Monitoring Since '57
> > Located On the Gulf of Mexico
> > Gulfport, MS.
> > http://www.hammarlund.info/homepage.html
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Paul H. Anderson" <paul at pdq.com>
> > To: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> > Sent: Sunday, April 09, 2006 8:38 AM
> > Subject: [R-390] wow... the R-391A does exist
> >
> >
> >>
> >> I would not normally post 'seen on ebay', but this is absolutely 
> >> astounding.
> >>
> >> There's an R-391 XC-2 radio on eBay - item # 9710078628.
> >>
> >> I think I about had a heart attack when I saw it (I'm a big fan of 
> >> R-391's).
> >>
> >> I asked the seller to list more pictures of the autotune area - hopefully 
> >> we can learn more about it.
> >>
> >> No relationship to the seller...
> >>
> >> Paul
> >> _____________________________________________________________
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> >>
> >> -- 
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> >>
> >>
> >
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> 
> 
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