[R-390] An CW Evening with the R-390A

[Chuck Curran]

Hello All:

 

I have only posted 2-3 previous messages to this list, but tonight I had to
comment on a pleasant experience with my R-390A.  I have a Capehart 1962
model that an 84 year old Uncle gave to me in the spring of 2005.  I spent
that summer of 2005  "picking through it".  I recapped it, realigned it, and
ended up wit a BFO problem, that was tracked down to a plate resistor 10K
high.   That got fixed fast.   I followed the list commentary closely over
the last 18 months, yes, lurking, and I really came to appreciate the
experience and technical expertise that was so willingly shared with all.
Thanks!

 

I was licensed back in 1963 and simply dropped out around 1975 and then got
the R-390A, and a Heath SB-101 in the spring of 2005 from my Uncle.  I
rebuilt the SB-101 first and got on the air.  It was nice but I then quickly
purchased an Icom IC-743 in March of this year and I was amazed at the
enhancements available - ya, I was really out of touch!  However, the hook
was again set.

 

The entire point of this posting is that tonight I had the R-390A on a 70
foot long wire about 20 feet off the ground and the Icom was on a 250 foot
long wire 45 feet above the ground with an  Icom AH-4 in-line tuner making
the transceiver  happy.  I just happen to decide to compare the two.  I
tuned into W1AW on 3580 Khz with the Icom and the big antenna, then also
tuned in using the 390A on that little antenna.  As a FYI, I am in
Wisconsin.

 

I was quite surprised at how much easier it was to copy CW on the 390A -
probably not news to this group, but I was still totally amazed.  I would
never want to use the Icom for CW when the Collins was available, the
Collins being at least 3-4 times better.  It actually just smoked the doors
off of the Icom, which did a nice job, considering I have not mentioned it
had the standard filters and no optional added benefits.  With the 390A
using the 1 KHz band pass, it was dramatically easier to copy the signal,
even though both receivers had very, very strong S meter readings. 

 

Glad I now have a shelf full of spare 390A tubes, it should keep me going
for a long time.

 

Thanks for all of the shared wisdom,

 

Chuck Curran WA9POU