[R-390] R-389 stuff, Part I

[Mark Huss]

William. Rumor has it (Probably heard it here  :-) ) that when the Army, 
etc deployed to Desert Shield in 90, the first things to go were the 
solid-state Intercept receivers, prompting a mad scramble Stateside to 
resurrect R-390A's that had been flushed from the system ten years 
before because, "We Gotta have Solid State, even if it isn't quite as 
good as the R-390A. It is getting embarrassing to have these old relics 
laying about :-[ "
Don't get me wrong. Solid-State can do wondrous things, until Thor's 
Hammer drops. There was an HF system once that had top of the line 
Solid-State Receivers in it. Dozens of them. And right above every one 
in the rack was an R-390A. Cuse as God is my Witness, the Solid-state 
unit front-ends would pop like popcorn whenever a Lightning Strike got 
within two miles of the Antenna Farm. Spring was so bad we just unhooked 
the SS Receivers, and just did everything manually, because every time 
the SS receiver went, it cost three hours of time, and a $600 module.
The R-390() and A are like the DC-3. Lots of Planes can do lots of 
things a DC-3 can. And do it a lot better. But nothing yet has come 
along that can do it all quite so well. And if you don't believe me, 
DC-3's are Still carrying cargo (and a few passengers), even in the US. 
Because there just isn't anything flying that can haul 12,000 lbs of 
cargo taking up 900 cubic feet over a thousand miles, and still make 
money for its owner sitting on the ground 20 hours a day.
Such is progress.

William J. Neill wrote:
> The observation about EMP brings back an awkward memory. I lived in 
> San Antonio between 1981 and 1989 and was a member of the Assn of Old 
> Crows and a few other spook groups at the time and once a month, AOC 
> and AFCEA would have a luncheon at Kelly AFB officer's club. At one 
> particular luncheon (at which my hero, Bobby Ray Inman was the guest 
> speaker), a USAF COL from ESC was seated diagonally from me and we 
> struck up a conversation about HF comms. He was describing current 
> technologies employed by USAF for HF comms and some of the spiffy 
> solid-state receivers and other odds and ends they were using to keep 
> peace alive in the world.
>
> Upon conclusion of his comments, I described that I was running four 
> R-390( )s and and few other vacuum tube receivers at home and being a 
> technological dinosaur, I just didn't understand how beneficial the 
> new receivers were other than saving lotsa weight and maybe some 
> watts. The nice COL then offered up some truly fond memories of R-390( 
> )s, R-388s, and SP-600s and concluded his comment with "Well, son, at 
> least you'll still be working after the first EMP". Even today, I 
> think that is a classic, almost legendary observation, coming from a 
> true professional.
>
> Bill Neill
> Conroe, People's Democratic Emirate of Texas
>
>
> On Jan 14, 2007, at 3:19 PM, odyslim at comcast.net wrote:
>
>> Bill, I am with you. How many could there be left. The seller of the 
>> 4k radio
>> said there were only 200 left. Where did he get his numbers? I am sure
>> over half are at the bottom of the sea or buried by one of those huge 
>> dozers
>> with those spiked steel wheels they use to crush things with before 
>> disposal.
>>
>> Someone should do a 389 and 390 census. Or has one already been done.
>> On the other hand maybe we should skip the census, Uncle Sam might take
>> them back after the big EMP comes.
>>
>> Scott
>>
>> -------------- Original message ----------------------
>> From: "William J. Neill" <wjneill at consolidated.net>
>>> McKinney, Texas, eh? My brother-in-law and his wife live in
>>> McKinney. Would be nice to have another R-389 to provide
>>> companionship with one I've had for probably 40 years or more,
>>> Collins S/N 363.
>>>
>>> I wonder just how many R-389s are still alive and where they are.
>>>
>>> Bill Neill
>>> Conroe, Texas
>>>
>>> On Jan 14, 2007, at 10:30 AM, Cecil Acuff wrote:
>>>
>>>> When you find one in your pile of stuff for $1200 that is complete
>>>> but needs restoration drop me a note.....I might be able to get
>>>> that past the CFO.
>>>>
>>>> Nice as the R-390 on Ebay, and probably the one you have for sale
>>>> is, both are too rich for my budget and thus out of reach. I'll
>>>> continue to use my SP-600VLF and Frequency Selective Voltmeter.
>>>>
>>>> Cecil.....
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Arney" <hankarn at pacbell.net>
>>>> To: "Cecil Acuff" <chacuff at cableone.net>
>>>> Cc: <ToddRoberts2001 at aol.com>; <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
>>>> Sent: Sunday, January 14, 2007 9:54 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [R-390] Wow R-389 sold for $4K on Ebay
>>>>
>>>>> I have a R-389 just as nice plus original manual and original
>>>>> covers for $3950.00 packed and ready plus UPS shipping and
>>>>> insurance. Firm, or $3900.00 prepaid pick up in McKinney TX.
>>>>> Will go on the bay on the 17th if no takers.
>>>>>
>>>>> Hank
>>>>> KN6DI/5
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Some people are like a Slinky .. not really good for anything,
but you still can’t help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
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