[R-390] Fowler

[Tim Shoppa]

K2CBY:
> I've been fascinated by the lengthy Fowler commentary. It is exposing a side
> of the hobby I didn't know existed.

> I've got a fairly early Motorola R-390A (S/N 1500). Frankly, I never thought
> of it as a collector's item -- just a fine receiver that's given me a lot of
> good use over the last 25 years.

> It has never made any difference to me whether a particular receiver is
> "rare" or as common as mud -- just so long as I can keep it running and
> optimize performance.

A huge feature in terms of "keeping it running" is the interchangability of
modules for modules that were manufactured a few decades apart.

If you start insisting on not just all modules being from the same
manufacturer, but also having the same original S/N (never mind that
out of the factory the numbers probably didn't match), then things get a lot lot
harder, and every radio becomes a limited edition of one.

> I subscribe to this list mainly for the technical discussions.

Me too! In fact rather than just being a module-swapper I now am
confident about solving and diagnosing to the component level any
module.

Tim.