[R-390] curious about my R388/URR

[Flowertime01 at wmconnect.com]

Ken,

A R388/URR is coming close to near unobtainium ***RARE*** 
So $2000.00 would not be an unreal value.

There is no solid state receiver of equal or better performance that covers 
the VLF
band space. A transceiver that covers the VLF band would be at least $3000.00.
The receiver side of these transceivers are still not as good as the receive 
capability of a well maintained R388/URR. If you are serious about VLF then 
nothing will equal the capabilities of a R388/URR. The nitch for VLF has 
precluded any manufacture from producing a better receiver. Had the military not 
begged Collins to design and build the receiver for military use, we would still 
not even have a VLF receiver as good as the R388. You just are not going to 
wonder off and order up a solid state VLF receiver to replace your R388.

For insurance purposes, the idea is you once owned one and mother nature has 
spread it across the real estate or some clown has relocated it to some where 
you know not. It is flat missing with or without other items.

A fire would be total loss. $2000.00.
Thief would be total loss. $2000.00.

If you still have the carcass, (Tornado, flood, Near fire but no burns on 
wire harness or paint smoke and water damage only) a rebuild would only cost 
about $1000.00.
This is less than 40 hours work and some tubes.

If a switch wafer or such is broken, the receiver may not be repairable.
Finding a suitable replacement part could consume hundreds of hours
on the net. Lots of pictures and lots of E mail.

Pull all the modules down to, Clean, Wash, Remove sand and grit.
Clean dry and inspect.
Lube, Align, Mechanical align.
Replace broken tubes.
Test all the tubes.
Reassemble everything
Align, and test.

40 man hours at $25.00  hour with shop overhead and all would cost $1000.00 
just for the labor. Parts would then be in addition. 

A front panel paint job is only about $300.00 more than the other rebuild 
stuff.
This would need to be from some other source as I do not have the equipment.
This may or may not be needed depending on the amount of damage.
Good tubes after a flood or tornado are average $5.00 each.

Insurance may or may not cover repaint and tubes.
Good photos from before (like now) would help make the case.
Flood is not likely to damage tubes.
Tornados can kill all the tubes. The receiver may not look like it moved 
after a tornado. However you have no idea how much vibration and shaking the 
receiver under went in the event. The shaking will cause tubes to fail. You have no 
idea what thumped the receiver in the event. Things not expected can be 
broken from a tornado.

Tornados can kill transistors from wind friction and static charges. Tornados 
are even more destructive to today's newer equipment.

I hope Rick Mish, will offer you a quote as a second opinion for the 
insurance company.
Save any other mail you receive in reply to your inquire as more is better.

Roger L. Ruszkowski AI4NI
U.S. Army Trained in 1968 to repair R388/URR receivers.
Repaired receivers for the U.S. Army from 1968 through 1975.
Performing custom repair of receivers since 1975. 

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