[R-390] new guy

[frankshughes at aim.com]

Hi,
I'm new to DXing and SW in general. So I'm a few decades late to the party. 

Don't have an FCC license, not transmitting at this time, but the couple of HAM's I have recently made friends with 
say I may end up w/ a transmitter someday, I just don't know it yet.

I became interested in? listening to SW for civil emergencies and disaster preparedness.

Bought a Sony ICF-SW07 (Hey, have to start somewhere...) and learned how to use it to navigate the bands.

That gave me the bug, so after a couple of years w/ the Sony, I started Googling around to learn more about 
SW receivers.

I started reading about Collins, as it came up frequently in Google. 
The 390 & "A" model were fascinating!? 
I noted that many people have put in vast effort in documenting everything
ever known about these.? Why?? 

So I started reading  all the old HSN newsletters that Google found , and reading the old "Tech Talk",
and reading all the TM's that have been turned into .pdf's. (I enjoy reading technical manuals - abbynormal, I know)

That did it.
?
Bought an R-390A, 1958 all Motorola rebuilt by Rick Mish. A friend gave me a home-built 10M antenna that I hung between
a coupe of trees.?  

Well, one thing leads to another, so I recently bought a AN/URM-25, HP-410C, HP-5316A freq. counter. (Already had a Tek 2215 scope.)

Bought a pile'o tubes, and Chuck R.'s DVD on how to troubleshoot & repair the R-390A. 

I have also discovered that the R-390A will receive radio "signals" if powered on and tuned (when I'm not playing with the test equipment...)

I have a ROHN-25 tower that needs to be put up, and an Alpha Delta DX-ULTRA to hang on it. I also intend to shoot a long-wire over a few of the trees
so that I have two sources to try.

I want to attend a HAM swap! There have to be some in Florida. I would like to see if I can find some spare filters& related parts.  

This is a fun hobby!
Frank in Florida
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