[R-390] R-390 Digest, Vol 55, Issue 8 - New Guy

Fri Nov 28 17:40:26 EST 2008

Frank;

You're hooked like the rest of us!   Welcome aboard.

Take the time to download the fantastic manuals prepared by members of this group - they are worth their weight in Gold.

Bob from California
an R-390A owner also without a transmitter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

--- On Fri, 11/28/08, r-390-request at mailman.qth.net <r-390-request at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

From: r-390-request at mailman.qth.net <r-390-request at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: R-390 Digest, Vol 55, Issue 8
To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
Date: Friday, November 28, 2008, 11:25 AM

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Today's Topics:

   1. new guy (frankshughes at aim.com)
   2. Re: new guy (Cecil Acuff)
   3. Re: new guy (Bill Kirkland)
   4. Re: new guy (Mike Andrews W5EGO)
   5. RE: new guy (Bill Hawkins)
   6. Re: new guy (Richard Loken)
   7. Re: new guy (John Lawson)
   8. Re: new guy (Bob Bruno - K2KI)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:48:21 -0500
From: frankshughes at aim.com
Subject: [R-390] new guy
To: R-390 at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <8CB1F9041C3A68C-910-283 at FWM-D15.sysops.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

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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Message: 2
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:09:11 -0600
From: "Cecil Acuff" <chacuff at cableone.net>
Subject: Re: [R-390] new guy
To: <R-390 at mailman.qth.net>, <frankshughes at aim.com>
Message-ID: <036001c9517c$08c7b4b0$6401a8c0 at acuff1>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

Well you have gone and done it now.....

You skipped you flu shot and done gone and caught the Boat Anchor bug....

There is no known cure.  Treatment of the symptoms is to purchase another 
one from time to time and restore them as you find time.  Up side is they do 
sell pretty well and you can finance your new habit.  Forget rehab....I've 
never known anybody to have success with that....there is always a relapse.

Getting your ham license does ease the pain a bit as you can focus on other 
things related but that also opens a whole new door of boat anchor equipment 
that causes flare ups in the fever...

We wish you well...staying plugged into a focus group keeps things somewhat 
under control...

We're the AA of Boat Anchor Radio's....HA!

Happy Thanksgiving...

Cecil Acuff
K5DL
Gulf Coast of MS
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <frankshughes at aim.com>
To: <R-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 10:48 AM
Subject: [R-390] new guy

> 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
>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> _____________________________________________________________
> R-390 mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/faq.htm
> Post: mailto:R-390 at mailman.qth.net
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------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:49:29 +0000
From: "Bill Kirkland" <kirklandb at sympatico.ca>
Subject: Re: [R-390] new guy
To: chacuff at cableone.net, R-390 at mailman.qth.net, frankshughes at aim.com
Message-ID: <COL0-F1632A314F535EC59E5117DCF040 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Yes, definitely early stages of the BAB (boat anchor bug).
Apparently it develops into attractions for all things Collins, as well
as for Hammarlund, Hallicrafters and National. Not to leave out old
tube manuals, tube testers and old ARRL manuals, QSTs etc.

Enjoy, it is great fun exploring these engineering marvels.

bill, ve3jhu

>From: "Cecil Acuff" <chacuff at cableone.net>
>To: <R-390 at mailman.qth.net>, <frankshughes at aim.com>
>Subject: Re: [R-390] new guy
>Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:09:11 -0600
>
>Well you have gone and done it now.....
>
>You skipped you flu shot and done gone and caught the Boat Anchor bug....
>
>There is no known cure.  Treatment of the symptoms is to purchase another 
>one from time to time and restore them as you find time.  Up side is they 
>do sell pretty well and you can finance your new habit.  Forget 
>rehab....I've never known anybody to have success with that....there is

>always a relapse.
>
>Getting your ham license does ease the pain a bit as you can focus on other

>things related but that also opens a whole new door of boat anchor 
>equipment that causes flare ups in the fever...
>
>We wish you well...staying plugged into a focus group keeps things somewhat

>under control...
>
>We're the AA of Boat Anchor Radio's....HA!
>
>Happy Thanksgiving...
>
>Cecil Acuff
>K5DL
>Gulf Coast of MS
>----- Original Message ----- From: <frankshughes at aim.com>
>To: <R-390 at mailman.qth.net>
>Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 10:48 AM
>Subject: [R-390] new guy
>
>
>>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
>>
>
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>>_____________________________________________________________
>>R-390 mailing list
>>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
>>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/faq.htm
>>Post: mailto:R-390 at mailman.qth.net
>>Unsubscribe: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/options/r-390
>
>
>_____________________________________________________________
>R-390 mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/faq.htm
>Post: mailto:R-390 at mailman.qth.net
>Unsubscribe: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/options/r-390

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:49:58 -0600
From: Mike Andrews W5EGO <mikea at mikea.ath.cx>
Subject: Re: [R-390] new guy
To: R-390 at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <20081128184958.GB21764 at mikea.ath.cx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

On Fri, Nov 28, 2008 at 05:49:29PM +0000, Bill Kirkland wrote:
> 
> Yes, definitely early stages of the BAB (boat anchor bug).
> Apparently it develops into attractions for all things Collins, as well
> as for Hammarlund, Hallicrafters and National. Not to leave out old
> tube manuals, tube testers and old ARRL manuals, QSTs etc.
> 
> Enjoy, it is great fun exploring these engineering marvels.

I underwstand that really advanced cases have symptoms which include 
trying to reconstruct Babbage's Difference Engine and Vannevar Bush's
Differential Analyzer. 

Lovely widgetry, of which the 390 and its relatives are the most 
easily available exemplars. Think of 'em as steampunk electronics.

-- 
Mike Andrews, W5EGO
mikea at mikea.ath.cx
Tired old sysadmin 

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:59:11 -0600
From: "Bill Hawkins" <bill at iaxs.net>
Subject: RE: [R-390] new guy
To: <R-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <859F9306045F433FA11E72108EF493C8 at cyrus>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Welcome, Frank. There are exciting days ahead as you learn new
things about fine old radios. Perhaps, after a while, you'll
want to read the Engineering Report to learn more about their
design.

Cecil, you said, "We're the AA of Boat Anchor Radio's....HA!"

Perhaps the "HA!" was the same as "NOT!" This list is a
strong
enabler for drawing people into receivers that are the peak of
vacuum tube technology.

It is said that time wounds all heels, or something like that.
Time goes by, and there is little left to discover - or -
your back becomes too weak to lift your new love. That's the
way to get away from these radios. Well, there's one other,
but we won't talk about that.

Bill Hawkins, who got an example of each of the Collins designs
except the airborne 390 (too crowded) and then got too old to
lift them. All gone now, except for some parts ...

------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:01:36 -0700 (MST)
From: Richard Loken <richardlo at admin.athabascau.ca>
Subject: Re: [R-390] new guy
To: Mike Andrews W5EGO <mikea at mikea.ath.cx>
Cc: R-390 at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID:
	<Pine.PMDF.4.44L.0811281152220.6789-100000 at local.admin.athabascau.ca>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Fri, 28 Nov 2008, Mike Andrews W5EGO wrote:

> I underwstand that really advanced cases have symptoms which include
> trying to reconstruct Babbage's Difference Engine and Vannevar
Bush's
> Differential Analyzer.

As one tired old sysadmin to another.  What about those poor souls who
had to recontstruct colossus from vague anecdotes, ilicit photos, and
scattered footprints at Bletchley Park?

Speaking of sysadmins and retro addictions...

I was amused and amazed to be chastised recently for taking pictures with a
30 year old Minolta SLR and then lectured on the instant gratification that
can be had from a digital camera.  My reply to them is that I do modern
technology for a living, I sure as H___ do not have to do it for recreation.

-- 
   Richard Loken VE6BSV, Unix System Administrator : "Anybody can be a
father
   Athabasca University                            :  but you have to earn
   Athabasca, Alberta Canada                       :  the title of
'daddy'"
   ** richardlo at admin.athabascau.ca **             :  - Lynn Johnston

------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:07:41 -0500 (EST)
From: John Lawson <jpl15 at panix.com>
Subject: Re: [R-390] new guy
To: R-390 at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <Pine.NEB.4.64.0811281354400.14908 at panix3.panix.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

On Fri, 28 Nov 2008, Mike Andrews W5EGO wrote:

>> On Fri, Nov 28, 2008 at 05:49:29PM +0000, Bill Kirkland wrote:
>>
>> Yes, definitely early stages of the BAB (boat anchor bug).
>> Apparently it develops into attractions for all things Collins, as
well

  [snip]

>
> I understand that really advanced cases have symptoms which include
> trying to reconstruct Babbage's Difference Engine and Vannevar
Bush's
> Differential Analyzer.
>
>

   Like This:

     http://www.vintage.org/gallery.php?grouptag=VCF70

   And scroll down a bit to Tim Robinson's two exhibit photos - the 
Difference Engine and Bush's Differential Analyzer - in Meccano, the 
English 'version' of the Erector Set - all working models.  (!!!)
I saw these working, and have my own photos of them. Just astounding!

  Slightly more on-topic:

  The BA Disease can strike early:

Many parents discipline their children by grounding, denial of TV Time, 
a few well-placed spanks, etc.

   Mine simply went out to the fuse panel, removed the fuse feeding my 
room, and put a little brass lock on the box. There was nothing so 
devastating as a dark bedroom full of lifeless electronics...   it was a 
very successful method of 'unruly behavior modification' - not that I
was 
a particularly "bad" kid - but I got into my share of mischief...

   I had a National NC-240D from age 10 on - I would have killed to have 
had an R-390 back then - had to wait until my mid-20s however. And I've 
owned 8 or so over the years.... none in the shack currently, but I do 
have my beloved R-388, and I like it actually better, overall, than the 
390s...

   Cheers and Best of the Season

John KB6SCO
DM09fg

------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:20:48 -0500
From: Bob Bruno - K2KI <k2ki at starc.org>
Subject: Re: [R-390] new guy
To: frankshughes at aim.com
Cc: R-390 at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <49304490.8060908 at starc.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi Frank,

Oh My God!!! I am getting that goosebump feeling. I know exactly what 
you are experiencing as I came to being in a very similar way. Keep 
going and don't stop for anyone! And by all means, get those ham friends 
of yours to be your elmers! (If they aren't already).

Oh... one other thing... If you plan on BA's gracing your home, you 
might want to have your floors reinforced. I speak from experience. 
(there is something unsettling to the sound of a floor joist snapping at 
4AM).

By the way... What is your age? Just wondering if you caught the B.A.B 
at a young age.

73, cul...
Bob de k2ki

frankshughes at aim.com wrote:
> 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
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Tis the season to save your money! Get the new AOL Holiday Toolbar 
>
<http://toolbar.aol.com/holiday/download.html?ncid=emlweusdown00000008> 
> for money saving offers and gift ideas.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _____________________________________________________________
> R-390 mailing list
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> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/faq.htm
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************************************
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