[R-390] First radio thread

[djed1 at aol.com]

 Brings back fond memories, which I have recaptured to some extent.  After a couple of beginners receivers, my Elmer suggested I buy a real radio: a surplus Super Pro.  I saved my newspaper money, and paid the magnificent sum of $75 for a BC-779 Super Pro.  I was delighted by the S meter, and the pinpoint frequency readout using the scribed index lines.  I also quickly learned about not touching the IF trimmers, which are hot to B+, and how to replace the failing bypass capacitors.  I enjoyed SWLing with the radio all through my college years, until a few years later a new flame appeared, the R-390A. They were being offered by Herb Gordon at about $2000, but I persuaded my wife to let me buy one at a more reasonable price of $595 from Ted Dames.  The BC-779, by then heavily modified, was given away a few years later.
Anyway, at Dayton a few years ago I ran across a BC-779 which was nice cosmetically, but has some modifications.  I've spent the last 4 years restoring it to all-original condition, and it delights me no end.  For serious listening, I still reach for the R-390A, but it lacks the charm of the illuminated S meter and analog dials.
Incidentally, several years ago I built a SSB adapter for the R-390A which has been very satisfactory.  Alex, AI2Q, has posted his version on the web (he added a crystal BFO oscillator to my original design.  I have more info if anyone is interested in rolling their own. The circuit's claim to fame is that it requires no modifications to the radio, provides a product detector and fast attack AVC, and uses the existing R-390A audio chain.  I've become convinced that the crystal BFO is not ideal, because you can't set it correctly for both 2 and 4 KHz bandwidths.  I replaced my variable BFO with one using a surplus R-392 BFO coil, and it's as stable as the basic radio.
Ed  W2EMN

 


 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tisha Hayes <tisha.hayes at gmail.com>
To: r-390 <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tue, Aug 16, 2011 10:00 pm
Subject: Re: [R-390] First radio thread


My first receiver as also an SP-200 with a black crinkle finish and the

first bandswitch position 1st RF stage burnt out by lightning. I used to put

the heavy power supply on top of the case and eventually the weight caused

the cloth covered audio cord to short out. I think it blew out the audio

transformer but I was getting ready to go off to college at the time and did

not get around to fixing it.



A few years later I found it in my parents garage, my brothers had used the

front of the radio for BB gun practice and it broke my heart to see all of

the dings and broken glass. Other things took precedence and surreptitiously

would dip back into SWL with portable radios or this nice Telefunken floor

console radio/ record player we owned.



Wanting to recapture the magic of that SP-200 brought me back in with an

SP-600 and then enough parts to build another SP-600 until I jumped to the

R-390A.



Yes, it is a little bit of an obsession, lots of wire for antennas, more

capable radios, etc... I too can stop at any time <lol> that's why when I go

to the Huntsville hamfest this weekend I will not let anything follow me

home!



-- 

Ms. Tisha Hayes/ AA4HA

-

*"Learning is not virtue but the means to bring us an acquaintance with it.

Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without

integrity is dangerous and dreadful. Let these be your motives to action

through life, the relief of the distressed, the detection of frauds, the

defeat of oppression, and diffusion of happiness."  -- Nathanael Greene*

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