[R-390] Active List

[Richard Loken]

On Thu, 24 Feb 2011, Tisha Hayes wrote:

> It can be overwhelming to think of the amount of detail that went into the
> design of the R-390- 390A series of radios to go after the level of accuracy
> and stability they achieved with tube based gear.
>
> I bet that almost none of it was done using even a primitive computer to do
> the curves and calculations of how all of the components came together into
> making the design.

Ironically I think as much innovation and intelligance was required in the 
other camp: mad man Muntz and his cheap TV sets and Hallicrafters.  Those 
guys would build a design and remove parts until it no longer worked. 
Designing the cheapest possible radio out of discrete components that can be 
reliably mass produced is no mean feat either.

I absolutely detested trying to fix them.  I worked in industry on the
broadcast equivelent of the R390 where trouble shooting and repair were
pretty easy - I did not care for my occasional exposures to minimalist
consumer electronics.

-- 
    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