[R-390] Long time ago

[William A Kulze]

I've always felt like I missed out on the radio repair side while in the Air Force. Went to Keesler AFB as a Ground Radio Communications Equipment Repairman. Learned Rx principles on the R-390. Did well enough in school that I was sent to a station in a job that had no school. There were only 9 (I think) shops like it in the AF. I was assigned to the 1957 Comm Group and was a SCOPE Control technician at Hickam Airways. Had secure voice/data capability for VIP comm across the Pacific. Had a system in there that did A/D and D/A conversion and could send it through crypto. Fairly simple today, flip open your phone and make a call. That system consisted of two 6' racks from Motorola and Philco. Installed in 1964.

But I never saw another radio! Worked on switchboard, consoles, line amps, etc. Even had two huge 10" or 12" tape transports, inch-wide tape and 10 channels, one was always WWV/WWVH. If there was an incident one of the ops would go stick a piece of paper in the reel so they could find it later. Three lines from Andrews, 3 to Clark and 3 to Yakota. Could patch Autovon into switchboard if Andrews needed another line. Had to do that soon after finishing OJT and working shift alone. Was listening in to see if I got it right I heard the op cal for plane 27000. Didn't realize that was AF One, Carter was flying around the world.

I'm told that the Airways station is gone now, I think all of the mil air traffic just goes straight to ATC in Diamondhead.

I've heard Andrews on 15016 upper. I guess still part of the old network, not sure what they've got these days, though.

Bill W2NVD
Motorola R-390a, 14-phila-56 SN 822
And more

Lived in Santa Rosa in the 90's. Worked at Haltex when I first got there, now World Wide Wire. There was a guy cleaning house who gave me most of the BA gear I have now either for free or real cheap! Then worked at Air Monitor Corp and Agilent on Foutaingrove until carly's big layoff move. That's when you started finding call centers for HP in india.


Remember, the bad tube is the one with the paint spot on the bottom!

-----Original Message-----

How many of us (R390A fans) were M-brancher's in  NavSecGru?


This may bring out a flood of replies!


KE5RI	
Santa Rosa, CA


______________________________________________________________