[R-390] R390a Spotted in video

Glenn Scott wa4aos at aol.com
Fri May 17 22:15:13 EDT 2013


 Hi,

In 1976, I had the privileged to visit the, then NASA tracking center near Rosman NC. There, I recall seeing either 4 or 6, R390A's , don't remember for sure,
In this tracking center that was use to track the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions earlier.. 
Even though communication to the various space ships was done on VHF and UHF, HF was used from some of the tracking stations at sea.

I did some more you-tube searches and ran across this wonderful video of the Friendship Seven mission. This was the one with John Glenn in 1962.
I did spot R390A's at 3.28 and 10;15 minutes into the video. There were other shots where I only saw rack handles and can not confirm that those were 390A's
This video is almost an hour and was EXCELLENT. Much video of the tracking stations around the globe as well as lots of conversation between John Glenn and the ground stations.
I'll report video of the R 390A receivers in various applications from those days to the group and would appreciate hearing from others about possible finds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJBJ-_KN470

73,
Glenn WA4AOS
DSM Labs (dot com)
 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: r-390-request <r-390-request at mailman.qth.net>
To: r-390 <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Fri, May 17, 2013 3:02 pm
Subject: R-390 Digest, Vol 109, Issue 24


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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Fuse Holders (Barry)
   2. AT&T Telstar video (Glenn Scott)
   3. R-390 Sub use (John Flood)
   4. Re: R-390 Sub use (Tom Chirhart)


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

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 13:16:13 -0400 (EDT)
From: Barry <n4buq at knology.net>
To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net, drakeradio at yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [R-390] Fuse Holders
Message-ID:
	<1779516832.29011391.1368724573269.JavaMail.root at md01.knology.synacor.com>
	
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

The ones from RS, Mouser, etc., are not typically as well made as the old 
LittleFuse holders.  A lot of BA gear used the LittleFuse holders (or 
equivalent).

Regards,
Barry - N4BUQ

----- Original Message -----
> From: "MICHAEL FISCH" <mfisch at kent.edu>
> To: "Don Cunningham" <donc at martineer.net>, "Barry" <n4buq at knology.net>, 
r-390 at mailman.qth.net,
> drakeradio at yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2013 10:53:51 AM
> Subject: RE: [R-390] Fuse Holders
> 
> I think radio shack still has them.  No idea of quality.
> Mike


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

Message: 2
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 15:41:57 -0400 (EDT)
From: Glenn Scott <wa4aos at aol.com>
To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [R-390] AT&T Telstar video
Message-ID: <8D020848F91F7E0-1AA8-3AFF4 at Webmail-d103.sysops.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


 Hi,

In my recent quest to find more applications of the R 390 series receivers, I 
ran into a bunch of old 
AT&T videos on you-tube that were posted in 2011. These videos range from the 
early 60's through the mid 70's
of the few I have looked at.
Although maybe a little off topic, these videos are from the same era as are our 
coveted receivers.
I did not see a 390 of any type in the various racks but the videos were 
fascinating all the same.
Many of us grew up with the space program, perhaps some were involved one way or 
another.
In this video, you will see the first ever Sat phone call from Maine to DC, On 
the DC end was VP Johnson, 
Then a speech that JFK made was televised through Telstar to Europe for the 
first time. 

There are many more of these AT&T archived videos on you-tube that I have not 
looked at yet.
 If anyone spots a 390 series Rx in one of these, please report it to the 
group..

The video also rekindled many good old memories of days when so much ground 
breaking R&D was being conducted.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKH-GijnAGk

73 es ENJOY
Glenn WA4AOS

DSM Labs (dot com)



 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: r-390-request <r-390-request at mailman.qth.net>
To: r-390 <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thu, May 16, 2013 3:00 pm
Subject: R-390 Digest, Vol 109, Issue 21


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	r-390 at mailman.qth.net

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When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: 17 MHz Crystal (Roger Ruszkowski)
   2. Re: Caps (Roger Ruszkowski)
   3. Shell Aeroshell #7 (Ed Tanton)
   4. Re: John's R 390A article MORE?? (Ron Kolarik)
   5. Re: John's R 390A article MORE?? (Jeff Adams)
   6. Re: John's R 390A article MORE?? (Nick England)
   7. Re: John's R 390A article MORE?? (Duffy Floyd)


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

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 17:35:27 -0400 (EDT)
From: Roger Ruszkowski <flowertime01 at wmconnect.com>
To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [R-390] 17 MHz Crystal
Message-ID: <8D01FCB3F8F599D-12F0-24F94 at webmail-m275.sysops.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


Wait, wait,

There must be some thing we can do
to save that crystal. Its all there. 
it just has a new feature we do not yet know how to 
utilize.

Roger AI4NI

R-390 at mailman.qth.net





-----Original Message-----
From: Gordon <gordon at n6wk.com>
To: r390 reflector <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tue, May 14, 2013 6:25 pm
Subject: Re: [R-390] 17 MHz Crystal


Well, I took the crystal apart and found the problem.
http://www.n6wk.com/R-390A/17Mhz-Crystal.JPG

There is No repairing this one.  LOL

Gordon
N6WK


On 5/14/2013 6:47 AM, Steve Hobensack wrote:
> Usually a bad crystal can be repaired. dismantle and remove the crystal. Soak 
everything is soap and water. I have found that degreaser spray does not work as 


good as soap and water. Use a toothbrush. rinse several times, final rinse use 
distilled water. Also check electrical continuity between the pins and contact 
plates. Dry the crystal with a clean cotton dish towel. Use a hair dryier on the 


holder. It works most of the time for me. It even improves chirpy/lazy crystals.
> Steve N8YE 		 	   		
> ______________________________________________________________
> R-390 mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
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------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 17:43:44 -0400 (EDT)
From: Roger Ruszkowski <flowertime01 at wmconnect.com>
To: R-390 at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [R-390] Caps
Message-ID: <8D01FCC6885BFBE-12F0-25174 at webmail-m275.sysops.aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


John,

I like the clock over the left hand receiver.

Roger.







-----Original Message-----
From: John Flood <kb1fqg at yahoo.com>
To: r-390 <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tue, May 14, 2013 5:26 pm
Subject: Re: [R-390] Caps


Greetings,

I was cleaning out the computer and came across the following document. 
 Interesting photos of a couple of R-390A's in a commo shelter.  If I posted it 
here ages ago and forgot, you are all welcome to make fun of me as I now begin 
to enter the old buzzard stage in life.

http://www.nro.gov/history/csnr/programs/docs/prog-hist-03.pdf


John Flood
KB1FQG
______________________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 18:00:54 -0400
From: "Ed Tanton" <n4xy at comcast.net>
To: <R-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [R-390] Shell Aeroshell #7
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"

Recently I happened by an email-I think here-about a great grease, Shell
Aeroshell #7. Mentioned in the post was a mention about being hard to find,
and a large-size purchase requirement. Not so. 

OK is wasn't really cheap, but I got a tube with 14oz (the usual size used
in caulk guns/etc. for slightly under $20 shipped, from Aircraft Spruce (the
source for a LOT of aircraft 'stuff' including some nice zinc-chromate spray
paint recently.) www.aircraftspruce.com 

Ed Tanton
?
website: http://www.n4xy.com 
?
All emails <IN> & <OUT> checked by 
Norton AntiVirus with AutoProtect 

--------------------------------------------------
Wag more / Bark less
--------------------------------------------------

-----Original Message-----
From: r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Roger Ruszkowski
Sent: 15 May, 2013 5:44 PM
To: R-390 at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [R-390] Caps


John,

I like the clock over the left hand receiver.

Roger.







-----Original Message-----
From: John Flood <kb1fqg at yahoo.com>
To: r-390 <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tue, May 14, 2013 5:26 pm
Subject: Re: [R-390] Caps


Greetings,

I was cleaning out the computer and came across the following document. 
 Interesting photos of a couple of R-390A's in a commo shelter.  If I posted
it here ages ago and forgot, you are all welcome to make fun of me as I now
begin to enter the old buzzard stage in life.

http://www.nro.gov/history/csnr/programs/docs/prog-hist-03.pdf


John Flood
KB1FQG
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------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 16:58:20 -0500
From: "Ron Kolarik" <rkolarik at neb.rr.com>
To: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>,	<wa4aos at aol.com>
Subject: Re: [R-390] John's R 390A article MORE??
Message-ID: <465A12B4EEBF489CAA11FBC480333A5A at INET>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

I don't know about the submarines, only time I ever saw one it was
either a Russian we caught on the surface or one of ours we were doing
a transfer to, mail or personnel. Naval aircraft I worked on did not carry
the R390, all channelized comm gear including the HF and no separate
rx/tx. There may have been some carried on more specialized, read "spook",
aircraft but that was above my clearance. I never did see an R390 checked
in to the avionics repair depot either. The time frame was mid '60s. Tons of
R390's in the carrier comm room though, wasn't allowed to play in there :(

Ron
K0IDT
ATR 3 '65-'68


----- Original Message ----- >
> Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 05:31:10 -0400 (EDT)
> From: Glenn Scott <wa4aos at aol.com>
> To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [R-390] John's R 390A article MORE??
> Message-ID: <8D01F6611C11A55-1AA8-2C022 at Webmail-d103.sysops.aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

 Does anyone know if any of these receivers made into submarines? I suspect due 
to the 
weight, not many or any made it into aircraft applications other than the 
somewhat 
rare R648.
>
> We have covered the technical side of things well but the application side 
should be 
> important to archive too.
>
> Any thoughts???
>
> 73,
> Glenn WA4AOS
> DSM Labs  (dot com)



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

Message: 5
Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 19:49:58 -0400
From: Jeff Adams <physicist at cox.net>
To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [R-390] John's R 390A article MORE??
Message-ID: <51941F26.70408 at cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

The CIA used them at listening posts. I have pictures.

73, Jeff KG4RZM




On 5/15/2013 5:58 PM, Ron Kolarik wrote:
> I don't know about the submarines, only time I ever saw one it was
> either a Russian we caught on the surface or one of ours we were doing
> a transfer to, mail or personnel. Naval aircraft I worked on did not 
> carry
> the R390, all channelized comm gear including the HF and no separate
> rx/tx. There may have been some carried on more specialized, read 
> "spook",
> aircraft but that was above my clearance. I never did see an R390 checked
> in to the avionics repair depot either. The time frame was mid '60s. 
> Tons of
> R390's in the carrier comm room though, wasn't allowed to play in 
> there :(
>
> Ron
> K0IDT
> ATR 3 '65-'68
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- >
>> Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 05:31:10 -0400 (EDT)
>> From: Glenn Scott <wa4aos at aol.com>
>> To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: [R-390] John's R 390A article MORE??
>> Message-ID: <8D01F6611C11A55-1AA8-2C022 at Webmail-d103.sysops.aol.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Does anyone know if any of these receivers made into submarines? I 
> suspect due to the weight, not many or any made it into aircraft 
> applications other than the somewhat rare R648.
>>
>> We have covered the technical side of things well but the application 
>> side should be important to archive too.
>>
>> Any thoughts???
>>
>> 73,
>> Glenn WA4AOS
>> DSM Labs  (dot com)
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> R-390 mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:R-390 at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>



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

Message: 6
Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 19:51:32 -0400
From: Nick England <navy.radio at gmail.com>
To: Ron Kolarik <rkolarik at neb.rr.com>
Cc: "<r-390 at mailman.qth.net>" <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>,
	"<wa4aos at aol.com>" <wa4aos at aol.com>
Subject: Re: [R-390] John's R 390A article MORE??
Message-ID: <95F82A88-57C9-4EF3-A478-9C79740E7DC1 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset=us-ascii

Yep, subs had R-390A rcvrs too. 
USS Robert E Lee for example
http://www.navy-radio.com/ships/robertelee-01.jpg
Note I don't think the USN ever deployed the R-390 but had tons of R-390A models 

in use in general comms as well as intercept applications. 
More shipboard photos here
http://www.navy-radio.com/ship.htm
And a shore station photo here- dual diversity TTY using AN/URA-8A converters. 
http://www.navy-radio.com/commsta/r390-cv89-01.jpg
Cheers
Nick
www.navy-radio.com


On May 15, 2013, at 5:58 PM, "Ron Kolarik" <rkolarik at neb.rr.com> wrote:

> I don't know about the submarines, only time I ever saw one it was
> either a Russian we caught on the surface or one of ours we were doing
> a transfer to, mail or personnel. Naval aircraft I worked on did not carry
> the R390, all channelized comm gear including the HF and no separate
> rx/tx. There may have been some carried on more specialized, read "spook",
> aircraft but that was above my clearance. I never did see an R390 checked
> in to the avionics repair depot either. The time frame was mid '60s. Tons of
> R390's in the carrier comm room though, wasn't allowed to play in there :(
> 
> Ron
> K0IDT
> ATR 3 '65-'68
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- >
>> Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 05:31:10 -0400 (EDT)
>> From: Glenn Scott <wa4aos at aol.com>
>> To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: [R-390] John's R 390A article MORE??
>> Message-ID: <8D01F6611C11A55-1AA8-2C022 at Webmail-d103.sysops.aol.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> Does anyone know if any of these receivers made into submarines? I suspect due 

to the weight, not many or any made it into aircraft applications other than the 

somewhat rare R648.
>> 
>> We have covered the technical side of things well but the application side 
should be important to archive too.
>> 
>> Any thoughts???
>> 
>> 73,
>> Glenn WA4AOS
>> DSM Labs  (dot com)
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> R-390 mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:R-390 at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html


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

Message: 7
Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 20:14:03 -0400
From: "Duffy Floyd" <duffyf56 at verizon.net>
To: <R-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [R-390] John's R 390A article MORE??
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"

R-390A's were on the USS Pueblo as well. The ship taken by the North Koreans
during the Nixon Administration.

 

http://www.pbase.com/bmcmorrow/image/116361376



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

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End of R-390 Digest, Vol 109, Issue 21
**************************************

 


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

Message: 3
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 12:45:12 -0700 (PDT)
From: John Flood <kb1fqg at yahoo.com>
To: "r-390 at mailman.qth.net" <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [R-390] R-390 Sub use
Message-ID:
	<1368733512.84560.YahooMailNeo at web84501.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Greetings,
>
>
>I do remember reading that the USS Albacore AGSS569 in an early wiring diagram, 
showed the R-390A. ?However it seems like for most, or all, of its operational 
life it used the R-1051. ?From personal?experience?the R-1051 series does make 
the R-390 series look like a band cruiser!?
>
>
>John Flood
>KB1FQG
>
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Nick England" <navy.radio at gmail.com>
>To: "Ron Kolarik" <rkolarik at neb.rr.com>
>Cc: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>; <wa4aos at aol.com>
>Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 6:51 PM
>Subject: Re: [R-390] John's R 390A article MORE??
>
>
>Note I don't think the USN ever deployed the R-390 but had tons of R-390A 
models in use in general comms as well as intercept applications.
>
>______________________________________________________________
>R-390 mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:R-390 at mailman.qth.net
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
>

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

Message: 4
Date: Thu, 16 May 2013 21:28:19 -0400
From: Tom Chirhart <k4ncgva at gmail.com>
To: John Flood <kb1fqg at yahoo.com>
Cc: "r-390 at mailman.qth.net" <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [R-390] R-390 Sub use
Message-ID: <B176D0E8-378F-4E00-B148-6B655E6059E2 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset=us-ascii

The 1051's were great for was HF RATT using the UCC-1 to a KWR-37 to a model 25 
printer for the HF broadcast.. When SATCOM arrived we cold ironed HF RATT....We 
also used the 1051's to guard HF HiComm with a TX on standby, usually a WRT-2. 
On the Orestes circuits we used the 1051's to a URA-17 to a KW-7 to  Model 28 
ASR and a WRT-2. Wow the memories from nearly 40 years ago...... RM2, USS Jonas 
Ingram DD-938... The two 390's we had after FRAM were used for CW drills or AFRS 
monitoring piped throughout the ship while underway or in foreign ports....
73
Tom K4NCG
Sent from my iPad

On May 16, 2013, at 3:45 PM, John Flood <kb1fqg at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Greetings,
>> 
>> 
>> I do remember reading that the USS Albacore AGSS569 in an early wiring 
diagram, showed the R-390A.  However it seems like for most, or all, of its 
operational life it used the R-1051.  From personal experience the R-1051 series 
does make the R-390 series look like a band cruiser! 
>> 
>> 
>> John Flood
>> KB1FQG
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nick England" <navy.radio at gmail.com>
>> To: "Ron Kolarik" <rkolarik at neb.rr.com>
>> Cc: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>; <wa4aos at aol.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 6:51 PM
>> Subject: Re: [R-390] John's R 390A article MORE??
>> 
>> 
>> Note I don't think the USN ever deployed the R-390 but had tons of R-390A 
models in use in general comms as well as intercept applications.
>> 
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> R-390 mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:R-390 at mailman.qth.net
>> 
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> 
>> 
>> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> R-390 mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:R-390 at mailman.qth.net
> 
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------------------------------

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End of R-390 Digest, Vol 109, Issue 24
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