[R-390] R-392 market prices and availability?

[Bob Camp]

Hi

Before heading down the 392 route (been there done that) consider a couple of things:

1) You will need to dig up a supply of 28V filament tubes. They are not impossible to find, but you probably do not already have them.
2) The audio and power connectors are military items and often is hacked in the process of bring in +24 to the radio or audio out. If you want to assemble the full RX+TX package this can be an issue.
3) Audio output is at best anemic. Yes there are ways to get around this. Often radios are hacked to do so. It’s certainly something to ask about on any radio you buy.
4) Good, well regulated,  28 V power is not as hard to come by today as it once was. Check the price of supplies before you pay extra for a radio with a marginal supply. 
5) The radio was designed to “fit in this space”. At least to me, the controls are not quite as accessible as those on some other radios. They are a bit cramped…
6) Some radios got fully solid stated way back a long time ago. I would avoid those radios, the MOSFETS used are pretty much all gone. The chopping and splicing to get it done often made reversing the process difficult. I never saw a solid state version that worked as well as the tube version of the same radio. 
7) The 392 is a “no filter” radio. In other words the selectivity comes from a bunch of tuned IF stages rather than a packaged mechanical / ceramic / crystal filter. That gives it a bit different sound than a lot of more modern gear. It also does not provide quite the razor sharp narrowband selectivity that some other radios do. 

None of that is to say don’t get one. They are a fun radio. I’ve owned several over the years. Just be aware of what you are getting and shop accordingly. 

Bob


On Aug 31, 2014, at 12:54 AM, kb8nnu--- via R-390 <r-390 at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

> 
> Hello all.....I am contemplating getting another receiver project for this fall and was considering an R-392.  How available are these radios and what would you say is a good market price?  Anyone have one they are willing to part with?
> 
> Please drop me an email directly....
> 
> Thanks again,
> 
> Dave
> Kb8nnu
> 
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