[R-390] R-390A IF gain setting and S/N measurement

[David Wise]

It's been stated many times by Roger Ruszkowski - who ought to know - that the 150uV/7V IF gain spec in the manual is far above the gain that yields best S/N.  (My radio agrees.)  Were those over-hot IF's simply following the manual, or were they cranked even higher?

Dave Wise

-----Original Message-----
From: R-390 [mailto:r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Charles Steinmetz
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2016 5:59 AM
To: R-390 at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [R-390] R-390A IF gain setting and S/N measurement

Fully 50% of the 390As I've seen have had the IF gain set WAY too high 
by owners or techs seeking outrageous (and unnecessary) sensitivity 
numbers and thinking they were smarter than the Collins engineers.  It 
should be a rule that after adjusting the IF gain, 390/390A owners and 
techs must take the radios to Europe and try listening to the 40/41 
meter bands on a good antenna.

Best regards,

Charles