[R-390] Faux Spook R390A 282314863791

Thu Jan 12 16:43:51 EST 2017

I've also seen him at NEAR-Fest and spoken to him about his 'black panel'
claims in the past. They are based on a google photo from the Philippines
showing a rack of receiver in poor light. Having talked with several folks
who served there, no one remembers anything but gray receivers. I have an
original set never repainted with the darker flat gray finish. When you
view it from a few feet away in low light, it looks black. It's not. "I saw
it on Google" was the qualifier behind his claims.

Also at NEAR-Fest a buddy of mine tried to discuss some of his claims about
'best this, best that'. He brought up dynamic range. Ted was lost. Many of
his responses to questions posed of any technical depth remind me of Nigel
in Spinal Tap:

  Marty: Why don't you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number
and make that a little louder?

  Nigel: [pause] These go to eleven.

I also saw the scorched R-390 before it went to Ted. There was a KWM-2A as
well. I've seen worse that still worked when plugged in. I will agree with
one point, though - Ted running around in a lab coat with a screwdriver
appearing to be in deep thought is definitely a form of entertainment.

Recently talking with a friend well known for his decades of work with
R-390s a story was relayed to me about one of the sets hyped and sold on
ebay having to be sent to Rick Mish for a fair amount of rework. Buyer was
not at all happy. Apparently not the first one.

There are also other unrelated matters which I won't discuss here that
confirm the suspicions folks have. But there is certainly a pool of the
easily fooled and easily impressed waiting out there who need someone like
this to look up to. They can't do it, so anyone who can even appear to do
it is a God to them. Unfortunately, these folks are usually newbies. They
just don't know any better. They only know what they think they see, and
it's amazing.

BTW, as one of the original three founders of NEAR-Fest along with W1RC and
W2INR, I can say that I'm not impressed and I know of others who are not as
well. I do know that if his dealings bring any ill will to NEAR-Fest in any
way, he'll be shown the door. Mike used to be a member here, and there is
at least one other NEAR-Fest team member on this list as well, last I knew.

Buyer beware, indeed. His descriptions speak for themselves as well as for
him. My advice: wear tall boots and wash well afterward.

de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ/4

On Thu, Jan 12, 2017 at 11:33 AM, Cecil Acuff <chacuff at cableone.net> wrote:

> The comments being posted here stand on the merit of his claims in his
> listing.  There are many extremely knowledgeable folks on this list that
> have lived with these radios for most of there lives and when they say
> something smells...they are usually right.
>
> I'm glad he has been a stand up guy in his dealings with you but that
> doesn't make his description of the R-390 series of receivers, their use
> and some of the crappy work displayed in his example smell any less of a
> bit of a scam.
>
> The comments are just a buyer beware....
>
> Cecil
> K5DL
>
> Sent using recycled electrons.
>
> > On Jan 12, 2017, at 8:17 AM, Robert Newberry <N1XBM at amsat.org> wrote:
> >
> > I think this malarkey should stop being posted on this list. His ebay
> score
> > is perfect. Furthermore I know this person personally. Before I even knew
> > him he invited me to his shop. His shop is well outfitted and he is a
> > wealth of knowledge. I explained that I was somewhat new to tube radios
> and
> > I would like someone to help me go thru me R-392. He spent the day with
> me
> > and got my R-392 running beautifully. He also shared his experience to
> keep
> > the rig up and running. When I bought my R-390 he even offered to come
> > visit me to help give me some pointers on it and again he is an excellent
> > local source especially for someone new to this aspect of the hobby. My
> > R-390 was a disaster and he was a great help and source of encouragement
> > when I completely tore down my R-390, and now it looks and runs great!
> >
> > Also he is a fixture at NEAR-FEST in one of the commercial buildings
> > usually with his white lab coat on, trying to resurrect a very rough
> > looking R-390. Someone brought him a R-390 that was in a fire and he was
> > attempting to get it running, it was a form of entertainment to watch him
> > work. At the end of the fest he actually had the thing working somewhat
> and
> > receiving a signal, he had black soot all over his coat and face! I even
> > sent a friend to him that bought one and he said put it up in the table
> and
> > let's go thru it. As far as I know he never charges a fee for this and he
> > has never charged me. I think he truly enjoys his receiver and passing of
> > his knowledge so younger guys like me will keep them running for many
> years
> > to come.
> >
> > I can say from personal experience, that there a very few hams out there
> > that will devote this much time and effort and invite them into their
> > homes/offices to teach like this. So I have a hard time standing by while
> > people put him down. I'm not not here to debate the history of the R-390
> > and where it was used. I am here to just defend someone's character.
> >
> >
> > N1XBM
> > Apparare Scientor
> > Paratus Communicare
> > Allstar Node # 27086, 41540, 41812, 42086, 42658, 42657
> > www.radioguysrepeaternetwork.com
> >
> >> On Jan 12, 2017 6:56 AM, "Tom M. via R-390" <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> I love this part
> >> "This receiver, Collins tag #2286 was given a mil spec black anodized
> >> panel for superiordurability.  Attempts to scratch it with a file merely
> >> polished it."
> >> such B.S.
> >>
> >>
> >>      From: Perry Sandeen via R-390 <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> >> To: "r-390 at mailman.qth.net" <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> >> Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2017 7:11 PM
> >> Subject: [R-390] Faux Spook R390A 282314863791
> >>
> >> List,
> >> Well  folks phony Teddy is at it again. He's still trying to peddle a
> fake
> >> spook receiver with all the amazing enhancements.
> >> THEODORE N ROBINSON, K1QAR
> >>
> >> BULLDOG TRUST
> >>
> >> 302 BOXBORO RD
> >>
> >> STOW, MA 01775
> >> If you haven't received you doctorate degree in duplicity, deceit, fact
> >> manipulation,sleaze and fraud, here's the place to go and learn.
> >> BTW his inference that they were recalled to use in Desert Storm is a
> >> lie.  I was there. I also was at AG1AB amateur radio station located at
> >> Dhahran Airport which was equipped and operated by hams working for
> ARAMCO
> >> in Saudi Arabia.  ARAMCO hams were well connected and had a large but
> >> unofficial relationship with the Saudi and American military and US
> >> Consulate.
> >> One ham friend of mine worked on the side for a Saudi Prince and had a
> >> work badge that said "This man works for me. Give him any assistance
> that
> >> he asks" signed Prince XXXXXX Al Saud. He had true stories that were
> >> amazing to say the least.
> >> It would be most interesting if list members would ask him questions
> about
> >> "adjusting meter pivot bearings" for proper operation and other such
> >> non-sense.
> >> He lies with the black painted steel tube shields implying that they are
> >> either IREC or WPM(?) after market types.
> >> I'm all for legitimate mods and the profit system but this guy is a
> >> disgrace to all hams and legitimate refurbisher's.
> >> Regards,
> >> Perrier
> >>
> >>
> >>
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