[R-390] Comparing R390A w/Period Devices

[Bob kb8tq]

Hi

For some sorts of SWL or Ham operation, a 390 (or a 1051 or a Harris 550) works fine. If you 
have a net (or a favorite SWL station) that you listen to every evening, put the radio on that frequency 
and all is well. Regularly scheduled RTTY, WEFAX broadcasts … the approach works great. Indeed
one *might* have a stack of radios, each on this or that frequency …

Indeed for random band sweeping, I’ll take a SP-600 style radio. I probably don’t care much about
exact frequencies. I just want to see what I can hear right now. Tune around here then tune around 
there. Much easier with an “old style” radio. The “modern way” would be to toss it up on a spectrum
display. Somehow I can’t get excited by that …..

None of that really relates to performance numbers. It’s all ergonomics. I happen to be one of those
“simpler is better” people. Fewer knobs and buttons to fiddle is better than more knobs and buttons. 
To a great degree that’s why I consider a proper SDR a project (tuning by keyboard and mouse … not so much).
You don’t actually *need* all the controls on a 390. There aren’t many that are redundant, but there are a
few settings that are (yes, we could debate that. There will *aways* be a use for any button) … keep it simple.
If you haven’t used that setting in a month. It’s not needed. Move on.

Radio design *always* will relate directly to the intended use for the radio. Like it or not, the 390 was 
not aimed at band cursing. It was built to set to a channel and leave it there for a while. Yes, it still needed
a baby sitter for some stuff. They only could afford to make it just so good at the time.  The 1051 and
it’s cousins came along once synthesis techniques improved and true “set and forget” became a reality. 
Again, not really anything to do with the numbers we talk about all the time. Tuning accuracy is pretty
far down on most peoples lists …. 

Bob

> On Jan 9, 2018, at 9:48 PM, Doug Hensley <w5jv at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Thanks Bob.  Before all the leg-pulling & non-sense started, a post was
> curious about period alternatives to the R390A.  That is a natural question
> as most period alternatives (e.g. RA-17, CRM-R6A, 51J4, etc.) can be operated
> for hours on end without fatigue whereas the R390A cannot.
> 
> Given the unpleasant and tiring wrist movements necessary to operating 
> the R390 or R390A over a period of time, it seemed a good question to me.
> 
> I used both the R390 & R390A in the Navy for a long time, at sea and ashore.
> I was not the only ham on most ships but I never saw anyone tuning or wanting
> to tune the R390A after hours.  One ET I knew used to use an AN/URC-32A in the
> transmitter room for SWL'ing.  On one ship (USS Cochrane, DDG-21 often seen 
> on old reruns of Hawaii Five-0), we had, in addition to the R390A's, two National 
> monsters called the SRR-19 and its large HF variant.  Clumsy, awkward layout and 
> control design but always used before the R390a's with the exception of in port
> after hours listening to local broadcast band (AM station).
> 
> The R390A works well in its military environment and mission but is a poor choice
> for a ham radio or SWL set.  YMMV.
> 
> Cheers & thanks for your email,
> 
> Doug W5JV
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> 
> From: Bob kb8tq <kb8tq at n1k.org <mailto:kb8tq at n1k.org>>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 9, 2018 7:56 PM
> To: Doug Hensley
> Cc: r-390 at mailman.qth.net <mailto:r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [R-390] Comparing R390A w/Period Devices
>  
> Hi
> 
> Consider that the R-390A contracts overlapped for a lot of years with things like
> the R-1051 and a whole series of similar US radios. As mentioned in another post
> the EK-07 overlapped with it almost from the start. The Russians also had their answer(s)
> to the EK-07 style radios. The 390A stayed in production for a *long* time. There were
> a *lot* of things it might get compared directly to.
> 
> Bob
> 
> > On Jan 9, 2018, at 5:13 PM, Doug Hensley <w5jv at hotmail.com <mailto:w5jv at hotmail.com>> wrote:
> > 
> > Could someone compare:
> > 
> > 
> > R390A with RA-17.... with 51J4 .... with Radiomarine CRM-R6A ... ??
> > 
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > 
> > 
> > Doug W5JV
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > R-390 mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390 <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/r-390>
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm <http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>
> > Post: mailto:R-390 at mailman.qth.net <mailto:R-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> > 
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/>
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html <http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>