[R-390] R390(non A) questions Pearls of Wisdom

Edward navydude1962 at yahoo.com
Fri Sep 7 17:11:36 EDT 2018


Thanks, Cecil. Much appreciated. Just what I was looking for!

73,
Ed

> On 8 Sep 2018, at 00:00, Cecil Acuff <chacuff at cableone.net> wrote:
> 
> This may stir some up but...
> 
> What you will find with the R-390/URR is that it’s a much better built radio. You don’t need lists of trouble prone capacitors...because there aren’t any. All high quality mil spec (when that meant something) metal cased capacitors with glass seals. 
> 
> No mechanical filters that tend to wear out and fail, no electrolytic filter caps to rebuild...the 390 uses oil bath caps that rarely fail. 
> 
> Biggest issues are a few 47 ohm 2 watt resistors that go out of spec. Some below the audio tubes and some below the regulators in the power supply. Standard practice is to replace them with 5 watt wire wound cement blocks.  Also the regulator tubes run hot so a muffin fan in that area helps a lot...beyond that it’s tubes, out of tolerance resistors and cleaning, lubing and alignment.  They sound better too.
> 
> Some will say the 390 is a mans radio and the A a boys radio. 😦 
> 
> It’s strange... the 390As seem to sell for more and there were way more of them made than the 390s....seems backwards to me. 
> 
> The 390A is a cost reduced version of the R-390/URR...not sure how many they built but it wasn’t anywhere near the 60+ thousand A models.
> 
> Won’t see much from Rippel on the 390. Was told they scared him...probably urban legend though...haha!
> 
> Cecil
> K5DL
> 
> Sent using recycled electrons.
> 
>> On Sep 7, 2018, at 11:53 AM, Roger Ruszkowski <flowertime01 at wmconnect.com> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Ed,
>> You ask,
>> Is there a comprehensive list of mods and restoration tips, along the lines of Chuck's?
>> Eager to learn more about this receiver, as I am on the verge of getting one. Thanks in advance. 
>> 73,
>> Ed NI6S
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> The R390 Fellows keep up the following web site.
>> www.r-390a.net/
>> 
>> The R390 and R390A both exist and we Fellows just keep them together.
>> The R390A TM says read your R390 TM for procedures to complete R390A maintenance.
>> 
>> 
>> Roger
>> 
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