[R-390] Airborne R390 on ebay

[Francesco Ledda]

The ARR-41 is not related to the R-390. It is somewhat related to the AN/ARC-38. It doesn’t need a 400Hz supply, but only 28VDC. The ARC-38 receiver was very good and sensitive, with a marvelous front end.

IMO, replacing the dynamotor with a SS inverter is the way to go. Myself and Ray Fantini used a inverter power supply from a Collins ARC-51BX and worked perfectly. My ARR-41 came with a home made AC supply (Not very well made).

If interested, I can provide a few pictures of the inverter mod.

The ARR-41 It is a good radio designed for airborne operation with a teletype used in the Navy Neptunes and early Orions.

Best, Francesco K5URG


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Sent from my iPad
> On Aug 20, 2025, at 15:07, jwkoest <jwkoest at charter.net> wrote:
> 
> Is this radio as desirable as an r392?What is the tuning range.Does it require 400 cycle power?Thanks,Jie/W4NSA Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
> -------- Original message --------From: Barry <n4buq at knology.net> Date: 8/20/25  13:26  (GMT-06:00) To: Robert Meadows <rpmeadow at bellsouth.net> Cc: R-390 Mailing List <r-390 at mailman.qth.net> Subject: Re: [R-390] Airborne R390 on ebay "... does make NOTE of the fact..."I'm getting so bad at that sort of thing in my emails.Barry - N4BUQ> To his credit, the seller does make not of the fact that, indeed, it is not a> flying R390 and states the reason he listed with that in the title.> > 73,> Barry - N4BUQ> >> Well, Here we go again. The R648/ARR41 IS NOT A FLYING R390.  Many think that>> simply because of the dial which looks like the R390 digital dialThe Radio, ARR>> 41 was designed and built on a US NAVY Contract for the early P3 Aircraft.  It>> was retrofitted in the P2 as well.Originally intended to be the additional>> receiver for HF reception of primarily Radito Teletype which was the primary HF>> communication methodfor about the entire life of the P3 Orion.  Navy MPA>> (Maritime Patrol) folks decided that the pair of ARC 94/xx/xx, civilian Collins>> 618T HF transceivers were sufficient for the job and as the P3A "grew">> (actually did as the initial P3 was a shortened Lockheed commercial turboprop,>> by some 88 inches,the R-648 radios were removed, with some going into various>> aircraft.>> I have all the manuals, references, as well as the only existing complete copy>> of the Depot Level Servicing and Maintenance,ANd,About a dozen of the radios,>> new and as removed racks.>> In addition to that little treasure trove, I have R648/ARR41 Serial Number X1.>>   A prototype with Collins built internal 120VAC power supply insteadof the>> standard 28VDC dynamotor, and there are traces of USB/LSB at the AM/CW/CW Sharp>> switch positions.>> Last time I looked on the federal stock listings, the radio was still listed as>> active and procurable for something like (here goes memory) $18,000 with a>> DEMILCode of D, which means that none may be surplused without total>> destruction.  That was changed after the batch I have were sold.>> I will provide radios that are as removed for $8