I think I can speak to R390A's having restored several hundred but only 1 of
the older R390's. The R390A would great for CW but because they use
symmetrical mechanical filters v/s asymmetrical, it does not do well on SSB.
Its an incredibly sensitive receiver with its best performance below 8mhz.
The tracking IF and mechanical filters make it very selective. I can run my
Collins 20V-2 at a full KW on 1.885 while listening to the ball game on 1.230
and never know the 'V2 was on. Did that a month ago during daytime to set
up the modulator balance.
If you happen to own 2 R390A's, they can be configured to work together for
diversity reception.
Everyone wants Collins builds. However, the 1967 EAC and 1968 Dittmore-
Friemuth builds seem to be the best, for my money anyway. Besides being
the newest and latest builds, (unless you want to count the 5 built by Fowler
Industries in 1983 @ $35K ea) they have all the various factory upgrades,
teflon wiring, etc....
> There are actually TWO models of R-390s...one made by Collins, and the other,
> I'm not sure.
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Chuck Rippel, WA4HHG
R390A List Co-Administrator
Reply to: R390A@R390A.com
To learn more about R390A's visit:
http://www.R390A.com
1968 Contract Dittmore-Friemuth R390A #38
1967 Contract EAC R390A #2808 with outboard Sherwood SE-3 Sync. Detector
1967 Contract EAC R390A #5295
1967 Contract EAC R390A #5591
1967 Contract EAC R390A #1023
All in regular use as premier Shortwave Broadcast DX Receivers
-and-
Vintage AM Amateur use
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