On 07/11/2013 09:38 AM, Michael Black wrote:
On Tue, 2 Jul 2013, dave wrote:


You forgot to turn on the BFO. BFO level is frequently too low for
demodding SSB hence the need to reduce RF gain.

No I didn't. It should be a given that you need the BFO. I was making
the point that it's one of those radios of the time that didn't have a
product detector, so you had to do what all the books said to do. A few
years later, most receivers did have product detectors. Indeed, the
GPR-90 came along right at the cusp, so you could get an external unit
that added a product detector (and I think some extra selectivity) and
some really fine tuning. The receiver has the an IF output jack on the
back, even has a jack for feeding audio back into the receiver (though
the TMC adapter had a built in audio amplifier). Other receivers had
similar units. The R388 and the R390 didn't have product detectors,
though they are considered some of the best receivers from the time (and
perhaps for all time).

But with that level of receiver, turning down RF gain wasn't a real
issue. I had no problem receiving SSB, even on six meters, on the SP-600
I had forty years ago.

ON the other hand, that Hallicrafters S-120A (the transistorized model)
that I got in the summer of 1971 had a horribly weak BFO, so by the time
I'd attenuated the incoming signal (a pot between the antenna and the
receiver), there weren't many signals left strong enough to receive.


I've had a couple R-390As. I used to leave them on 11175 upper with RF
gain low, carrier sliced off with 2 or 4 KC mechanical filter by
slightly tuning off center, BFO on about 1200 cycles. It was dead quiet
unless someone spoke, like dolby FM. It would stay perfectly tuned for
days, with the ovens off.

I can't afford electricity to waste on old radios.

dave wrote:

On 07/11/2013 09:38 AM, Michael Black wrote:
On Tue, 2 Jul 2013, dave wrote:


You forgot to turn on the BFO. BFO level is frequently too low for
demodding SSB hence the need to reduce RF gain.

No I didn't. It should be a given that you need the BFO. I was making
the point that it's one of those radios of the time that didn't have a
product detector, so you had to do what all the books said to do. A few
years later, most receivers did have product detectors. Indeed, the
GPR-90 came along right at the cusp, so you could get an external unit
that added a product detector (and I think some extra selectivity) and
some really fine tuning. The receiver has the an IF output jack on the
back, even has a jack for feeding audio back into the receiver (though
the TMC adapter had a built in audio amplifier). Other receivers had
similar units. The R388 and the R390 didn't have product detectors,
though they are considered some of the best receivers from the time (and
perhaps for all time).

But with that level of receiver, turning down RF gain wasn't a real
issue. I had no problem receiving SSB, even on six meters, on the SP-600
I had forty years ago.

ON the other hand, that Hallicrafters S-120A (the transistorized model)
that I got in the summer of 1971 had a horribly weak BFO, so by the time
I'd attenuated the incoming signal (a pot between the antenna and the
receiver), there weren't many signals left strong enough to receive.


I've had a couple R-390As. I used to leave them on 11175 upper with RF
gain low, carrier sliced off with 2 or 4 KC mechanical filter by
slightly tuning off center, BFO on about 1200 cycles. It was dead quiet
unless someone spoke, like dolby FM. It would stay perfectly tuned for
days, with the ovens off.

I can't afford electricity to waste on old radios.

Yeah, after all, your pal, Boy Barry, said that under his plan, electricity
costs would necessarily skyrocket.

You're both f00kin clown 'tards!

On Thursday, July 11, 2013 5:48:55 PM UTC-5, dxAce wrote:
dave wrote:



On 07/11/2013 09:38 AM, Michael Black wrote:

On Tue, 2 Jul 2013, dave wrote:





You forgot to turn on the BFO. BFO level is frequently too low for

demodding SSB hence the need to reduce RF gain.



No I didn't. It should be a given that you need the BFO. I was making

the point that it's one of those radios of the time that didn't have a

product detector, so you had to do what all the books said to do. A few

years later, most receivers did have product detectors. Indeed, the

GPR-90 came along right at the cusp, so you could get an external unit

that added a product detector (and I think some extra selectivity) and

some really fine tuning. The receiver has the an IF output jack on the

back, even has a jack for feeding audio back into the receiver (though

the TMC adapter had a built in audio amplifier). Other receivers had

similar units. The R388 and the R390 didn't have product detectors,

though they are considered some of the best receivers from the time (and

perhaps for all time).



But with that level of receiver, turning down RF gain wasn't a real

issue. I had no problem receiving SSB, even on six meters, on the SP-600

I had forty years ago.



ON the other hand, that Hallicrafters S-120A (the transistorized model)

that I got in the summer of 1971 had a horribly weak BFO, so by the time

I'd attenuated the incoming signal (a pot between the antenna and the

receiver), there weren't many signals left strong enough to receive.





I've had a couple R-390As. I used to leave them on 11175 upper with RF

gain low, carrier sliced off with 2 or 4 KC mechanical filter by

slightly tuning off center, BFO on about 1200 cycles. It was dead quiet

unless someone spoke, like dolby FM. It would stay perfectly tuned for

days, with the ovens off.



I can't afford electricity to waste on old radios.



Yeah, after all, your pal, Boy Barry, said that under his plan, electricity

costs would necessarily skyrocket.



You're both f00kin clown 'tards!

Back on that sauce again, Tonto?

On Thursday, July 11, 2013 12:41:11 PM UTC-4, dave wrote:
On 07/11/2013 09:38 AM, Michael Black wrote:

On Tue, 2 Jul 2013, dave wrote:





You forgot to turn on the BFO. BFO level is frequently too low for

demodding SSB hence the need to reduce RF gain.



No I didn't. It should be a given that you need the BFO. I was making

the point that it's one of those radios of the time that didn't have a

product detector, so you had to do what all the books said to do. A few

years later, most receivers did have product detectors. Indeed, the

GPR-90 came along right at the cusp, so you could get an external unit

that added a product detector (and I think some extra selectivity) and

some really fine tuning. The receiver has the an IF output jack on the

back, even has a jack for feeding audio back into the receiver (though

the TMC adapter had a built in audio amplifier). Other receivers had

similar units. The R388 and the R390 didn't have product detectors,

though they are considered some of the best receivers from the time (and

perhaps for all time).



But with that level of receiver, turning down RF gain wasn't a real

issue. I had no problem receiving SSB, even on six meters, on the SP-600

I had forty years ago.



ON the other hand, that Hallicrafters S-120A (the transistorized model)

that I got in the summer of 1971 had a horribly weak BFO, so by the time

I'd attenuated the incoming signal (a pot between the antenna and the

receiver), there weren't many signals left strong enough to receive.





I've had a couple R-390As. I used to leave them on 11175 upper with RF

gain low, carrier sliced off with 2 or 4 KC mechanical filter by

slightly tuning off center, BFO on about 1200 cycles. It was dead quiet

unless someone spoke, like dolby FM. It would stay perfectly tuned for

days, with the ovens off.



I can't afford electricity to waste on old radios.

My R-390(not A)got drowned in seawater last year, during the storm called Sandy . Now I don't know what to do with it...

On Fri, 12 Jul 2013, wrote:


My R-390(not A)got drowned in seawater last year, during
the storm called Sandy . Now I don't know what to do with it...

It's kind of late now. You should have carefuly rinsed it out at the
time, getting into all the crevices, then let it dry carefully, usually by
putting it in the oven at a very low temperature for some hours.

Every so often the ham magazines would run articles about what to do with
equipment that fell into even salt water. I think Glen Zook did a piece in
CQ in the early seventies, that did deal with something as complicated as
the R390.

I once dragged home a stereo receiver that I found in a bank of snow, it
was suffering from some minor salt damage due to salt used for melting
ice. I rinsed it carefully and then popped it in the oven, and that got
rid of the salt, it ran for years.

Michael

On 07/12/2013 04:53 AM, Michael Black wrote:
On Fri, 12 Jul 2013, wrote:


My R-390(not A)got drowned in seawater last year, during the storm
called Sandy . Now I don't know what to do with it...

It's kind of late now. You should have carefuly rinsed it out at the
time, getting into all the crevices, then let it dry carefully, usually
by putting it in the oven at a very low temperature for some hours.

Every so often the ham magazines would run articles about what to do
with equipment that fell into even salt water. I think Glen Zook did a
piece in CQ in the early seventies, that did deal with something as
complicated as the R390.

I once dragged home a stereo receiver that I found in a bank of snow, it
was suffering from some minor salt damage due to salt used for melting
ice. I rinsed it carefully and then popped it in the oven, and that got
rid of the salt, it ran for years.

Michael

I'd like to see the oven an R-390A will fit in...

Run it with filaments only, for a couple days, if you need artificial
heat. Don't turn off "Standby" until you are sure it is dry. Use a dim
bulb tester to prevent damaging current surge. Stay alert.

On 07/12/2013 12:42 AM, wrote:
On Thursday, July 11, 2013 12:41:11 PM UTC-4, dave wrote:


I can't afford electricity to waste on old radios.

My R-390(not A)got drowned in seawater last year, during the storm called Sandy . Now I don't know what to do with it...


Wash it out really good with fresh water, then blow it out with your
leaf blower. Let it bake in the sun.

The K3 is a better radio and uses a Watt or two on receive (0.77 Amperes
at 14VDC actually). It satisfies my high performance Jones, without
dominating my life. I really like the way the 51J3 looks.