Does anyone own one of these? Before I ask any Questions. Sorry for the double posting. Regards Andy

Hi Andy

Yes, R390A is the worlds best receiver.

Norm

:Does anyone own one of these? Before I ask any Questions. Sorry for the double posting. Regards Andy

:Hi Andy
:
: Yes, R390A is the worlds best receiver.
:
:Norm
:Hi Norm Thanks for the response I was wondering if you had ever tried to touch-up the original paint on the front panel. I know alot of restoration guru's repaint the entire panel, but mine is in pretty good shape and I would like to touch it up. I can only imagine it would look terrible if the shade wasnt right Best Regards, Andy [Amelco Serial # 1852]
::Does anyone own one of these? Before I ask any Questions. Sorry for the double posting. Regards Andy

Hi Andy

The black knobs can be repainted but I've haven't tried to touch up the front gray panel. Agree with you, if it's not done right will look worse. How bad is your panel? Most of the ones I've had only have a few chips along the edge.

Norm

::Hi Andy
::
:: Yes, R390A is the worlds best receiver.
::
::Norm
::Hi Norm Thanks for the response I was wondering if you had ever tried to touch-up the original paint on the front panel. I know alot of restoration guru's repaint the entire panel, but mine is in pretty good shape and I would like to touch it up. I can only imagine it would look terrible if the shade wasnt right Best Regards, Andy [Amelco Serial # 1852]
:::Does anyone own one of these? Before I ask any Questions. Sorry for the double posting. Regards Andy

:Hi Andy
:
: The black knobs can be repainted but I've haven't tried to touch up the front gray panel. Agree with you, if it's not done right will look worse. How bad is your panel? Most of the ones I've had only have a few chips along the edge.
:
:Norm It just has a few scratches and two spots where the paint was worn down to metal other than that it is okay. I will probably live with it for now.What make is yours? Didn't think I would come across another 390a owner on this list. Cheers Andy
:
:
:::Hi Andy
:::
::: Yes, R390A is the worlds best receiver.
:::
:::Norm
:::Hi Norm Thanks for the response I was wondering if you had ever tried to touch-up the original paint on the front panel. I know alot of restoration guru's repaint the entire panel, but mine is in pretty good shape and I would like to touch it up. I can only imagine it would look terrible if the shade wasnt right Best Regards, Andy [Amelco Serial # 1852]
::::Does anyone own one of these? Before I ask any Questions. Sorry for the double posting. Regards Andy

R390A/URR
Boy how I wish I did own one.... although I was fully trained on it's use and mantainence back in the Army Signal Corps. school at Ft. Monmouth in 1963.
I then spent the next year working with them in radio relay and broadcasting at a " helicopter trans-portable" 50-KW AM radio site in the middle of Thailand.
Then 2 more years using them in everyday service at a Army backup-receiver site at Ft. Ritchie Maryland.
Built by Collins it is a truly magnificent radio.. like none other ever.

:R390A/URR
:Boy how I wish I did own one.... although I was fully trained on it's use and mantainence back in the Army Signal Corps. school at Ft. Monmouth in 1963.
:I then spent the next year working with them in radio relay and broadcasting at a " helicopter trans-portable" 50-KW AM radio site in the middle of Thailand.
:Then 2 more years using them in everyday service at a Army backup-receiver site at Ft. Ritchie Maryland.
:Built by Collins it is a truly magnificent radio.. like none other ever. Wow that's impressive' I'm sure you have alot of stories to tell. Did you ever use any Single Sideband converters with them like the [CV-157]? Regards Andy

::R390A/URR
::Boy how I wish I did own one.... although I was fully trained on it's use and mantainence back in the Army Signal Corps. school at Ft. Monmouth in 1963.
::I then spent the next year working with them in radio relay and broadcasting at a " helicopter trans-portable" 50-KW AM radio site in the middle of Thailand.
::Then 2 more years using them in everyday service at a Army backup-receiver site at Ft. Ritchie Maryland.
::Built by Collins it is a truly magnificent radio.. like none other ever. Wow that's impressive' I'm sure you have alot of stories to tell. Did you ever use any Single Sideband converters with them like the [CV-157]? Regards Andy P.S Peter If you really want one go to hamfests.A good working unrestored one can go for $300-400 Sometimes less. You will never regret it!

Peter,
YES! YES! YES! The R390 was the Cadillac of the Collins VHF receivers, but then again all the Collins hardware was superb in those days. The S-51 was also a standout. I used the R390 years ago in satellite communications. Wish I had a couple nowadays.

marv

:R390A/URR
:Boy how I wish I did own one.... although I was fully trained on it's use and mantainence back in the Army Signal Corps. school at Ft. Monmouth in 1963.
:I then spent the next year working with them in radio relay and broadcasting at a " helicopter trans-portable" 50-KW AM radio site in the middle of Thailand.
:Then 2 more years using them in everyday service at a Army backup-receiver site at Ft. Ritchie Maryland.
:Built by Collins it is a truly magnificent radio.. like none other ever.

I'm not familiar with the s-51.
But that r-390a is wondeful isn't it?
Andy: I didn't know thaey could be had as low as $300-$400 !! wow.
( Thomas do you hear that?)

And no I never used the single side band module.

I DO remember a sort of funny/odd story though about the R390.

While I was Stationed in Thailand in 1963 I was tuning up an R390 at my duty station on a hot sweaty afternoon... and my 1st sergeant, sitting there drinking a beer,..(Sgt Luther P. Martin) was telling me a story... (that I just figured was an old b.s. story)... but he was telling me all about how he was previously stationed in Turkey with another old pal of his ( Sgt Johnny Mayo), and he said they had two R-390s come in to the repair center from some field station that had both been struck by lighting..
.. he said they were charred really badly but after several weeks woring on them ...he and that other guy Johnny Mayo, totally rebuilt those 2 units as good as new... Well Ok.. nice story.. whatever...so I remembered it though.

Well... fast foward now 2 years... I am now stationed in an Army repair center in Ft. Ritchie Maryland. I'm sitting at the repair bench calibrating an r-390a when the guy sitting at the bench next to me says.. hey Pete did I ever tell you about the time I was stationed in Turkey with a good-ole-boy, Sgt Luther P. Martin ...and these two R-390 radios came in that were struck by lighting?..!!!!
I couldn't believe it... It was Sgt. Johnny Mayo !!!
He was that other guy!
What were the odds that I'd get stationed with both those exact 2 guys and they would each independently tell me that same story... Small world.. no?

:I'm not familiar with the s-51.
:But that r-390a is wondeful isn't it?
:Andy: I didn't know thaey could be had as low as $300-$400 !! wow.
:( Thomas do you hear that?)
:
:And no I never used the single side band module.
:
:I DO remember a sort of funny/odd story though about the R390.
:
:While I was Stationed in Thailand in 1963 I was tuning up an R390 at my duty station on a hot sweaty afternoon... and my 1st sergeant, sitting there drinking a beer,..(Sgt Luther P. Martin) was telling me a story... (that I just figured was an old b.s. story)... but he was telling me all about how he was previously stationed in Turkey with another old pal of his ( Sgt Johnny Mayo), and he said they had two R-390s come in to the repair center from some field station that had both been struck by lighting..
:.. he said they were charred really badly but after several weeks woring on them ...he and that other guy Johnny Mayo, totally rebuilt those 2 units as good as new... Well Ok.. nice story.. whatever...so I remembered it though.
:
:Well... fast foward now 2 years... I am now stationed in an Army repair center in Ft. Ritchie Maryland. I'm sitting at the repair bench calibrating an r-390a when the guy sitting at the bench next to me says.. hey Pete did I ever tell you about the time I was stationed in Turkey with a good-ole-boy, Sgt Luther P. Martin ...and these two R-390 radios came in that were struck by lighting?..!!!!
:I couldn't believe it... It was Sgt. Johnny Mayo !!!
:He was that other guy!
:What were the odds that I'd get stationed with both those exact 2 guys and they would each independently tell me that same story... Small world.. no?
:Peter Thanks for the great story I meant to ask you if you remember what sort of service data they used to put on the face of a 390,In the form of a sticker or decal, After it has gone through the depot.Their was a decal on mine underneath the kilocycles knob It was removed before I purchased the set. Best Regards Andy

Andy:
No.. sorry I don't recall mantainance stickers being placed on the front of an R390a.
I don't remember but all the ones I repaired or calibrated stayed on site... so maybe the records were kept in a log somewhere.