restorefaq

R390A Restoration FAQ
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Thank you for your interest in my restoration efforts of the Collins designed R390A/URR general coverage receiver. The following is some material you may find helpful. There has been a recent swell of interest in the R390A HF receiver. At the 1997 Dayton Hamfest, I only saw 3 receivers v/s the usual dozens. With its incredible -142db noise floor, full suite of military grade, Collins mechanical filters, and full tracking RF and IF sections, the R390A is arguably one of the very finest general coverage, HF receivers ever produced.

If you now own or plan to obtain an R390A, congratulations; know that you are a member of a growing but select group. If the R390A you own one needs restoration and don't feel comfortable tackling it, consider getting in touch with me. I have deep respect for this receiver and make a hobby of restoring, using and listening to them.

I have been working on and with R390A's since I was about 16. Now, at 54, I restore these fine receivers at very attractive prices for Radio Amateurs and Shortwave/Medium Wave DX'ers alike. Continually licensed for 35 years (Extra Class, "FWIW"), am an active Collins user/ "Collector" and did serve as an officer on the Board of Directors of the Collins Collectors Association, (CCA) for 5 years. I have published articles on the R390A receiver for the Collins Collector Magazine and leading Shortwave Broadcast journals and also served as chairman of the committee which wrote the "CCA Grading Standards for Collins Radios." Still an active Shortwave Broadcast DX'er, an R390A is very much a part of my personal "arsenal" as the most effective receiver to use when extreme sensitivity, audio recovery and dynamic range are required.

Restoration for most R390A's range broadly in cost. Repainting/relettering a front panel or rebuilding the 2, high failure, multi-section electrolytic filter capacitors are 2 of several additional options available. All radios are electrically and cosmetically restored and come with a post restoration performance summary. Because I have and still do actively use the receivers on a daily basis, there is a personal interest in each radio I restore. I perform my work on a hobby interest approach, not as an assembly line, do it as quick as you can-to-make-a-living, business approach.

To maintain quality, I will only restore a single R390A at a time. The restoration process requires approximately 3-4 weeks of daily effort to complete; I restore only one receiver at a time, YOURS! There are no "assembly line" operations nor do I have economically driven "quotas" of radios to complete. Rather, the process is to work on one at a time, until your R390A meets my specifications. That takes time and also means I typically have a waiting list. My restoration efforts are organized on a modified appointment basis. I maintain a calendar and place names of those who have committed to send me a radio in the available time "slots." Believe me, neither of us likes waiting lists. The 3-4 week completion time does not include refinishing a front panel or the additional QC time of up to 5 days. A typical completed receiver enjoys a 10db S/N + N sensitivity of <.5uv (in AM, 4kHz filter). Some receivers will spec in the 0.1-0.2uv range. Also, years of useful life are added to the radio by careful mechanical and electrical alignment, cleaning and proper lubrication using state of the art, synthetic lubricants to prevent re-hardening. While this is a hobby for me, I do believe in running the effort like a business; keeping time commitments, professional workmanship, return of replaced defective parts and references on request.

Please, no "basket case," cut up or modified receivers. The cost of doing these to your and my expectations far exceeds the cost of just finding a nice one.

I work out of a dedicated, fully equipped shop (not in the corner of a garage) with a full compliment of modern, calibrated Hewlett-Packard test equipment. While this equipment is expensive, it is Mil-Spec/commercial quality and assures you of the best possible results.

The process includes (this is a condensed version, the actual list is 3+ pages long):

Check all tubes, replace as required
Repair any faults
Check for appropriate Military Modification levels and install those
missing/necessary Clean/Lube gear train Clean chassis Silver Solder RF
and IF deck signal path Disassemble, bake (yes, bake) clean and
lubricate PTO Set PTO end points Synchronize electrical and mechanical
tuning Test main filter caps and offer to install remanufactured
replacements if necessary Replace carrier meter adjust pot with
precision trimmer Perform filter protection mod Perform full
mechanical and electrical alignment Fully detail and clean radio
Repaint knobs and meter housings with black epoxy paint, bake finish
Spec sensitivity of radio QC DX situation check out Includes 14 page
"Care and Feeding" guide

Ok, so even though you hate waiting lists as much as I do, you decide to have your receiver restored, where to go from here? Click on the link below to send me an
e--mail so we can get a dialogue started. First, you'll get an automated response. However, know that your investment in time to write an e-mail is important to me; I don't always get a chance to check the mailbox every day. The automated response at least lets you know your e-mail has been received and I will answer it soonest. If we need to, we can speak by phone between 8PM and 10PM Eastern. We'll work together to set up a general time for YOUR RADIO as well as give an estimate as to the completion date.

The next step is to schedule your receiver. Restoring R390A's is not a full time job here. Rather, its a labor of love which I very much enjoy, completing approximately 10 receivers per year. My regular home, work life and obligation as a US Coast Guard Reservist can... "get in the way."

When the time is near to send the receiver, I'll contact you. Do not just send a radio to my Callbook Address. When your "turn" comes up, I will first send a questionnaire to return with the radio which also contains a commercial, ship to address. R390A's can easily be gotten here to the Tidewater Virginia area VIA reliable UPS shipping. You WILL HAVE to remove the power supply and ship it separately he radio. Pack or have the radio packed in a box with at least 3" of clearance (don't just use shipping "peanuts") and send it. The cost is about $65 from about anywhere in the country. If needed, I can send you a box and packing on request. Call for details.

Selling completed radios is less than a prime interest; I'd much prefer to just work on yours. That said, completed receivers which are fully restored as above become available for outright sale. If you are interested, let me know and I will drop you a note when one comes available.

Thanks for your interest in this fine receiver. I hope you will have the opportunity of owning a Collins designed, R390A/URR General Coverage HF Receiver at some time in your hobby "career."

Please, due to export entanglements, I cannot ship radios or parts to my friends who are located outside the United States.

For additional information, just drop me a note

Page prepared by: Chuck Rippel