Collins R389 RXCVR??

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KR4WI:
I picked up this rx a few weeks ago, and was wondering if the only thing the rx is good for is to listen to  am broadcast stations? I dont hear anything other than that on it. Thanks for the help.

W3RSW:
It's a pretty good VLF receiver.  Get a wire outside with inductive, tunable loading or hook up to a good tunable loop and you'll find a lot of stuff below the BC band.  Airport omni's, you name it.  It is also fine to use as a tunable IF.  A simple mixer driven by a crystal oscillator for band or bands of choice will get you to 80/75, 40, and even 20 for casual listening.  One 6BE6, a crystal, a coil and variable tuning cap is about all it takes to make a simple converter.  Pick off power from the Collins.

Added later:
A 6U8 converter also can be used.  The triode portion as the osc. and tetrode as the converter tube.

For 80 meters use a 2.9Mhz xtal for conversion of 3.5-4.0 Mhz down to 650-1100KHz BC band.   For 40 meters a 6.4Mhz crystal will get you from 7.0-7.3Mhz down to 600-900KHz BC band.   -etc.

At these frequencies, just about any ol' transistor osc. and converter circuit will do too.  RF front ends, passive or active, simple to complex, can be added to your hearts content. 

WQ9E:
The R389 is pretty scarce.  If you are not interested in VLF you should be able to easily trade it for an R-390 or R-390A plus enough cash to buy some other interesting vintage gear.

Bill, KD0HG:
A properly aligned R-389 is the ultimate DXers AM BCB receiver. With its multiple tuned RF stages, it will beat even the R-390(A) as far as splitting channels and resistance to overload and intermod from strong local signals. Its front end has more selectivity than the IF stages. Sort of like a TRF-Superhet hybrid.

But if you're not interested in broadcast band or LF DXing, take Rodger's advice, sell it and buy something else more useful to you. They are a rare beast and one in halfway good shape should fetch a good piece of change.

Bill

Steve - K4HX:
That's a bit of a stretch. A good SDR with the attendant filtering and sync detection is superior. In any event, serious AM BC DXing comes down to antennas, not receivers.

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