The Collins R-390A is arguably the finest tube-era military HF receiver ever built — but it was designed in the early 1950s for AM and CW reception. As amateur and military communications transitioned to single-sideband (SSB), several aftermarket solutions emerged…
R-390A Aftermarket SSB Adapters: A Comparison Guide Mike Peace · March 9, 2026 · Amateur Radio, R-390A.NET The Collins R-390A is arguably the finest tube-era military HF receiver ever built — but it was designed in the early 1950s for…
The Boatanchor Legends series honors the individuals who built, preserved, and shared the technical knowledge that keeps the R-390A, the Collins S-Line, and their sister equipment alive. From the editors of the Y2K Manual to the archivists who saved disappearing…
Wei-i Li The Archivist Every technical community generates far more knowledge than it manages to preserve. Conversations happen, problems are solved, solutions are shared — and then the thread scrolls off the page and the answer that took three experts…
Clemens Stubbe Østergaard The Scholar at the Receiver The R-390A community has always attracted serious people — engineers, technicians, former military operators, and dedicated amateurs who approach the receiver with the same rigour they bring to their professional lives. Clemens…
Dr. Gerald N. Johnson — KE0KI The Engineer in the Room Most online technical communities have enthusiasts, experienced hobbyists, and the occasional retired technician. Very few have a licensed Professional Engineer with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering who shows up…
Electric Radio Magazine — Barry Wiseman N6CSW & Ray Osterwald N0DMS The Publication That Gave the Community a Voice Every technical community needs somewhere to put its knowledge down in writing — somewhere permanent, indexed, and reproducible. For the R-390A…
Bob Thomas, VE3TOU Godfrey, Ontario, Canada Founder, Treetop Circuits · SSB Adapter Designer · Licensed Amateur Since 1958 Bob Thomas, VE3TOU, is the designer and founder of Treetop Circuits — the small Ontario cottage operation that for thirteen years produced…
Boatanchor Legends — A Tribute Series Edward Kujawski The Boat Anchor Manual Archive Keeper of the Manuals — bama.edebris.com Every restoration begins with a manual. Before the first capacitor is replaced, before the first alignment is attempted, before power is…
Boatanchor Legends — A Tribute Series Paolo Italy La Famiglia 390 — The Complete R-390 Family Reference Paolo brought an international perspective and a scholar’s thoroughness to the R-390 community with “La Famiglia 390” — a comprehensive reference work that…