Roger Ruszkowski, KC6TRU
United States
Ex-Military Operator · Technical Authority · Reflector Legend
Roger Ruszkowski, KC6TRU, was among the most respected technical voices on the R-390 reflector during the mailing list’s most active years in the early-to-mid 2000s. His combination of military service experience and deep hands-on knowledge of the R-390A gave his posts an authority and practical grounding that set them apart. More than two decades later, his contributions are still referenced by name.
Cecil Acuff K5DL — himself a twenty-year veteran of the reflector — recalled Roger in a 2026 farewell post as one of the people he most missed from the community’s golden era: “ex-military members who served and shared (Roger).” Roger was someone who had actually used this equipment in operational contexts, and who brought that experience to bear when explaining how to get the best from it.
The Tube-Swapping Methodology
Roger is particularly remembered for his detailed posts on tube selection and placement within the R-390A’s IF and RF decks. His approach — methodically matching tubes by measured parameters and optimising their placement within the signal chain to maximise overall sensitivity — was grounded in an understanding of the receiver’s circuit architecture that few other contributors matched.
His posts from 2005 on this subject were preserved in the Pearls compilation and remained a reference point for list members well into the 2020s. When a reflector member posted in October 2024 trying to recall the specifics of Roger’s methodology, several other members immediately knew which posts he meant.
Military Knowledge in a Civilian Community
What made Roger distinctive was not just technical depth but operational context. The R-390A was a military receiver designed to be operated and maintained by trained Signal Corps personnel under field conditions. Many of the receiver’s design decisions — its modularity, its mechanical robustness, its calibration scheme — only make full sense in that context. Roger’s military background gave him a perspective that most civilian restorers could not easily replicate.
“I sure do miss the list of 20 years ago… ex-military members who served and shared (Roger).”
— Cecil Acuff, K5DL, R-390 Reflector, February 2026
Legacy & Contributions
Primary Focus: Tube selection and placement optimisation; IF and RF deck sensitivity; military operational context for R-390A maintenance
Community Role: One of the most respected technical voices on the R-390 reflector during its most active period; Pearls contributor
Callsign: KC6TRU
Notable Contribution: Roger’s methodology for tube selection and optimisation remains a reference standard for restorers more than twenty years after his most active period on the reflector.
Mike Peace VK6ADA / r-390a.net Administrator
Boatanchor Legends Tribute Series — Preserving the History of the R-390A Community