In a message to Wayne Sarosi  Ray Wade wrote:
 RW> Thank you! BTW, have you ever "modeled" your LPDA using one of those
 RW> software programs for that purpose? I am curious to know what would
 RW> happen to the gain and SWR curves if the beam was "fed" from the
 RW> opposite end *or* at one of the middle elements? I don't have such a
 RW> program myself.
No, I haven't. I just use my noodle and a calculator. The LPDA will not
work being fed from the larger elements nor in the middle.
 > WS> BTW, what year was the radio made?
 > WS> For a short time, I too worked for Rockewell, then we were sold
 > WS> to Boeing / United Space Alliance.
 RW> 1980. I bought it new and am still using it. When Collins first brought
 RW> out the 380 they offered their employees the opportunity to buy one at
 RW> dealer cost ("list" less 30%). I wanted one and was able to find an
 RW> "employee" in Dallas (thru a friend of mine here in Tulsa that sold
 RW> stuff to Collins) that was not going to exercise his right to buy one
 RW> for himself. So...he bought one for me! Mine has *every* option
 RW> available.
Neat deal. I'm still running my Ten-Tec Closet kW since 1990. And the
Kenwood TS430S is still in service from 1987.
 RW> "Collins" came to be very highly regarded. Unfortunately when Rockwell
 RW> bought Collins they did not follow this historical trend.
Seems that is the case for most by-outs. The ideal of the original
owners goes to the bit-bucket.
 RW> As far as I am concerned my 380 is at least as good as *any* radio made
 RW> since then. I love it! FYI, the "rep" of 380's now is very high. I was
 RW> recently offered $3500 for mine. But I can't find a single radio out
 RW> there (regardless of price) now that I like as well. So I will continue
 RW> to use my 17 year old Collins. It is *still* state-of-the-art!
State-of-the-art or Art-of-the-state, if it works and works well
stick with it.
-WS
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