[R-390] R-392 power cable needed, LS-454? speaker

[Bob Camp]

Hi

R-392's are strange beasts. Since they  are basically mobile radios the 
outside condition is often pretty bizarre. It can range from badly beat 
up to pretty much brand new. A lot depends on weather the particular 
unit that used it liked to run with the canvas up or down.

Having them show up without power cords or speakers is normal. The best 
bet on power is to feed about 24 volts to the filaments and 28 volts to 
the plates. You can go as high as 32 volts on the plates but 28 seems 
to be a better choice. Try to avoid getting much over 25 volts on the 
filaments if you can.

The inside of the radio should be totally clean. This should have no 
correlation to the outside of the radio at all. The only way they got 
messed up inside was when they got left open at the depot. Otherwise 
they stayed all nicely water and dirt tight forever.

Long ago I went through several R-392's and friends went through quite 
a few more. I don't have any sitting here at the moment. They got to 
expensive for my tastes. They are a good radio provided you don't need 
monstrous amounts of audio. They have an L-C filter IF in them rather 
than a mechanical filter. This makes them sound a bit more like an R390 
not an A rather than a R390A. Some find the sound a bit easier to 
listen to for long periods.

I have never seen or heard of a R-392 with major problems. They did not 
get the kind of stack them in the rain treatment the R390A's got. All 
of them that I have seen have the original set of parts in them. The 
depot routine did not slice and dice them the way they did with the 
390's. If they had had significant trouble with them I suspect that the 
parts would have been swapped to a much greater extent.

It's a nice radio - enjoy it !

		Take Care

			Bob Camp
			KB8TQ



On Feb 20, 2005, at 5:54 PM, Tom Chirhart wrote:

> Just returned from the Richmond, VA Frost-fest and picked up a Stewart
> Warner R-392. It's missing the power cord and the lower left corner of
> the aluminum face is missing, appears to have cracked and was removed.
> Shows a lot of use, particularly around the tuning knobs, a good sign
> from my experience as the pretty ones (R-390's) that showed no wear or
> limited use were often the ones that operators hated for whatever
> reason, particularly sensitivity. The mint ones were mostly "hangar
> queens" always down for repairs hihi (Air Force slang for us Navy and
> Army dudes). My experience was, fire up the most abused R-390 at the
> operating position as it's probably the best one and often the 
> operators
> choice. Hihi. so anyone have a power connector/cable and perhaps a 
> parts
> unit 392 with front?  Does anyone refurb the face of the 392 like
> someone does the 390's.  Did these receivers use that LS-454 speaker?
> Any recommendations are welcome to get this old girl singing.
> Also, did not see one single R-390 at the Frost-fest today, and this 
> was
> the only R-392 I saw.  Years ago there were rows of them under tables.
> Thanks gang...
> And I'm still working on my" trip down memory lane", "stay tuned for
> previews of the next weeks exciting episode of.." As the R-390 turns"
> 73
> Tom K4NCG
>
>
>
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