[R-390] R-392

[John Bunting]

I've been doing some work on my R392 and would like a couple of questions 
answered before I button it up. The work has been setting the end points and 
attempting to reduce the spread of zero settings from aging crystals.  When 
I first started, I had 18 bands < +/- 1KC,
10 bands < +/- 2KC & 4 bands < +/-3KC. After 5 runs and changing two 1st 
xtal osc crystals and 6 2nd xtal osc crystals, it's now 25 bands < +/- 1KC, 
6 bands < +/- 2KC & 1 band < +/- 3KC.  Even though I had a complete set of 
spare crystals, not all the spares were better than the ones in the radio. 
This is as far as I care to go with this, as I don't want to be looking for 
more crystals.  The spares I had were a lucky find for a very good price at 
a past Shelby Hamfest.

My first question came up while checking the IF alignment.  I had a scope 
looking into the IF output cathode follower while doing the alignment.  I 
noticed the carrier waveform was a perfect sinewave until the input signal 
was increased and then the bottoms of the waveform started to flatten out 
and ultimately looked like the output of a halfwave rectifier.  Checking the 
wave form ay the plate of the AGC IF tube, showed a perfect sinewave, right 
at the point it feeds the grid of the cathode follower as well as the two 
AGC rectifiers.  After alignment the signal level at the ant connecter had 
to be less than 4uv to have the signal "look normal".  The AGC action seems 
normal, as at a signal input level of 10K uv the audio product sounded good 
with the RF Gain control fully clockwise.  Can any one give me any idea if 
this is normal or if there is a trouble in the receiver that I have not 
found?

Second question is:  I have four packages of Silica-Gel, two cloth ones with 
15 grams each and two larger paper ones with about one ounce each.  I've 
heard about putting them in a cookie tin or something and low temperature 
baking them for ?? hours before putting them inside a case such as the R392 
has.  Mine used to have condensation in it when I would turn it on in my 
cold shop.  I thought that these packages of desiccant tied on to the VFO 
case would probably absorb and remaining moisture and do away with the 
internally fogged up dial windows.  Does that sound reasonable and could I 
use a small toaster oven instead of the large oven in our range?  and how 
long and at what temperature?

TIA, John, W4NET