[R-390] R390A AGC troubleshooting procedure

[Charles Steinmetz]

I posted this on another thread yesterday -- I'm reposting with some 
additions and so it has the correct "Subject:" header.


R390A -- AGC troubleshooting procedure:

Throughout this entire procedure, the "FUNCTION" switch should be set to "AGC."

First, make sure there is a jumper installed between TB102, Terminals 
3 and 4.  If not, install one and see how the radio works now.

Set the AGC to "MED" and tune the radio to a good, strong, local 
signal (like a strong AM broadcast station).  Measure the DC voltage 
at TB102, Terminals 3 and 4 with a high impedance meter (VTVM, DVM, 
or scope, with an input resistance of >= 1M ohm; not a VOM).  It 
should be significantly negative, -10v or more.  If it is, you have 
no gross AGC problem and the fault lies elsewhere.  But if the 
voltage is only weakly negative, or zero, you have an AGC problem.  If so:

Turn off the radio, and pull the plug.  Set the AGC time constant to 
"MED."  Remove the jumper between TB102, Terminals 3 and 4.  Measure 
the resistance to ground from each of these Terminals.  Terminal 3 
looks back into the AGC detector, and should read in the neighborhood 
of 500k ohm due to R545, R546, and R547.  Terminal 4 is the AGC line 
feeding the RF and IF circuits and should read essentially infinite 
(>> 1M ohm).  If you have gotten to this point, one or the other of 
these Terminals will probably show a much lower resistance to ground 
than this.  Trace the circuit to find the leaky component(s).

If Terminal 3 reads less than ~500k ohm, the usual suspects are C551, 
C548, C547, C545, and C544.

If Terminal 4 reads less than 1M ohm, the usual suspects are any of 
the several dozen bypass caps on the AGC line in the IF and RF 
sections, or possibly leakage to ground in one or more of the 
mechanical filters.  It is also possible that the sector of the 
"FUNCTION" switch that shorts Terminal 4 to ground when the switch is 
set to "MGC" or "STAND BY" is mis-timed, broken, or dirty, but this 
is very unlikely.

If, on the other hand, the resistance readings are OK, suspect V508, 
V509A, and associated circuitry (Z503 and C546, especially).

The R390 is very similar, although the part numbers are different.

Best regards,

Charles