[R-390] Tuning SSB

[Barry Scott]

I hope I'm not opening a can of worms but I have some questions about
tuning SSB signals with the R-390/URR.

I know it works best if the LOCAL or LINE GAIN control is at maximum and to
adjust the RF GAIN for a comfortable audio level.  What I'm wondering is
what the proper way is to set the BFO.

I've always set it +1 for LSB and -1 for USB but I can also just leave that
at zero and am still able to tune either sideband and now I'm wondering if
setting the BFO + or - is mainly to get the dial to reflect the received
frequency.  Is that an over-simplification?

I'm asking because I'm never really sure what the transmitted frequency
is.  If I set the BFO + or -, it's only a matter of how I determine what
sounds good (e.g. no Donald Duck, etc.) as to what the dial reads.

I apologize if that's something that should be more obvious but reading up
on it on the web doesn't quite make full sense to me.  The discussions seem
to revolve around whether the signal is in the IF's passband, etc., but
like I said, it seems I'm centering the signal in the IF even if I keep the
BFO at 0.

Thanks for any insight on this,
Barry - N4BUQ