[AMRadio] Hallicrafter S-42

[k0occ at comcast.net]

The SX-96 does not have any crystal filters in it. It uses a 50 kc IF for selectivity. Originally Hallicrafters used "SX-  " prfix to indicate that the receiver had a crystal filter. They developed the 50 kc IF and used it for the first time in the S-76. But since there was no "X", the S-76 was not looked upon as so great since it did not have a crystal filter; even though it's 50 kc IF was as selective as their receivers with a crystal filter. So beginning with the SX-96, they used the "SX-  " prefix for their receivers that used the 50 kc IF scheme. Most of their subsequent receivers used the 50 kc IF instead of crystal filters; including SX-100, SX-101, SX-115, SX-117.  They did make a few lower end receivers in the 60's with crystal filters that had the SX- prfix - SX-130, SX140, SX-146. 

I don't think Hallicrafters ever made an S-42. They made an SX-42 in mid-late 40's, which was a pretty well respected receiver in its day. They made an S-40 in same time frame; it was marginal, one step above an S-38, mechanically unstable and poor selectivty.

73

--
Ernie, k0occ 
Atlanta, GA

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Ellen Rugowski" <ellenjoanne2003 at sbcglobal.net> 

> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Geoff/W5OMR" 
> To: "Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service" 
> 
> Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 9:09 AM 
> Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Hallicrafter S-42 
> 
> 
> > I guess it depends on what you want the thing to do. An S-40B (the 42 
> > was a no-no on my part - sorry), best I can recall, doesn't have a 
> > product detector on it. so, SSB would be out of the question. 
> > Broadcast band and some stronger shortwave stations, for SWL'ing... 
> > yeah, I'd say it's cool for a table-top, or bed-side receiver, but I'm 
> > not sure I'd use one for communications. 
> > 
> > *I THINK* that the Hallicrafter S line pre-dates the SX line (to the 
> > best of my recollection) meaning that the S-40B has seniority on the 
> SX-28. 
> > 
> > OR... 
> > 
> > it could be that the X in SX means it's 'x-tra' good. ;-) 
> > 
> > I'm not familiar with the lineage of Hallicrafter receivers. Never 
> > really cared, to tell the truth. I always left that up to the 
> > collectors. All I want is something that works. Period. 
> > 
> 
> In the beginning, the S-line was before the SX line, but when the SX line 
> came out, the S line was also made concurrently. In Hallicrafters 
> nomenclature, the X in SX,means that the unit has crystal filters in it. 
> For instance, I have an SX-96. It has crystal IF filters for bandwidths 
> from 5 kc, down to 500 cycles. The S-85 for instance, has none of these 
> filters, and is intended more for General Coverage use. Externally both the 
> SX-96, and the S-85 receivers are similar. 
> 
> 73, 
> Ellen - AF9J 
> 
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