[Boatanchors] Boatanchor purchase suggestions

[Barrie Smith]

Very nice and informative post, Al.

I was going to respond about the HRO's earlier, and mention that I've owned
a few, and still have an HRO-60, but for band-cruising, and knowing where
you are, the HRO comes up short.

I have quite a number of older, high-end receivers.  The one that I've had
the most fun with recently is the SX-73.  Sounds good, and I "almost" know
where I am most of the time.

73, Barrie, W7ALW


> Chris Bower wrote:
> > ....General coverage receiver to 30 MHz or thereabouts. (I mostly listen
to the
> > ham bands, but sometimes general SW broadcasts.)
> > Must be ALL tube (God, I love radios that glow in the dark!)
> > Sensitivity and audio quality would be my primary requirements.
> > I have no brand preference at the moment.....
>
> Chris and The Group,
>
> First a couple of questions;
>
> How important is frequency accuracy?  Collins changed
> everything in the late 1940's with the introduction of the
> 51J and later R-390's.  "If you want to find them, use a
> Collins.  If you want to listen to them use a Super-Pro or
> AR-88."
>
> How important is audio fidelity?  Especially, frequency
> response above 3 KHz and below 200Hz.  I.e., do you listen
> to music or want to enjoy the "East-Coast Sound" on ham-band AM.
>
> How important is good SSB performance?
>
> It's difficult to name a receiver that has it all.
>
> R-390: Undoubtedly one of the best communications receivers
> ever.  But:  Not a "Band Cruiser."  Frequency change gets
> tiresome.  Variable IF selectivity is a great feature, but
> for AM you have two filters:  4HKz - Almost Too narrow.  8
> KHz - Too wide.  It lets the 5KHz hets on short-wave
> broadcast come right through. (However, the 3KHz audio
> filter on the "Non-A" helps here.) Not really designed for
> SSB, but there are some simple mods that help a lot.  Audio
> needs work if you're seeking fidelity.
>
> Hammarlund HQ-180:  Was designed to handle SSB as well as AM
> and CW.  Tunable first local oscillator means it falls short
> of the Collins for frequency accuracy and stability.
> Limited selection on IF bandwidths.
>
> Recently I've been playing with band-cruisers with good
> audio fidelity.  Here's what I'd suggest.  These all have
> tunable first LO's so you're sacrificing stability and
> accuracy somewhat.
>
> Hammarlund Super-Pro: The SP-10 - SP-100 - SP-200 series
> have great audio in stock form and were designed as
> professional receivers.  External power supply is a minor
> annoyance.  SP-400 is very similar, but I find it physically
> revolting.
>
> SP-600:  More modern and extravagently constructed.  Low
> frequency audio was deliberately rolled off. However, I
> recently posted easy mods on my website that fix this.  (See
> the Communications Receiver section.)
>
> RCA AR-88:  I feel this was the BEST RECEIVER ON THE PLANET
> before the introduction of the 51J.  Variable IF bandwidth,
> Excellent audio. Don't be fooled by the single-ended 6K6.
> It sits in the middle of a well designed feedback loop.
> Excellent engineering overall.
>
>
> My two cents,
> Al
>
>
> -- 
> Al Klase - N3FRQ
> skywaves@bw.webex.net
> Flemington, NJ 08822
> Web Page:  http://www.webex.net/~skywaves/home.htm
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boatanchors mailing list
> Boatanchors@mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/boatanchors
> ** List Administrator - Duane Fischer, W8DBF/W9WZE **
> ** For Assistance: dfischer@usol.com **
> $$ For vintage radio info, see the HCI web site $$
> http://www.w9wze.org
>
>
>