[Boatanchors] 51J3 vs SP600?

[Al Klase]

Eugene,

If you want to find them, us a Collins.
If you want to listen to them, use a Hammarlund.

It's a case of the new versus the old, and a good historical
illustration of what happened in receiver design around 1949.

The 51J is miles ahead in frequency accuracy due to it's
crystal controlled first oscillator, and carefully
calibrated tunable second IF. (This is a landmark radio in
that sense.) It lacks the broad IF options available on the
SP-600 and has a permanent 60Hz hum in the output because
the audio xfmr is too close to the power xfmr.

In short, the SP-600 is the best band cruiser.  It's the
high-water mark for tunable-first-oscillator designs.  If
you're going to listen to 3885 or WBCQ, it the one.

If you need to keep a sked with a distant station on
29,057.5KHz you can depend on the Collins.

Regards,
Al


Al Klase - N3FRQ
Flemington, NJ
http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/


Eugene Hertz wrote:
> Anyone have an opinion in comparing a Collins 51J3 / R388  with a hammarlund sp600 for general use? 
> 
> Eugene
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