[Boatanchors] Hammerlund Recievers?

[Rodger]

Hi Bob,

I think that the Hammarlund receivers often sell for less because many 
people don't consider them as "pretty" as the National receivers.  I 
have both an NC-109 and NC-98 and they are nice looking receivers and 
perform OK when there is not too much QRM but they were both at the 
lower performance end of the National offerings.  The NC-183 is a good 
step up in performance (as is the 183D) and I like both of them quite a 
lot.  If you come across an NC-190 it is a very good receiver for AM/CW 
and SSB and has the unique switchable bandspread calibration for both 
amateur and SW use.

Broadly speaking, there are 3 major performance groups in the Hammarlund 
stable.  1.  The Super Pro's are very good receivers and the SP-200 
version is fairly common due to its usage in WWII.  These receivers have 
very nice audio, great selectivity with a continuously variable IF 
bandwidth from 3 to 16 KC's (at 6db down) plus a crystal filter. The 
only drawbacks are possible frequency coverage issues (various models 
will cover the very low frequency ranges but then leave out the 
broadcast band through 2.5 megahertz; most models do not cover above 20 
megahertz until you get into the later Super Pros like the SP-600 which 
tends to be fairly pricey even though it is common.  They also use an 
external and very heavy power supply but these are well built receivers 
that are very reliable.  2. The second group would be the better HQ 
series, by better I mean that this group uses 6 bands to cover the range 
from BCB to 10 meters.  This started out with the HQ-120 and culminated 
in the much different HQ-180.  The early receivers are great for CW and 
have great AM audio, the HQ-180 has a 50 KC final IF and is great under 
QRM "battle conditions" but doesn't sound as nice as the earlier wider 
bandwidth models.  3. They also made some lower cost HQ models which 
cover the frequency range in 4 bands and generally have lower 
performance than the better receivers.

I have an HQ-129X which I really like a lot; it doesn't particularly 
excel at anything but it just works well and sounds good.  Probably the 
biggest disappointment I have in a receiver is a National NC-400 which 
was a very expensive receiver when it was made and they do work well on 
the lower frequencies but frequency stability is pretty poor on 15 and 
10.  Apparently the target market mainly used these receivers with and 
external control oscillator so stability wasn't a major consideration; 
the receiver otherwise performs as you would expect given its price.  
Also, don't overlook the NC-200/240 family of receivers if you see one.  
These are nice performing, stylish National receivers with general 
coverage plus bandswitch selected bandspread ranges on the ham bands; I 
like mine a lot and I think it is temporarily going to replace my 
Pierson KP-81 that is connected to my Viking 500.

(see what happens when you ask a professor a simple, short question-you 
get a very long answer).
Good luck and happy hunting!

73, Rodger WQ9E

Bob Macklin wrote:
> How about some comment about Hammerlund receivers. We had our BIG hamfest in about 3 weeks and I am looking for new (to me) GC receiver. My first choice is a NC-109 or a NC-98. But those seem to be rare except on eBay. If I see a NC-183 I may take it.
>
> But there are always lots of Hammerlund receivers. I may consider one of them.
>
> It's not for SSB use. Just CW/AM.
>
> Bob Macklin
> K5MYJ
> Seattle, Wa,
> "Real Radios Glow in the Dark"
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>