[Boatanchors] Hammarlund HQ-170A vs. National NC-300

[kim.herron at sbcglobal.net]

Hi Carl,
    Yes, you do need to pay attention to the 6C4 tube.  It is a problem 
if that tube doesn't perform.  It needs to be a Sylvania, GE or RCA.  If 
you do that, you're in like Flynn.  Second tier supplier tubes DO NOT 
WORK, PERIOD!!!.  Can you say drifty???

Kim  W8ZV
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carl" <km1h at jeremy.mv.com>
To: "Bob Young" <youngbob53 at msn.com>; <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Hammarlund HQ-170A vs. National NC-300


> Over on another forum many of the later HQ owners complain about 
> having to select a 6C4 that either doesnt continuously drift or quit 
> working at the lower end of the top end band. Then the life is rather 
> short.
> Sounds like a design problem across many models.
>
> National made several changes in the NC-300 and there was also a 
> factory alignment glitch in the early ones. With the second conversion 
> oscillator switch to xtal control (every 300 that came in for service 
> had that done automatically) drift was almost nil after a short 
> warmup.
>
> I used the 300 primarily as an IF for 50 thru 1296 converters in the 
> early to mid 60's when AM was still more popular than SSB on those 
> bands. I believe I paid $100 for it and the speaker.
>
> My own TX gear was AM/SSB and CW and mostly homebrew with a converted 
> NCL-2000 on 6 (which I still use) and a pair of  4CX250B's on 144, 220 
> and 432 with a common PS and PP 811A's modulator. The NCL ran as an AM 
> linear at ~ 400W out and the other amps were switchable from Class C 
> to AB2.
>
> The NC-300 lasted for about 3 years and was replaced by a 75A4 with a 
> Collins NB when SSB really caught on and QRM was often intense. I used 
> 10M for the IF and not Nationals converter band.
>
> Those were fun days.
>
> Carl
> KM1H
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bob Young" <youngbob53 at msn.com>
> To: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 5:06 PM
> Subject: [Boatanchors] Hammarlund HQ-170A vs. National NC-300
>
>
>
> I've never owned an HQ-170 but have owned many Hammarlund Super Pros 
> along with an HQ-180 (still do). The HQ-180 was the same radio as an 
> HQ-170 but general coverage. Mine is a good stable radio, the audio is 
> pinched though and I miss not having a crystal filter. There both 
> triple conversion and a pain to align. The HQ-170A (and HQ-180A) were 
> the ones in which the (I think) oscillator tube stayed lit all the 
> time along with having a SS rectifier.
>
> Bob Young
> KB1OKL
> -
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:28:53 -0400
>> From: "W8KZW"
>
>> I have the Hammarlund and an opportunity to acquire the National. 
>> Will be
>> used with my Ranger, primarily for AM.
>>
>> Which is the preferred radio and why?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> jeff
>> W8KZW
>>
>>
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