[Hallicrafters] SX-62 is playin' the oldies!

[Al Parker]

Hi Phil,
    Congrats in being (almost) there.  I"ve been trying to compose a note to
you for a day or 2, it's still not ready, re: the -62 & -42's, but here's
most of it.  I"m finally back into the SX-42 I've been working on for abt a
yr.  Found some old emails on them & got another thought or 2.  Like you
said, everything seems insensitive these days, sometimes due to the bands.
My SX-42 is that way, not bad, but not real good.  I've just opened up 2 of
the IF cans to ponder the micas in there, as Joe H. had solved insensitivity
in there back in Jan.  I"ve also found some discepencies with schematics &
actual.  e.g. in mine, the 2nd RF isn't controlled by AGC, the usual grid
conx goes to gnd thru the expected res. that goes to AGC.
    Question for you, is the SX-62 easier to work on than the SX-42?  I have
an opportunity to get an SX-62, and know the ckt is much the same as the
SX-42.  Is it mechanically any easier?  I know you've changed a lot of
resistors as well as the usual capacitors, + a few micas.  I've still got
another SX-42 + an SX-28A on the project shelf, should I add another big
job?
    I'm also into an SX-117 now that seems insensitive, it appears that the
first 50kc IF plate ckt may be the problem, more micas to ck out.
73,
Al, W8UT
New Bern, NC
BoatAnchors appreciated here
http://www.thecompendium.net/radio/
http://www.hammarlund.info

----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil Atchley" <k06bb at elite.net>
Hi.
This afternoon I tested the tubes in the SX-62 I've been overhaulin' and
then I got brave and fired it up, watching and sniffing for smoke 8^)  There
wasn't any so I briefly ran it through the bands.  I still need to put the
new 'lytic capacitors in it but wanted to see how it plays.

First it seemed like the Shortwave bands were way down but a check with the
Yaesu VR-5000 showed that they were indeed way down.  Then I tuned in my
favorite "Oldies" station, KABX 97.5 FM.  That old radio sounds pretty good,
though the speaker I'm using is a small, funky Aiwa unit scrapped from a
cheap surround sound receiver.  Push-Pull 6V6's sure sound a lot nicer than
the typical Sand-state set <grin>.