[Hallicrafters] SX-101A Dial Adjustment Help

Mon Mar 10 19:14:09 EST 2003

Hi Jerry,

I'm well aware it is a hobby and agree this isn't something to get
worked up over.

I've been involved in ham radio nearly 50 years now, like you, and know
the SX-101 family fairly well as I had two until not too many years ago. 
I had both a Mk III and a 101A at the same time. I kept the Mk III 
primarily for 160 and used the 101A for SSB on the other bands as well 
as using it with converters for 6 and 2. Over the 20 years I had them I 
found it necessary to perform several alignments on each of them during 
that period in order to keep them at peak performance and up to snuff on
frequency alignment. I replaced the two SX-101's with a single NC-303 
that gave me full 160 meters thru 220mc (with converters of course).

My point was that Frank seems to have run out pointer movement. The only
way to fix his problem by changing the pointer location on the string
means he would have to move it even further than the already generous
movement provided by the pointer set knob. My take is that if it is that
far outside the "window" then alignment is called for and he may also
end up with an improved radio in other areas like sensitivity after a
complete alignment.

I've had several people respond that we shouldn't get into the 
"complexity" of an alignment. What is complicated about performing an 
alignment? One of the joys of having this old equipment is that 
alignments like this are not difficult at all. It's easy for 
knowledgeable hams to do and, short of physically breaking a component, 
you really can't do any lasting damage. Plus a person can learn a lot 
about how the radio works by performing such an alignment.

I believe I know how to use the "older" gear for finding and tuning in a
signal. In fact I am 95% boatanchor and use solid state gear now
primarily only for mobile operation as it just isn't practical to put
the KWM-2 in my vehicles of today as there just isn't enough room. All
my other hamming, be it CW, AM or SSB is done "the old way" using gear
from the 1930's thru the 1960's. So I get to "tune around" and adjust my 
transmitter to the proper frequency every day. Here is my primary 
station as it exists today, "http://www.w2ec.com/W2EC.html", a second 
room contains my RBA/RBB/RBC receivers along with other gear like my 
original Hallicrafter SX-110 and an S20R as well as transmitters like my 
DX-100, DX-60 and original AT-1. I maintain all my own gear and have a 
lot of fun doing it, so I try to encourage others to do their own work 
as well. I would rather keep the gear up to spec the way the manual 
calls for and not cut corners.

To keep this light hearted, nowhere did I demand that Frank align his
gear, I just suggested that alignment is the "more correct" way to bring
his SX-101A into line. He is of course free to use whatever method he is
comfortable with.

73, Ray  W2EC

E. Jerold Forwood wrote:

> Ray,
> I happen to have an SX-101 and I know what he's talking about.  I use it
> with my Johnson Ranger on the AM Window frequencies all the time.  The
> Dial Pointer reset knob does just that, it moves the pointer left and
> right much more on 20 Meters than 200 KHz's.  It will also allow
> compensation for much more than the 60 KHz's that he indicated it was
> off.  
> 
> Why make things so complicated when it doesn't need be?
> 
> If you center the adjustment on the correct position, and you only need
> to use the 100 KHz calibrator right on the front panel to find the
> correct position, you will have plenty of adjustment to move the pointer
> more than the 60 KHz. he  indicated it was off (14,200 from 14,260 is 60
> according to my math).  The Manual describes this procedure.
> 
> Frankly you can't read closer than 10 to 20 KHz on the dial any way. 
> It's not a digital readout, it's a slide rule dial from the 50's / 60's
> era.  Way back when I got my first Ham Ticket, KN9AIB.
> 
> To use the receiver you tune for a signal within a range, not for a
> specific frequency.  You then zero beat a separate transmitter against
> the signal on the receiver.  You couldn't tell anyone what frequency you
> are on within 10 KHz unless you have a separate frequency counter in the
> shack!  That's why you had to be careful, in the old days, to stay at
> least 5 KHz.  away from the band edges.  You never knew is you were truly
> inside of where you were supposed to be!
> 
> Well enough of this.  Just remember, It's a HOBBY!  It's not Rocket
> Science!!  Have fun with it!!!
> 
> 73's de Jerry, KØEJF
> 
> 
> On Mon, 10 Mar 2003 13:57:17 -0500 "Ray V." <w2ec at attglobal.net> writes:
> 
>>Jerry,
>>
>>Frank's note seemed to indicate that 14,200kc actually was 14,260kc, 
>>the 
>>implication being that he couldn't adjust the dial pointer to 
>>correctly 
>>point to 14,260. Physically moving the pointer might seem to work in 
>>the 
>>middle of the band, however consider this: turn the main dial tuning 
>>to 
>>the far left of the scale, i.e. now the dial is pointing at 
>>14,000kc, 
>>the far left, but based on what Frank said, his receiver will be 
>>receiving 14,060, not 14,000. Now if he just physically moves the 
>>pointer on the string to 14,060, he is limited to a low frequency of 
>>
>>14,060 as the main dial is already far left, he can't turn it any 
>>further left to bring the dial pointer back to 14,000 if it has been 
>>
>>physically moved to the right. This means a realignment is needed so 
>>
>>that the far left is really 14,000, not 14,060. Moving the dial 
>>pointer 
>>in this case is masking the problem and limiting the frequency 
>>coverage 
>>of his receiver to 14,060 and up.
>>
>>73, Ray  W2EC
>>
>>E. Jerold Forwood wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Frank,
>>>Just Move the pointer's position on the dial string so that it's 
>>>
>>position
>>
>>>is centered on the desired freq. while the pointer adjustment is 
>>>
>>in the
>>
>>>center of it's travel.  Why go through all the trouble to realign 
>>>
>>the
>>
>>>entire receiver when it's that easy?  Unless, of course you have 
>>>
>>the
>>
>>>proper equipment, the knowledge, and the time. But then you may 
>>>
>>find that
>>
>>>you will still have to move the pointer's position anyway!
>>>The pointer is not that hard to get to and you can clean the 
>>>
>>inside of
>>
>>>the glass in front of the dial at the same time.  You may also 
>>>
>>find that
>>
>>>the dial cord is frayed and needs replacing.
>>>Just my $0.02!
>>>73's de Jerry, KØEJF
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
> 
> 
> E. Jerold (Jerry) Forwood
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