[Hallicrafters] SX-111 "Demons OUT!"

[Rich Oliver]

Mike,

Thanks for the great tip!  This is a great way to get impressive 
performance from just about any Hallicrafters - compare it to an SB-102. 
  I love it!

This reminds me of the time another local antique radio restorer came to 
me with one he just couldn't figure out.  The readings all looked right 
but it wouldn't play.  We turned it on and after maybe 10 or 15 seconds 
I heard a faint but sharp pop from the speaker - the sound of voice coil 
against magnet.  I reached over and put my thumb on the edge of the cone 
hoping I picked the correct side.  I got lucky; the cone warped in the 
correct direction to free the voice coil and it started playing 
beautifully.  My friend's mouth fell open and his eyes turned into 
dinner plates.  That is the day I gained the reputation for being able 
to fix a radio by "laying on of hands".

Cheers, Rich, KC9GQ

Mike Everette wrote:
> "Put 'cha HAAAAAANNNND on th' Radio..."
> 
> The SX-111 has been healed! Partially at least.  A
> number of demons have been exorcised but a few
> remain... Their name is ColdSolderJount, and they are
> Many.
> 
> However, I actually got the receiver to work tonight,
> after finding out that about half of the 150 volt
> tegulated B plus line was disappearing, through a cold
> solder joint.  Prodding it with a screwdriver produced
> a nice blue spark, and lotsa rush noise.  I fixed the
> joint, and Voila!  It started working, and audio
> quality on SSB is outstanding.  Selectivity, when
> cranked down to the 2 KHz position,  approaches that
> of my trusty Heathkit SB-102 with its crystal filter. 
> And the SX-111's notch filter is superb.  Stability of
> the HF oscillator, after a 15-minute warmup, is
> decent.  Sensitivity is amazing.  With ten feet of
> wire hanging off the antenna terminal, it hears just
> about anything the SB-102 does, using the "real"
> antenna and tuner, at least on 80 and 40; and plenty
> of signals on 20 and 15.  10 meters seems quiet, but
> the calibrator is strong... probably band conditions.
> 
> The S-meter action is not what it should be.  This
> could either be due to another bad solder joint or
> something to do with the AVC mods.
> 
> I still have to go gunning for a few more demons (with
> a Weller D-440).  In the process I plan to reverse the
> poorly-executed mods and restore the original AVC and
> RF gain circuitry.  But at least I have "heard the
> noise" now... the sweet sound of success!  And the
> dial lights up real pretty too.
> 
> 73
> 
> Mike WA4DLF
> 
> 
> 
> 
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