[Hallicrafters] SX-42, Band 4

[Craig Roberts]

Hi Joe,

Weak reception on the 15 - 30 MHz band could be simply indicative of 
weak propagation, especially during the current ebb in the solar cycle.  
If you have a signal generator try injecting a 15 MHz signal into the 
antenna terminals and see if there's an appreciable difference between 
signals heard at that frequency on bands 3 and 4.  If no signal 
generator is available, try listening to WWV at 15 MHz during the day on 
both bands or CBers around 27 MHz on band 4 anytime.

Incidentally, on all the SX-42s I've worked on, band 4 was not quite as 
sensitive as the other bands  (and there's not much happening up there 
anyway), so your receiver might be fine.  How's band 5 and the FM band?  
They both use a different IF (10.7 MHz) than the other bands and must be 
serviced and aligned separately.

As for the mystery wire on the bandswitch -- is it on the frame of the 
switch or on a particular lug?  Various generations of the SX-42 used 
differing grounding and shielding schemes around the bandswitch.  Let me 
know precisely where the wire is and I might be able to identify it.  Do 
you have a manual and schematic?  If not, you can download the ones I 
scanned at high resolution from:

http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/hallicra/sx42-2/

http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/hallicra/sx42sams/

They are huge files, however.  If you don't have a broadband connection, 
let me know and I'll mail you a CD with the files on them.

Have fun!

73,

Craig
W3CRR