[Hallicrafters] SX-88 Value Controversy

[Rodger]

Pete,

Your SX-88 might be a little weak on the 10 meter range since mine does 
seem to be fine in that respect.  Of course the Kenwood R-599D (and I 
believe the A version is the same except for the color) are very quiet 
and sensitive on 10.  I first used one at a Field Day setup in 1976 and 
my first thought was the receiver wasn't very sensitive given the lack 
of noise but then a CW signal popped up and it was an eye opener 
compared to my much noisier Heath SB-102.  I own a pair of the A and D 
twins and my only complaint is the transmitter doesn't cover 160 like 
the receiver does.

I have a lot of vintage receivers but the SX-88 probably gets more use 
than any other even though it is not at the top of the performance heap 
but it is certainly competent and fun to use.  I rarely listen to SSB on 
it but it does a very good job of pulling weaker AM signals out of the 
QRM on 75 and does very well on CW.  Even if it had been "the last word" 
when it was built it still is a very old receiver in today's world and I 
am sure my Drake R-7A and both my stock and modified R-4C receivers will 
outperform it under tough conditions but for me the SX-88 is a lot of 
fun to use.  Face it, under really tough band conditions the telephone 
is going to outperform any receiver if you need to get a message through 
so endless "mine is better than yours" arguments really are 
counterproductive.  Another favorite of mine is the National NC-240D.  
It is a good performer and has a nice look and the interesting 
bandswitching for general coverage and ham bandspread.  I have several 
members of the sliding coil catacomb family (a couple of NC-100X's, an 
NC-101X, the miltary RAO-7, a pair of NC-240D's) and they all serve 
their purpose.

For my ultimate heavyweight receiver I am in the process of building an 
external final IF/product detector for my Pierson KP-81 to give it 
better SSB capability and better selectivity on CW.  It is the only 
non-National design receiver I own that uses a sliding coil catacomb 
system for band changes.  Mechanically it is very well built and uses a 
total of 11 IF transformers in the 455 KC IF giving it a pretty nice 
selectivity curve on AM phone.  The receiver and its external power 
supply/audio output stage/speaker weigh about 140 pounds between the two 
units.  Part of a recent hamfest haul was a box containing a number of 
unused 85KC transformers for the command sets so I decided this will be 
an interesting use for them.   Adding a Hammarlund HC-10 to my TMC 
GPR-90 really changed its personality; I would love to have the matching 
TMC adapter but given prices that isn't likely to happen soon.

Rodger WQ9E

Peter A Markavage wrote:
>  I've had an SX-88 for a number of years, and even after spending many
> weeks changing out all the old caps, resistors out of tolerance, cleaning
> controls, switch contacts, alignment, etc., the word "wow" never appeared
> on my lips in using the receiver. Over all, it's not a bad receiver in
> sensitivity and selectivity, although on the higher frequencies it was
> sometimes difficult to pull signals out of the mud. Since I generally use
> headphones (the rest of the family nor the neighbors care to listen to
> what I'm listening to), the 6V6 audio output pair was not of great
> importance. My Squires Sanders SS-1R, National HRO-500, and McKay Dymek
> DR-33C receivers seem to outperform the SX-88 in the areas of sensitivity
> (especially on the higher frequencies), selectivity (under adverse
> QRM/contest type conditions), and definitely SSB audio quality. Several
> years ago with a side-by-side comparison of the SX-88 and 70's Kenwood
> R-599D receiver, the Kenwood was able to pull out 10 meter AM signals,
> whereas the SX-88 was struggling trying to get them out of the noise. I
> still have the SX-88 and probably will keep it more for its collector
> value $$ (unless I really get strapped for cash) then as a high
> performance type receiver.
>
> Pete, wa2cwa
> http://www.manualman.com
>
> O