[Hallicrafters] SX-88 Value Controversy

[Peter A Markavage]

I use a Dentron 160XV transverter with the T-599D to get 160 transmit
coverage with my Twins. Over all, my best, and most used tube receiver
for amateur band coverage is the Squires Sanders SS-1R. For general
coverage, my Hammarlund SP-600 gets the most use. The SX-88 pretties up
the shack and the SP-44 sits on top of it. I use the SX-88 on occasion,
but it's not high on my list. It's in the same level of use as my R-391.

Pete, wa2cwa
http://www.manualman.com


On Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:40:06 -0600 Rodger <wq9e at dtnspeed.net> writes:
> Pete,
> 
>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