[Hallicrafters] Halllicrafters SX-117, HT-44, HT-45 Perhaps a TRADE?

[Harry Vaught, KT4AE]

I have had the SX-117/HT-44 pair for about fourteen years now, except 
for a year when I sold them and then bought the HT-44 back.  It took a 
couple of tries to get another good SX-117, but the HT-44 came back 
better than it went (Thanks, Jim!).

The HT-44 runs hot, but I have a couple of small 115 volt muffin fans, 
wired in series, one on top of each of the units.  They run slow and 
quiet and exhaust enough air to keep both just warm.

The HT-44 uses 6DQ5's but they are still only about $12 each plus 
matching at AES ( www.tubesandmore.com ), a great place to do business, 
so buy a couple of pair for the future.  The tubes last quite well if 
you lay off the AM "Old Buzzards" at full power.

When I bought mine in '95 at the Shelby, NC hamfest, it still had the 
original Halli branded finals in it.  They were producing full power 
until I wore them out learning how to balance out the unwanted sideband. 
  Phasing has its downside.  I have to admit that I was doing it wrong 
for years so it's not as hard as it looked. Read the manual carefully.

I don't know about touchy to neutralize.  The HT-44 is much easier 
(using factory methods) to neutralize than the HT-32 Mk 1, which is what 
I have, and I've never had any trouble doing it.

In my opinion, overall, the HT-44/SX-117 beats the HT-32 Mk 1/SX-101A 
that I have, which isn't quite the comparison you're asking about.

Harry, KT4AE
Maryville, Tennessee