[Hallicrafters] S40A Help

[Mike Everette]

I don't think the dial color is an indicator of S-40 vs S-40A.  I have a Canadian S-40, or at least an S-40 with a Rogers Majestic tag on the back, that has the green dials.  And an 80 rectalfire.

I've seen a few S-40 receivers on eVilbay with amber dials, but they are definitely in the minority.

The only difference between the 90 and 5Y3 is the base; 4 pins for the 89 vs the octal on the 5Y3.  Unless maybe the early S-40s used a field coil speaker, like their parent S-20R?  My Canadian S-40 has a PM speaker.

Does the Rogers Majestic tag indicate that the radio was actually built in Canada, or merely imported by Rogers Majestic?  I've seen an SX-28 with such a tag as well, but no other models.

I have all 3 S-40 schematics -- S-40, 40A and 40B; and I can't find any obvious difference between the 40 and 40A other than the 80 vs 5Y3.

The schematics came from a CD that I bought on eVilbay a long time ago.  I don't think all 3 -- actually there were 4, because it also included the "mil-spec" original S-40 manual -- were on BAMA when I got it; and the scans are better than BAMA.  But I think they are now all on BAMA.

(All Halli's manuals should have been as good as that original S-40 book... oh well.)

The 40B has some definite electrical, and mechanical differences from the earlier models; for one thing, it has one less tube.

The S-40 actually is a reasonably decent radio; except it's broad as a barn door and a little deaf on the upper range especially by the time you get to 10 meters.  A Heathkit QF-1 Q multiplier plugged into the accessory connector on the back really does a lot for its selectivity.  A preselector, maybe an RME DB-23, in front of it would materially boost the sensitivity.  And then you'd have enough knobs to keep you very busy!

73

Mike
W4DSE