[Hallicrafters] My First Boat Anchor Restoration: SX101 MkIII

[Jason Hissong]

Quick update on my SX101 Mk *2* :)

I worked with a local ham over the radio and he assisted me in 
troubleshooting the radio.  This is what I know:

I plugged a pair of headphones in and tested the audio stage.  I plugged 
a phono cord into the back, switched the rig to "phono" and touched the 
tip of the phono plug to cause a hum.  I heard the hum and the volume 
control works.  However, when I turn the calibrator on, and put the rig 
to USB or LSB, and tune around, I don't hear the calibrator at all.  I 
did not have an antenna plugged in.

I tested the 1st Conversion Oscillator (V13, 23AU7A) by setting my TS450 
to 7100kc + 1650kc = 8750kc, made a make-shift "antenna" with a test 
lead wrapped it around V3.  I turned the VFO knob up and down the dial 
and I heard the signal.  I tried this on 80, 20, and 15 and heard it 
there too (changing the TS450 frequency to the appropriate frequency).  
I did not hear one on 10M (I did not try it with 160M).

I also tried testing the 2nd conversion oscillator (V12, 12AT7) by 
setting my Kenwood to 1600kc, set it to LSB, and wrapped the lead around 
V12.  I did not hear anything.  I tried it with 1700kc and set the SX101 
to USB.  Nothing.  I also tried it reversed in case I messed it up.

So this is where I am now.  The ham who was helping me suggested I need 
to inject a signal to the grid of each stage of the radio and hear which 
one does not work, starting from the audio stage all the way to the 
antenna.  I don't have a signal injector to do this.

The other thing is, I am used to working on low voltage stuff.  I don't 
want to be putting this signal injector onto the wrong thing and *poof*!!!

73, Jason N8XE (new boatachorologist)