[Hallicrafters] My First Boat Anchor Restoration: SX101 MkIII

Wed Nov 16 21:52:45 EST 2011

Jason,

The IFR 1000S would be an excellent score, if it's working.  Do be aware, the 1000 series is a bit long in the tooth now.  I'm not sure whether IFR (or whomever their successor is) supports them any more; I do know that when the department I work for used them and we had to send one off for service, it wasn't exactly cheap.  But when they are working, they are very good.

Many service monitors (including the IFR) can have an output that is full of spurs and noise... after all, they're designed to be used in servicing (for the most part) fixed-frequency receivers and transmitters, not band cruisers.  That having been said, I must add that for working on tunable gear, I think the IFR 1000 is one of the best out there; just remember its "limitations" when you're using it.

You made an excellent move in buying the URM-25.

73

Mike
W4DSE

--- On Wed, 11/16/11, Jason Hissong <jhissong at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Jason Hissong <jhissong at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Hallicrafters] My First Boat Anchor Restoration: SX101 MkIII
> To: "rbethman" <rbethman at comcast.net>
> Cc: hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 10:31 AM
> I won the auction for the 25D on
> EBay.  I paid $116.00 for it.  I know
> that what I will be getting *may* not work and will need
> some
> restoration.  I have several hams here locally that
> can assist me with
> this with and  they have the appropriate gear to get
> it
> calibrated/restored.  I also have a ham that is
> willing to loan me an
> IFR 1000S for my use (and as he said, maybe a deal I cannot
> refuse to
> purchase it later).
> 
> This weekend, I plan on testing each of the tubes in the
> SX101 in the
> tube tester (on loan to me).
> 
> Thanks for all the assistance and advice everyone.  I
> have learned a
> great deal just by talking with some of you on the list and
> directly
> through email.  And thanks for the receiver info
> resources presented
> in this thread.  I do understand how receivers work
> conceptually, but
> now it is time to dive deeper.
> 
> 73,
> Jason N8XE
> 
> On 11/16/11, rbethman <rbethman at comcast.net>
> wrote:
> > I agree with your assessment of the GR-1001A, and the
> good results with
> > the AN/URM-25(X).
> >
> > I ended up with a HP-606B for the price of come and
> get it.  I also
> > obtained an HP-312A from the same source and price.
> >
> > I only wish it WAS an HP-606A.
> >
> > I was given mt AN/URM-25 by a brother Warrior/Ham.
> >
> > I only had to replace one tube.  I've calibrated
> it against WWV and
> > several crystal calibrators.
> >
> > I gave Jason one piece of advice regarding one that he
> was looking at on
> > Ebay.  When you read the ENTIRE description, it
> reads the ubiquitous
> > "As-Is" thing.
> >
> > That always makes me VERY nervous!
> >
> > They are however, very adequate for the job he's
> looking at.
> >
> > He has to decide how much use this test equipment will
> get used.  That
> > has a BIG impact on how much someone wants to put in
> it.
> >
> > Carl, you and I probably use this stuff MORE than the
> masses.  This
> > could be a one=time thing for Jason, OR very
> infrequent.
> >
> > His call!  (Along with whatever his Elmer's have
> available!)
> >
> > Bob - N0DGN
> >
> >
> >
> > On 11/16/2011 8:45 AM, Carl wrote:
> >> The URM-25D hung from one of my hands for about 3
> years as a USN ET and it
> >> did an excellent job keeping our country safe.
> >>
> >> National had the GR 1001A's and they drifted so
> bad we used discrete
> >> crystal
> >> oscillators to do calibration. The only thing they
> were good for was IF
> >> and
> >> filter alignment along with general tracking and
> spot sensitivity tests.
> >> The
> >> coax adaptors can get pretty pricey also and
> signal leakage can be a
> >> problem
> >> when doing sensitivity measurements on the better
> receivers.
> >>
> >> With the NCX-3/NCX-5 and HRO-500 they were
> useless.
> >>
> >> The HP-606A replaced them and it is still one of
> the best generators even
> >> today. I have a pair of them and save the fragile
> 8640B for other work.
> >>
> >> Before getting the 606A's I rebuilt a URM-25D and
> used that for many
> >> years.
> >> They drift a bit but certainly not as bad as the
> GR.
> >>
> >> A good 25D will run $50-100 unrestored and around
> $40-75 for a 606A from
> >> what Ive seen at New England hamfests and several
> forums. Ebay is usually
> >> much higher.
> >>
> >> Carl
> >> KM1H
> >>
> >>
> >
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