[Hammarlund] gregg129x

[Mike Taylor]

Well Gregg, where should I start? To begin with, the HQ-180 doesn't have the
crystal filter controls. It has selectable bandwidth (mine also has + or -
3khz  veriner tuning control that works in conjunction with the selectivity
switch). Instead of a single conversion I.F., it is double conversion on the
first two bands and triple conversion on the other bands. It has "slot
depth" and "slot frequency" controls. This is a notch filter which is
extremely effective in eliminating those annoying 5khz whistles on the
crowded shortwave broadcast bands. It also eliminates adjacent channel
"monkey chatter" when listening to ssb on the ham bands. On 27mhz citizens
band, it can separate two stations talking on the same channel at the same
time! I've never seen a CB radio that can do that! Instead of a simple BFO
for ssb reception, the 180 uses a product detector. The 180 also has a giant
S meter calibrated in "S units" and Db over S-9. You may have noticed that
when you use your BFO your S meter doesn't work. This is normal for the
129x. On the 180, when listening to SSB, the S meter continues to work! The
noise limiter is not an "on/off" switch. It is a rotating variable control.
Choose the amount of noise limiting you need. For dial calibration, there is
a knob that moves the bandspread dial crosshair back and forth.  For SSB
reception, you can select upper, lower, or both. Have I forgot anything?
This is not to degrade the 129x. I think it's a great radio and I hope to
own one someday. I'd even like to have a COMET and a COMET PRO. Any
Hammarlund in my opinion is a great receiver. Plenty of companies over the
decades like Hallicrafters, National, Echophone and Howard made budget
radios that I would not care to have. (Hallicrafters did make some nice high
end stuff). Hammarlund took a no nonsense approach to creating their
products. It's a tribute to those folks that so much of their stuff is still
alive and well today. Have lot's of fun with your 129x...73's  Mike