[Hammarlund] Review of the HQ-129-X, HQ-180A Assistance

[Edward Kusalik]

Hammarlund NewsGroup,

This is the first time checking in, even though I been getting the
summary of messages and information for past several months now.......

Your comments about the HQ-129-X has prompted me to response on what I
think of this radio.
I purchased a unit back in 1969 which had been well used by a fellow Ham
Operator in Ontario.
After replacing all of the tubes and doing some minor repairs, I
basically used the radio for low-band Dx'ing on the Short Wave Bands.

It wasn't till 1973 I did a complete over-haul of the unit, replacing
all of the capacitors, tubes, and complete re-aligned of the unit. I
found a some information on up-grading the unit in the form of an
article called 'second guessing the experts on the HQ-129-X' in CQ
Magazine April 1952.
After which this became one of my top DX machines which I used. With
this I was able to hear Zanzibar on 3339, Reunion on 2446 and Turk &
Caicos on 4788.

The sensitively was the best for it's time and I had no problem digging
out weak signals on the medium and lower short wave bands.  The only
draw(small) back was for the warm up time for the tubes and the fact
that above 19 Mhz the sensitively fell off.
After which I sold this unit to a fella in Hamilton, Ontario. But a
regretted it since then for passing the
unit on.

In 1992 I picked up another HQ-129-X with the original manual. The unit
wasn't to bad of shape, but the front panel was complete worn off with
lettering. Also with this unit came information about further
improvements such as Modifications of the converter stage from a 6K8 to
6X8, addition of AVC to third IF Amplifier Stage, Reduction of warm
drift on the 18-31 Mc Range, Improved "S" meter sensitivity and there
was more. But for now, I just replaced the front panel with  a 'brand
new' panel for this unit in Florida, had it re-tubed, and that was the
extent. Now the unit sits handsomely in a display shelf in the Family
Room.

I have a comment about the manuals. The one manual ( of which I have
two) shows the unit as a HQ-129-X. The other manual has the Unit details
for a HQ-129-XC. Was their actually two versions of this receiver? The
manuals look identical. Comments?

To me the HQ-129-X was the first serious DX machine that I used and it
never failed me in getting the signal out of the noise level, especially
on the lower bands.

My next project is a Hammarlund HQ-180A, with the matching speaker.
Modifications where done to this unit, (where the clock was) in the form
a separate RF & Tone Control, and a B+ Power switch. I would like to
remove this and try a get a clock that would replace the original
manufacture's one.(Any ideas what a suitable replacement would be at
hand?? ) OR would it be best just to leave these modifications as they
are??
Comments?

Thank you for letting me share my comments....

Edward Kusalik
VE6EFK
DX'er since 1965

Alberta, Canada