[Hammarlund] Favorite Hammerlund Receiver

[Carl]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian Burns" <burnsguitar at yahoo.com>
To: <hammarlund at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2011 7:23 PM
Subject: [Hammarlund] Favorite Hammerlund Receiver


Hello Carl,

~ For what purpose?

~ Strictly ham and what bands or include GC?

~ Mine range from a SP-100 to a HQ-180. The older HQ series is used for AM 
and some CW and the 180 is strictly for GC.

~ You also get into the silver mica disease in the sets with the small IF 
cans.

~ Carl
KM1H

I'm looking for a reliable boatanchor receiver for CW and AM ham use. It 
needs to be a GC model to cover the WARC bands. I've coveted a Hammerlund 
ever since I got my General class ticket in '53 (W5BRO), and our club, the 
Rio Grande Valley ARC made a visit to the naval air station in Harlingen, 
TX. They had an HQ129, and it was love at first sight.

I'm not absolutely wedded to the idea of a Hammerlund, particularly if there 
is going to be a lot of maintenance. I built the double conversion receiver 
for 80 and 40 that was in the ARRL handbook in 1956, but I had access to 
test equipment then.

Cheers,

Brian

See my website at : www.lessonsinlutherie.com

Craftsman Graphics
18000 George's Lane
Fort Bragg, CA 95437


You have me by 2 years for the license Brian and a 129X was my first "real" 
radio after a HB regen and a BC454/455 combo.

The HQ-120X has the funky looks but needs some improvements even on 20M

The 129 gets weak above 20M but a 6SG7 in the front end and first IF helps 
without being intrusive. Its fine with a preselector. Only late production 
had 15M bandspread but the 140 fits. It and the 120 need lots of 
electrolytics, paper caps an resistors replaced but its real easy to work 
on.

The 140 is better on the upper bands but a 6BA6/6BE6 can only do so much. A 
great candidate for a preselector also which also helps with images. Only a 
few things to do underneath.

The 140XA is a slight bit better for sensitivity and more stable but I dont 
care for the meter, others adore it.  Its the last of the series with a 
crystal filter.

The 150 isnt much different except a notch filter replaces the crystal 
filter. Its the last of the 6 band 455 kc IF HQ radios.

All the above make one of the best BCB DXing radios made, those custom 
tuning caps make it a dream to use

The 160 can be a real headache and they command a premium due to scarcity. 
Mine stays parked.

For $50 that 145 is a bargain and even if it doesnt work out you wont lose 
money.

As many on here know Im ex National and have several favorites among them 
particularly the NC-240D, 183 and 183D. The National PP 6V6  audio and 
stability is hard to beat.. Think of your relatives 49-55 Buick sound. The 
HRO-60 is the king but so is the price.

And every hamshack needs a SX-28/28A..

I guess I have to mention Collins and the R-388 is often overlooked and much 
cheaper than others that do GC.

Carl
KM1H