[HBR] HBR 16 Owner Pondering Building My Own

[Darrell, WA5VGO]

Scott,

I totally agree with Lorne. Start out with the HBR-8 and get it working. 
Then add the additional improvements one tube at a time. The HBR-8 will 
actually work pretty decent on 80 and 40 meters and is certainly usable on 
20 meters. It's not much of a receiver above 20 meters. Make no mistake 
about it, the addition of an RF amplifier and an additional IF amplifier do 
make a difference, but the initial objective is to get the basic receiver 
working. If you don't anticipate tuning above 20 meters you can stop at the 
HBR-11. If you plan on using it above 20 meters, the Hartley oscillator 
makes a very worthwhile improvement. You have a real advantage in that you 
have a working set of coils from your HBR-16 and you can also use it as a 
model for your project. They're really very similar. Unless you have a 
quite a bit of building experience, I would suggest a larger chassis. It's 
pretty tight in there with the one Ted used. It will also leave you some 
room for future additions you might want to make.

Is it a decent receiver? Well, if you think the HBR-16 is, then you will 
think the HBR-12 is. There's no real difference in they're performance. I 
personally think both of them are excellent performers through 20 meters. 
They're very usable through 10 meters although the stability certainly 
begins to suffer on the higher bands.

Good Luck,
Darrell, WA5VGO



At 12:56 PM 4/8/2005 -0500, Freeberg, Scott (STP) wrote:
>Lorne and others suggested that I back off the 16, 13, 11, and look at a 
>simplier radio to start with.  Lorne suggested the HBR 8.  I am intrigued 
>with his comment about 'credible performance' with the HBR-8. Plus 
>upgradeability.  I will look at the HBR-8 schematic tonight and see what 
>it looks like.
>
>Baby steps are good. I still want to select the first receiver carefully 
>so I end up with a nice receiver that is fun to use on 80, 40, 20 cw.
>
>I looked on Kees HBR site and only saw 1 HBR-8 mentioned, Darrells two 
>HBR-8 photo's.  I haven't found Darrells email address to ask him, so has 
>anyone else built an HBR-8? and what do you think of it as a nice cw 
>receiver?  I know 'nice' is subjective :))))
>
>Thanks guys for the suggestions and advice.
>
>73, Scott WA9WFA
>www.wa9wfa.home.att.net
>************************************
>Visit the HBR Receiver Web Site with over 100 pictures of receivers and
>construction notes...... via http://www.qsl.net/k5bcq/
>
>Retrieve reflector archived data via 
>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hbr