[HBR] HR-10 to HBR project

[Bill Cromwell]

On Thu, 2011-10-20 at 14:12 -0400, Walt Hutchens wrote:
> Yep, I did it -- got a Heath HR-10B with the intent to make an HBR out of
> it.   
> 
> This project seems to make sense because:
---long post snipped..see original for good ideas---

Hi Walt,

Wouldn't you know I've had an HR-10 for more than 20 years. I loaned it
to newcomers when there were newcomers AND they were interested in such
ilk.

One of them decided to modify it for 30 meter operation in place of the
20 meter band (yes he asked permission). So that receiver no longer
works even as well as it originally did. Now it has neither 30 meters
nor 20 meters. The only reason I didn't part it out years ago is because
I also have a DX-60 (big smile).

I have been considering earlier comments you made about starting with
one of the Heath receivers and I have moved to the point of looking at
it as an HBR parts mule. I thought about modifying the existing radio
toward an HBR but I don't think I want to do that. I have a Johnson
Ranger here that I intend to keep and use with the HBR. I keep coming
around to how cool an HBR that resembles the Ranger would be in my
shack. I am never going to be good enough working sheet metal to make
the front panel/cabinet like the Ranger. Wait a minuet...the bottoms of
metal cake pans with those compound radii at the edges... hmmm. Or just
buy a Ranger carcass and build in that. I see the VFO sliding out for
coil changes - a slide out drawer with the RF mounted on a subchassis
behind it. Maybe that's too much work. I would like to have a working
receiver before I get too old to remember how to use it <evil grin>.

If I modify the existing radio I will unload the power supply and audio
(after the preamp) to an outboard unit that can be reused with other
radio projects. More real estate would be available on the chassis and a
source of some heat and hum removed. I would stay with the double
conversion circuits, with or without the HR-10's xtal filter. I have the
85kc IF/BFO coils from an ARC 5 receiver. "Narrow" filtering at both IF
channels might be beneficial (neither filter being late, great,
state-of-the art). I think the need for more accurate alignment is a
fair tradeoff and I can do that.

Next..look in the HR-10 and start 'imagineering'.

73,

Bill  KU8H