[Heathkit] SB 102 vs HW 101

[Glen Zook]

The HW-101 is basically a stripped down version of the
SB-100 / SB-101 / SB-102.  It uses a "normal" VFO
instead of the much more stable and accurately
calibrated LMO.  Also, the SSB filter has 2 less
"poles" and therefore is not as good.

Now I prefer the SB-101 to the SB-102.  The primary
difference is that the SB-101 has a tube type LMO and
the SB-102 has a solid-state LMO.  Unfortunately, many
of the solid-state LMOs are not as well calibrated as
the tube type LMOs.  Basically the solid-state LMOs
are "on" at the 100 KHz points but vary all over the
place in between.  The tube type LMOs are generally
well within 1 KHz at any point on the dial.  There are
exceptions, but generally the tube type LMOs are
better.

There is a fellow in Florida who can make the
solid-state LMOs "track" as well as the tube types. 
However, the amount of work that is required is
considerable (usually several hours).  Since the tube
type LMOs are generally more able to "track" in their
frequency response I therefore prefer them to the
solid-state LMOs.  As such, in my opinion, the SB-101
is better than the SB-102.

Glen, K9STH


--- Richard Franzson <Franzsrf at umdnj.edu> wrote:

I am looking to purchase either a SB 102 or a HW 101.
Which of the two is the better? I know the HW rig came
out after the SB.









Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com