[Heathkit] RX-1 Mohawk Receiver Opinions Wanted

[Wayne Hoskins]

Of all the stations I've operated, my favourite is the Apache/Mohawk 
station at my dad's house (which was his first rig back in '65, but he 
didn't build them).

That said, I agree with the other opinions here.

Problems I've found:

Like everybody else has said, agc is too fast for ssb.  However, for am 
it seems more reasonable.

The vfo in this specimen drifts like a Swan until it's been warmed up a 
few hours.  Same with the vfo in the Apache.  Funny story, I ran this 
rig in the 10-X Winter Fone contest (ssb) for a couple of hours this 
year without giving it time to warm up -- I turned it on and tuned it up 
a minute later -- and my stars, it moves around like no tomorrow.  But 
that's just this one.  Perhaps a new vfo tube can improve that (and 
probably running its filaments from an unswitched supply a la Apache 
would help too).

I had issues with the dial cord that turns the dial drum (it broke 
before I was born, I think).  Most successful replacement, going on one 
year without breaking, is Spider Wire fishing line.  If anybody needs 
any, I have about 240 feet spare.

This one has a slow line switch in the af gain pot.  It's got about a 
couple seconds' delay turning on.  Which probably means it needs to be 
replaced soon.

I had to replace the fuseholder a couple of months ago.

The Twins are a mechanical nightmare of linkages and belts and cams.  
I've never had any troubles mechanically with either, other than the 
dial cord mentioned before, but still, wow.

The S-meter is stingy; it's 100-microvolt S-9 instead of 50-microvolt 
S-9.  Fine by me; unlike new receivers, at least we know what the 
S-meter readings mean.

I enjoy running it with the Apache on am.  Thus far this year, the 
receiver is working leaps and bounds better than the transmitter, but I 
hope to remedy that soon (which will probably be a question for the list).


Wayne AD5ST
Fort Worth, TX


Freeberg, Scott (STP) wrote:
> I have a TX-1 on the shelf that was given to me several years ago. Lately I've been thinking
> about buying an RX-1 and setting up a matching station and putting it on the air. 
>  I've heard various comments about the RX-1 performance over the years.  Some folks say its great,
> some folks say its terrible, some folks say its great and terrible at the same time :)
> Is anyone on the list using a TX-1/RX-1 combination on the air?
> Just how well does the stock RX-1 work on cw and AM?   
>
> 73, Scott WA9WFA in Saint Paul Minn
>
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