[Heathkit] performance of sb-301

[Glen Zook]

My SB-301 works fine!  It is the second one that I have had over the years, the first one being built new in 1968.  In late 1972, I acquired a Collins 75S-3A (considered by many to be the best of the S-Line receivers) and ran the SB-301 in parallel with the 75S-3A before deciding to go ahead and obtain the matching 32S-3 transmitter.  This was done for about 6-weeks.  In 9 out of 10 situations, the SB-301 performed as well as the 75S-3A.  It was that 10th time that made me go ahead and get a 32S-3 transmitter.  Things like rejection tuning and slightly steeper "skirts" on the SSB filter, combined with the 200 Hz CW filter instead of the 400 Hz filter in the SB-301 made the difference.

I have worked on a number of Drake R-4 series receivers over the years and definitely prefer the SB-301 to those.  There is no comparison with any of the Swan units that I have serviced.  The SB-301 is considerably better.

Presently, I use my SB-301 / SB-401 combination on 160-meters with a home brew transverter ( http://k9sth.com/uploads/transceiver_discription-1.pdf ) and with transverters for 2-meters and 222 MHz.  On 160-meters, I find the transverter plus SB-301 combination easier to use than my Collins 75A-4.

The SB-300 is not quite as good as the SB-301.

Glen, K9STH


Website:  http://k9sth.com


________________________________
 From: "yash at aol.com" <yash at aol.com>
To: heathkit at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 9:01 AM
Subject: [Heathkit] performance of sb-301
 
                         Just finished going thru the 301, all the usual stuff, replacing caps, out of tolerance resisters and doing a complete test equipment alignment,all came out just fine ,as per the manual. Have worked on a lot of boat anchors over the years  and run a Drake 4 line ,all the time. I was very disappointed with the 301,comparing it to the drake, several swans and a ken wood ts-599. Keeping in mind that these rigs are what they are, the Heath 301 doesn't even come close, to the performance of all the others. Iam I overlooking something with the 301? Gone back and read the old reviews and writ ups in QST and the other out of print mags, all gave the 301 decent marks. I find few if any mod's for the 301 shown anywhere,please let me know of a source, about the rig. I guess I expected more from the old rig. Iam seriously wonder if its worth the trouble to go ahead and rework the 401 transmitter and put them on the air as a
 working set of Heath twins. 
                  I would sure like to hear from others concerning their results with the 300/301 receiver and as using as a twin setup.