[Heathkit] Heath SB 300 series receivers

[Eddy Swynar]

On 2014-12-13, at 6:39 PM, Glen Zook via Heathkit wrote:

> All 3-receivers will transceive with the SB-400 and SB-401.  Of the 3, the SB-301 is definitely the best.  It is an improved version of the SB-300.  The SB-303, not the SB-313, is the 3rd of the receivers that work with the transmitters.  However, the SB-303 is solid-state and definitely has problems.  This was Heath's first attempt at making a fully solid-state amateur only band receiver and they learned a "bit" from the SB-303.
> The SB-303 overloads badly with very strong signals, the internally generated noise is often very high (depends on the individual receiver), and the audio output transistors tend to go bad.
> The SB-310 and SB-313 receivers were for SWL use and do not have all that many amateur radio bands and came only with an AM filter, not the filters for SSB and CW. Glen, K9STH




In the past, I have owned an SB-300 receiver, as well as an SB-301...the 301 is the better of the two, IMHO.

I "hot rodded" my 301 by adding a 250-Hz Fox-Tango CW filter, a homebrewed extra-wide AM filter, a homebrewed 160-meter converter, and a Heath 6-meter converter. The rig is stable, light-weight, & a pretty good looker, too.

I've read of several bad things about the SB-303---steer clear of it, & stick to the 301...although the 300 will do in a pinch (the 301 is just a slightly refined 300, after all).

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ