I've always liked Hallicrafters receivers ever since I was given an SX-25 by a neighbor who had a TV repair shop back when I was 13 years old. I listened to it every day for years. Now, 60 years later I have a Heathkit ham-band receiver I listen to.
Yes, it's a beauty! Someone saw the video and asked to buy it. I sold it to him, but I still have the National NC-300 if I ever get around to building a vintage AM station. 73 Paul
My novice receiver circa 1972. Transmitter was a Heathkit DX-60 with an HQ-10B when the FCC released novices from being rock bound. Had a lot of fun working CW as WN4BCG on 40m. Bought mine for $100 from a fellow ham who was also a broadcast engineer for WSM. Met him while I was studying for First Class commercial license.
I take it that the coax jack on the back was a modification? I can see replacing the heating element with a resister, that's basically what a heating element is. The resistance creates the heat.
Pat, Actually, the coax connector is factory installed. I probably won't add the resistor, but who knows, I might. I've decided to keep the radio in case ever get around to building my vintage station. I had planned on using my Hallicrafters SX-42, but the SX-101A is Ham Band only and would probably be a better choice. 73 Paul AA1SU
Thank you for the nice comment. No, I did not do the IF alignment. The receiver is receiving really well, and the instructions looked really hard. I thought I might even mess it up. I did do the RF alignment. I never checked the resistors. I don't have that tool that checks them in chassis. I bought it recapped which it was a nice surprise when I opened it. I would think that whoever did such a nice job would have checked the resistors, too. It won't sell at the local hamfest, so I'm thinking of making it my receiver for a classic AM station that I have been promising myself to build for years now. I have a Hallicrafters SX-42 that I was planning to use, but this may be the better choice. 73 Paul AA1SU
Love my SX 101a. Just Recapped mine because it was original and some of the caps were leaking fluid causing it to lose USB, Smeter, then LSB. Became non functioinal. Replacing the caps went fine and when I turned it on, I immediately had good reception again. Weird grounding fault in the S meter, but got that sorted out finally. Wish you had done the IF alignment so you might have been able to advise me. 50.75 was a piece of cake. 1650if, 1600,1700 oscillator alignment is daunting. I'm still trying to find experienced hams who've done it to help me out. Great radio, though.
Just curious how you did the 50 kHz IF alignment. I don't know of any signal generators that go that low. (I've only seen 100 kHz as their lowest frequency.) Some guys have done it, and I would like to know, too. I have an SX-111, which is a lower cost version, with many of the features of the SX-101A. I'd like to do a 50 kHz alignment on that one some day.
Thanks for the comment. I did not even notice that the tuning knob was not original. I checked photos in my boat anchor receiver books, and it's just a plain knob. The books make no mention of an optional knob. I do not know the history of this radio. I bought it from the family of a Silent Key here in Vermont in unknown condition.
WOW! What a quality look.
Thank you for watching and commenting.
I've always liked Hallicrafters receivers ever since I was given an SX-25 by a neighbor who had a TV repair shop back when I was 13 years old. I listened to it every day for years. Now, 60 years later I have a Heathkit ham-band receiver I listen to.
Thanks for the comment, John. I like hearing stories like this.
73 Paul AA1SU
I have a 101 I use every day on 20 and 40 meters! Great rig! I love that nice tuning knob...wish mine had one!
Yes, it's a beauty! Someone saw the video and asked to buy it. I sold it to him, but I still have the National NC-300 if I ever get around to building a vintage AM station.
73 Paul
Oh WOW $ 399.50 in 1962 dollars IS ALOT OF MONEY !!!!! GREAT VIDEO,Big Thanxxx !!!
Thank you for the nice comment. I appreciate it.
73 Paul AA1SU
My novice receiver circa 1972. Transmitter was a Heathkit DX-60 with an HQ-10B when the FCC released novices from being rock bound. Had a lot of fun working CW as WN4BCG on 40m. Bought mine for $100 from a fellow ham who was also a broadcast engineer for WSM. Met him while I was studying for First Class commercial license.
Thanks Norman. I love hearing stories like this.
73 Paul AA1SU
That is a beautiful radio
I take it that the coax jack on the back was a modification? I can see replacing the heating element with a resister, that's basically what a heating element is. The resistance creates the heat.
Pat,
Actually, the coax connector is factory installed.
I probably won't add the resistor, but who knows, I might. I've decided to keep the radio in case ever get around to building my vintage station. I had planned on using my Hallicrafters SX-42, but the SX-101A is Ham Band only and would probably be a better choice.
73 Paul AA1SU
That's one of the cleanest chassis SX 101A I have ever seen! Besides recapping, resistors in specs? how about IF alignment? Thanks for posting!
Thank you for the nice comment. No, I did not do the IF alignment. The receiver is receiving really well, and the instructions looked really hard. I thought I might even mess it up. I did do the RF alignment. I never checked the resistors. I don't have that tool that checks them in chassis. I bought it recapped which it was a nice surprise when I opened it. I would think that whoever did such a nice job would have checked the resistors, too.
It won't sell at the local hamfest, so I'm thinking of making it my receiver for a classic AM station that I have been promising myself to build for years now. I have a Hallicrafters SX-42 that I was planning to use, but this may be the better choice.
73 Paul AA1SU
Love my SX 101a. Just Recapped mine because it was original and some of the caps were leaking fluid causing it to lose USB, Smeter, then LSB. Became non functioinal. Replacing the caps went fine and when I turned it on, I immediately had good reception again. Weird grounding fault in the S meter, but got that sorted out finally. Wish you had done the IF alignment so you might have been able to advise me. 50.75 was a piece of cake. 1650if, 1600,1700 oscillator alignment is daunting. I'm still trying to find experienced hams who've done it to help me out. Great radio, though.
Just curious how you did the 50 kHz IF alignment. I don't know of any signal generators that go that low. (I've only seen 100 kHz as their lowest frequency.) Some guys have done it, and I would like to know, too. I have an SX-111, which is a lower cost version, with many of the features of the SX-101A. I'd like to do a 50 kHz alignment on that one some day.
I've read that they never released the converter.
No kidding. That's interesting. I think there are specs to build on the web somewhere.
That's a nice matching spinner knob for the 101. I wonder if that was sold as an accessory. Or, did some models come with it?
Thanks for the comment. I did not even notice that the tuning knob was not original. I checked photos in my boat anchor receiver books, and it's just a plain knob. The books make no mention of an optional knob. I do not know the history of this radio. I bought it from the family of a Silent Key here in Vermont in unknown condition.
The tuning spinner knob looks amazingly similar to the one Hallicrafters used on their SX-117 receiver. It, too, is a great receiver.
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍
Thanks for the nice comment!
73 Paul AA1SU
Es onda corta?
Solo es Ham Band.
73 Paul AA1SU