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Interesting observation concerning crystals...
16
My sickness concerning old vintage radios had morphed into revisiting the CB radios I messed with when I was a young 'un. I have noticed that several have had one or more crystals out, which in a synthesized radio one crystal is likely to take out 4 or more channels. During my beating on these old relics I decided to put a DDS signal generator across the crystal, dial in it's frequency, and verify the "lost" channels were now there and usable. All worked as I expected except when I unhooked the signal generator the channel was still functional! Sometimes it would stop working when I switched back and forth to a channel not on the crystal, sometimes not. The latest I tried was a Realistic TRC-47 which is a 23 ch SSB rig and it had one crystal "dead." I hooked up the SG and brought the group of channels back to life and unhooked the SG. All channels were still alive and remained that way for the rest of the day! I'll see tomorrow if they still work when I turn it on. Can someone explain this behavior? It's almost like "goosing" the tired crystal "repaired" it, or something. After I get finished playing with these old CBs I'm going to pull a Heathkit receiver off the shelf that has a couple bad crystals and see if it will wake them up. 73, -- Justin B. KI5GKD
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First off, I need to apologize to the guys here that responded to my SR-500 Tornado and SR-160 WTB post and didn’t hear back from me. I was on the road. Next, while on the road, I stopped by Walt Cates' QTH in Kansas City where I had the pleasure of meeting him and buying his SR-500 Tornado and PS-500AC. It’s in my shack and on the air. My first contact was with W1AW believe it or not. For several years Walt has been looking for an SR-160 panel to replace this SR-500 panel. The Tornado panel is the same as the 160 with the exception of the metal Tornado label below the escutcheon. The metal label is removable. Walt wasn’t able to find one in all those years, but I thought I would continue the search, so I know it’s a long shot. I just can’t leave a radio alone but prefer to spiff up and putter with them. I think this would be a fun spiff up project if a panel can be located. If not, fine, I am delighted with the radio never-the-less! 73, Scott WA9WFA
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I bought my first piece of radio equipment in 1957 at age 14, an R-26/ARC-5 command set receiver. I still have it but haven't used it for years. I'm pondering working up a power supply for it to get it back on the air, probably paired with my Multi-Elmac AF-67 transmitter, which is usually paired with my S-40B. In looking over the schematic of the R-26 and thinking about the recent discussions of the circuitry of the S-20R and S-40B, I note a lot of similarity between the command set receiver and the Hallicrafters. The command set uses 12 volt tubes while the two Halli receivers use 6 volt tubes, some of them equivalent except for the filament voltage. The R-26 includes no band switching and covers 3-6 MHz which are the main differences between it and the two Hallicrafters receivers. The IF frequency in the R-26 is also much higher, at 1415 kHz, not a practical frequency for the bandswitched Hallis with coverage down to the low end of the BC band. The most interesting (to me) similarity is the use of "gimmick" capacitors in all three receivers to couple the BFO signal to the transmission path: S-20R C15 twisted leads to form small capacity S-40B C38 2 mmf. "Gimmick" (in schematic) twisted wire assembly (in parts list) R-26 C33 <2 mmf. wiring capacitance The S-20R also uses a "gimmick" to couple the high frequency oscillator signal in the mixer stage (C38). I haven't looked in detail at other makes of receivers from the '30 and '40s, but I wonder whether the S-20R and the R-26 were just reflecting similarities due to good engineering practice of that era, or did someone from Hallicrafters influence the design? 73, Maynard W6PAP
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Fw: Re: [HallicraftersRadios] Off-The-Wall Question
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? Justin: I didn't recognize your name in my initial response. I indicated I just finished a manual for a HE-43C. When I was putting the mailing label on the envelope, I realized it was for you. So it's on the way. Ah; the perils of aging. Pete, wa2cwa ----- Forwarded Message ----- Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2025 12:49:44 -0500 Subject: Re: [HallicraftersRadios] Off-The-Wall Question Lafayette HE-43C is not rare. It is identical to the HE-20C (which we sold 1000's of these sets - HE-20, 20A, 20B, 20C(relay and electronic switching versions), 43C) except the 43C works on 110V AC and 6 volts DC. The 20C works on 110V AC and 12 volts DC. Other then that, they are identical. I just finished a HE-43C manual for a customer. Both the HE-20C and 43C were made by United Scientific Laboratories (USL) in Long Island City, NY. A tunable receive and a crystal controlled transmitter was quite common with a number of manufacturers in the early 60's. A Spot switch obviously was common on these transceivers. Pete, wa2cwa On Sat, 08 Mar 2025 08:46:48 -0800 "Justin Bowser - KI5GKD" <justin.bowser@...> writes: Pete - I'll give that a try and let you know. I also got another rare/unusual bird coming, an HE-43C. I've never seen a CB where you transmit with crystal and receive by VFO. What I plan doing is to put in a circuit that replaces the crystals with an Arduino controlled 5351 module. 73, Justin B. KI5GKD _._,_._,
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Classic Exchange - let's get these old radios on the air!
3
Do we fix up these old Hallis just to put 'em on the shelf and admire them because they're beautiful and they still work? No! We put 'em back on the air, too! Classic Exchange is upon us once again. This is the fun, twice-a-year operating event encouraging hams of all ages to put old radios on the air. The older (the radio) the better! So, get out the dim bulb tester now and reform your HV capacitors. Phone: Sunday Oct 13 1300Z to Oct 14 0700Z and Tuesday Oct 15 1300Z to Oct 16 0700Z CW: Sunday Oct 20 1300Z to Oct 21 0700Z and Tuesday Oct 22 1300Z to Oct 23 0700Z For those of us on the west coast of North America, that translates to Phone: Sunday Oct 13 and Tuesday Oct 15, 6am to midnight PDT CW: Sunday Oct 20 and Tuesday Oct 22, 6am to midnight PDT Details at https://www.classicexchange.org/ and https://www.classicexchange.org/announcments/CX_Rules.pdf Cheers, Halden VE7UTS
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For Sale - Hallicrafters R-274/FRR with speaker
12
Due to health I have to downsize and am selling this Hallicrafters R-274/FRR and the matching speaker. I am asking $550 for the pair. Radio is now working well after I fixed some simple issues. Speaker is at the top of the stack. This unit is heavy, so shipping is not something I want to do. Pickup within two hours of Albuquerque New Mexico will work. Please contact me if you have any questions. Thanks Dwight
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Off-The-Wall Question
10
Hi, Y'all! Been a while since I bugged the collective so now I have a question. It's not Hallicrafters related but there is such a wealth of knowledge around here I figure somebody might be able to help. I picked up an old Lafayette HB-600 CB which is ailing. I turn it on and get a slight hiss from the speaker and when I key the mic I show about a 5 watt carrier but no modulation. That's just a little background info so here is where things might get interesting. I decided to go through the alignment procedures and have injected 455 KHz at the proper point and heard exactly zero tone so I started working forward and after I got past a mechanical 455 KHz filter and an IF can I got a good solid tone and could peak the next two IF cans. I have a stock of mini 455 IF transformers and I have ordered a ceramic 455 KHz filter from an AliExpress seller. should the ceramic filter work as a drop in or might I need to do some modifications? I know some may look at messing with an old CB as tantamount to blasphemy but CBs and SWL is what got me into Ham Radio when I was a wee shaver. 73, -- Justin B. KI5GKD
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Looking for SR-500 Tornado, Maybe SR-160
3
Hi, I’m looking to buy a Hallicrafters SR-500 Tornado transceiver and PS-500 in good physical and preferably working condition. If I can’t find an SR-500, I would consider buying an SR-160/PS-150. In 1970 a friend borrowed me an SR-160 when I first got my General, and I had a wonderful time working 75, 40, 20 meter SSB with it until I left for military duty after high school graduation. Here I am some 54 years later looking for some of that wonderful nostalgia of the SR-160/SR-500. Thanks. 73, Scott WA9WFA
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An aside from ongoing topic S-20R mixer cct. … While trying to “see” how the LO circuit works things got me in a big knot. C38 seems to run from some osc tanks back to the mixer RF tank area. When I follow that I get to the common [not ground] of the coils/transformers RF tanks and found them to be floating = strange to me. I am using Richard’s posted Handbook [ ohh thanks RICHARD, GOOD SCANS] IN ORDER TO separate lines so I could see I had to shift stuff and here is where I got. Maybe I got something wrong so need somebody to check my “re-draughting” -- don va3drl
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This topic raised in the "TRIMCAPs don't peak" thread. I think it's worth its own thread. Here it is. In the S-85 there is no obvious coupling between the RF amplifier tube (v1) and the MIX/OSC tube (v2) in band 1. The output of V1 seems to get lost in the R26/C29 couple. Someone argued that the signal path could go through the S1B wafers. Other argued that there is some other stray coupling in the circuit wiring. Someone noted that the S-40B has an identical circuit but it is equipped with an additional capacitor (C62), positioned just between the V1 output and the v2 input. The following picture sketches the S-85 circuit with the possible signal path and the phantom C62 highlighted. So I've made some measurements on my S-85. Using my 9640B sig-gen connected to the ANT A2 input via a RTMA dummy antenna (A1 shorted to GND), AM modulated at 30%, I got the following: Below the indicated value the signal gets lost in the noise. As you see I also made a test shorting R65 in the input circuit as someone argued that it could impact (as it does) the receiver sensitivity in the higher part of band 1. Thoughts? -- Emanuele (IU1KNR). https://egirland.blogspot.com
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SR-150 and SR-160 QRO modifications
10
(Since this is a diversion from the original topic (SR-500 Tornado), I assigned a new topic.) Thanks, Bob and Walt, Since the SR-160 and SR-150 both use 12DQ6B finals, wouldn't the sockets be the same and the same rewiring of sockets be required? On further examination of the 2 radios' schematics, I see that the circuits around the finals are a little different, so maybe there would be some additional changes needed there, too. I agree that the potential performance benefit would be small. That half of an S unit was, apparently, sufficient for some hams to buy an SR-500 instead of an SR-160 a several decades ago. Maybe it was just a bigger number on the front panel or the invoice. Cheers Halden
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Hello again guys. Performing the RF alignment of the S-85 I am refurbishing, I got the following problem in bands 1 and 2. The setup conditions were as per service manual: Sig-gen (HP 8640B) connected to the rig via my DIY RTMA Dummy Antenna. Signal level -80dBm , AM modulation at 30%. Dials, switches and regulations as per service manual. The OSC setup went trough seamlessly allowing a quasi perfect dials alignment. Unfortunately C4 and C15 (ANT and MIXER band1) and C3 and C14 (ANT and MIXER band2) didn't peak and had to be set at minimum capacitance (all open) just to get the higher output signal possible. Does anybody have any idea about the cause of such a problem and/or suggestion on how to fix it? Thank you very much. Emanuele (IU1KNR). https://egirland.blogspot.com
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SX-117 Power transformer Voltage
2
Hello, I am restoring a SX-117. A former owner replaced the original transformer by a transformer with a primary voltage of 220 Volt. The secondary voltage of this transformer is much too high. I would like to know if there is any info on the secondary voltage of the original transformer as I am looking for getting a replacement. 73s Wolfgang dk7cy
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SR-500 Tornado
10
Hi, Lately I’ve been waxing nostalgic about the old Hallicrafters transceivers. A friend loaned me his SR-160 for several months back in 1971 while I was in Senior in High School and I used it for that summer before heading off to the Vietnam War. It was a wonderful transceiver! The premium Hurricane, Cyclone, and Tornado have fascinated me for many years but I never pursued them during my collecting years. The collecting years are long over and I’ve sold 99% of my collection with only a few left, but I’m still intrigued by those premium Halli transceivers. Maybe I need another one just to enjoy the nostalgia it gives. I’m thinking of buying a Tornado for my one last remaining SSB tube transceiver. The Hurricane and Cyclone scare me in terms of big size and complexity of repair. What about the Tornado? Do you Tornado owners find them easy or hard to repair? Are final amplifier tubes available or do you have to rewire the socket for something else? What do you Tornado owners think of them? Do you know of any working one’s for sale? Thanks. 73, Scott WA9WFA
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SX-28A Hum
98
I just finished pretty much a complete overhaul of a nice condition (physically) SX-28A. Replaced just about every resistor and all caps. Radio is working well except for a 120hz hum. When I switch the Bass in, the hum goes away. Yes, there is ripple on the plates of the 6V6’s, about 6vrms, but that is there independent of the bass switch position. The output side of the HV filter is clean, no ripple. I paralleled another 47uf 450v cap across the choke input cap and there was no difference. I double checked the wiring against the schematic along with component values. Is the schematic correct in this area? I found once schematic error maybe there is another? Thoughts? Tom W3TA
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SR-500 Tornado writing and offering free downloads of his SR 500 repair manual. I don’t own an SR 500 but I sure appreciate hams like Walt who go out of their way to help others without any thought of profit.
Just a note of appreciation for Walt Cates’ generosity In offering downloads of his SR 500 repair manual free of charge. I don’t own an SR 500 but sure appreciate his spirit. Hams like Walt make this such a wonderful hobby. 73, Mark AF6IM -- AF6IM www.parachutemobile.com
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Hallicrafters Radios for Sale
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All, This Saturday is the Algonquin (Marlborough, MA) Amateur Radio Club Flea Market. Doors open at 9:00 AM for buyers, 6:30 AM for sellers Complete details here Algonquin Amateur Radio Club Among many other items, we will have the following for sale: 1) ** SOLD ** Hallicrafters Skybuddy working, in good overall condition 2) Hallicrafters SX-99 with original manual. Working. Could use DeOxIt They will be priced to move. Hope to see you there 73, Gene K1NR
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Page
? Thanks Larry! I really appreciate it. Our domestic and International clients seem to grow every day. Vintage HI-Fi restoration also seems to be hot. Pete, wa2cwa www.manualman.com On Sat, 8 Feb 2025 23:57:51 +0000 (UTC) "Larry Knapp via groups.io" <kc8jx@...> writes:
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Missing page S2001A
2
? Thanks Pete. I appreciate the complement. I find it very gratifying that my work helps someone bring a piece of equipment back to life. It also provides me with the joyful option of bringing a possibly bug invested, stored in a garage or basement for 50 of 60 years into a worthwhile and useful document that others can read, use and enjoy. Of course, one can find poorly scanned, incomplete, and highly marked up pages all over the Internet, but even when printed, crap is crap, and stuff is always lost in the transition. I just finished a military manual for a customer. Roughly 200 pages but easy to do even though every page, because of age, was brown. My machine can remove background paper color. But the hicker and hard part, were the five schematics. They were 14 inches high and 52 inches wide. And I decided these were to be done full size. A customer never has to assemble and tape any of my manual pages. This entire project started back in the mid 90's as a bonding project between father and son. Son was in his second high school year but didn't seem to have any idea about his future life endeavors. Since I was dragging boatanchors home to repair and get up and running, from every hamfest I went to, my collection of manuals for this stuff started to become a pain to manage. My son created database to manage all the manuals that I also kept collecting. He also suggested creating a catalog booklet, advertising in Electric Radio and a few other publications, and send out the catalog to all interested parties. I firmly believe this gave him a sense of business activities and helped firm up (or at least give direction) to his future. He also created my first web site and credit him for giving it its name. http://web.archive.org/web/20000621065933/http://www.manualman.com/ After high school he worked for a year before applying and being accepted at Boston Bible College at Hyde Park, MA. He felt he should earn the money to pay for college rather then taking it for granted. For 3 summers while in his college years, he worked at Lucent Technologies as a contractor and used the money earned for tuition. My apologies to the group for rambling, but I'm very proud of my son. I gave him a license manual when he was around seven. When he turned around 27, he finally found the time to become KB1JTP. Pete, wa2cwa On Thu, 6 Feb 2025 12:50:53 +0000 (UTC) "peteradio@... via groups.io" <peteradio@...> writes:
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Website Anniversary
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Well believe it or not, its been 20 years, this site has been active and strong for Hallicrafters Radios. Started in 2005 as a lark, I am amazed that we now have 1,078 members. With thanks to all our Hallicrafters Experts on this site and they are experts for sure. Its been educational. Regards, and have fun. K2WH Bill's QRZ Biography
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