On Tue, 23 Jan 2007, wb5kcm wrote:
Hello to the group, I am setting up a vintage station and just bought
an unknown/untested HQ-170 on eBay. Can anyone tell me what to check
for or what to expect when this jewel arrives? Let me know what you
think..good or bad..
Thanks, Randy, WB5KCM
Here would be my things to check, and priority:
1. Does it turn on?
2. Can you hear stations with it?
3. Is the sensitivity up to where it should be, or low (weak tube(s)?)?
4. What is the calibration like on all bands?
5. Functionality of other stuff (AVC speed, slot filter, etc.)
6. Scratchiness/dirt in bandswitch, and pots.
I bought a HQ-170 at a hamfest several years ago and it wasn't in the best
or worst of conditions. I heard stations but the S-meter needle never went
up all that high. I actually used the receiver for many contacts. Yes,
there is warm-up drift (maybe 10 kc on 75 meters). Also, I noticed that
the receiver sensitivity actually got a little better after an hour's
warmup. Also, the crystal calibrator never worked cold (also, worked fine
after an hour warmup). Selectivity was better than on my Icom 707 and you
could move the BFO freq to adjust the position of the steep sides of the
IF passband to beat some close signals. However, my slot filter does not
work. My 170 is 160 through 6 meters; I think maybe earlier ones were only
160 through 10 meters.
Overall, its not too bad. And, when I get done with some other higher
priority work, I'm going to go through the tubes and check whether they
are weak or OK.
Yes, I'm going towards "retro" myself. Ultimate goal is to build (with
drill and soldering iron) a complete, total, homebrew tube station (AM and
SSB) mainly for 75 and 160). I already have most of a total homebrew
transmitter finished (including pair of 813s in GG). You can see some of
this at:
http://www.panix.com/~asd
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