coffelt2 wrote:
"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message
...

You can find a Hallicrafters S-38 for $50 at a hamfest still, and they are
fun and easy to rebuild. You would go absolutely insane trying to use it
on 40M CW, but it's a good pick for shortwave listening.

Hey, just a minute, Scott! My old S-38 and I had a grand old time on
40M CW.
Crystal controlled 6L6 "tritet" and two crystals could work the world. Of
course one had to be able to copy the third or fourth one down in the pile.

Precisely!
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

I hope you understand the limitations of your questions. You are talking
about OLD equipment. Chances are that anything you buy made needs some
amount of restoration to make it work as it originally did when new. Most
of the comments in the last week or two are related to comparison of the
products when they were new. They are no longer new.

An old Hallicrafters S-85 (definitely not a high-end receiver) might out
perform an HQ-180 (definitely high end) if the S-85 has been carefully
restored and the HQ-180 needs help.

If you are looking at ebay and the seller says a receiver "works" then you
do not have a clue about how well it works. It might be able to receive the
AM station next door, but hear nothing else. It still "works".

Bill - W2WO

On 11/15/2011 10:37 AM, coffelt2 wrote:

"Cadiscase" wrote in message
...
On Nov 14, 9:36 pm, "coffelt2" wrote:
"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message

...

You can find a Hallicrafters S-38 for $50 at a hamfest still, and
they are
fun and easy to rebuild. You would go absolutely insane trying to
use it
on 40M CW, but it's a good pick for shortwave listening.
--scott

Hey, just a minute, Scott! My old S-38 and I had a grand old time on
40M CW.
Crystal controlled 6L6 "tritet" and two crystals could work the world. Of
course one had to be able to copy the third or fourth one down in the
pile.
S-38 wasn't
exactly a "single signal" set! That was in the early 1950's when 40CW was
just one howling, screaming mess after dark. Only in the early morning
hours
was real DX possible....... the crowd had thinned a little and conditions
got
much better.
When wife and I turned to short-wave AM broadcast listening for a
while, we
found a "cherry" Hallicrafters SX-28A for $75 bucks that could really
suck
'em
in! On standard broadcast band it was a marvel. The weaker ones suffered
from
a few "hetrodynes" (remember?) of course, but hey! that was state of the
art.
Today, I doubt if I could lift an SX-28A.

Old Chief Lynn, W7LTQ (since 1948)

So how do the newer or higher model SX models compare with the
SX-28A ?
I am unfamiliar with Hallicraftes Gen Cov receivers so any info is
appreciated,
Cadiscase

Operationally, I really don't know, but the newer ones were lighter!
Old Chief Lynn
The SX28 was probably one of the best receivers that Hallicrafters ever
made (at least in the single conversion category). It has two RF with
supercontrol AGC on the first RF and IF stages. This receiver is built
like a Sherman tank (VERY HEAVY!). It's also a real bitch to work on as
access to the front end coils requires extreme disassembly of much of
the front end to reach the parts needing work. Alignment is also tricky
if you want to get it done right. These receivers are much in demand
these days and good ones are in short supply. A good one will cost!!!!
The SX28 compares with the Superpro series or the HRO series in
classic radio lore.