What's your favorite boatanchor?

[AI3V]

WOOT! first thread in a new forum!

My fav is the R-390 receiver, First saw on in ET "A" school in Great Lakes, actually, at the K9NBH club station.

Tuning around, and watching the gear train move those permeability tuned slugs- WOW!

Rege

[KL7AJ]

WOOT! first thread in a new forum!

My fav is the R-390 receiver, First saw on in ET "A" school in Great Lakes, actually, at the K9NBH club station.

Tuning around, and watching the gear train move those permeability tuned slugs- WOW!

Rege

Me trusty ol' Central Electronics 100V

[K9STH]

Extremely difficult to make a choice!

http://k9sth.com/uploads/Equipment_at_K9STH.pdf

Glen, K9STH

[AE1PT]

Post pics if you have them! Let's see how "old school" makes for a fascinating looking station!:p

[KL7AJ]

Post pics if you have them! Let's see how "old school" makes for a fascinating looking station!:p

http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?t=192085&highlight=remodeled

From a few months back

eric

[KJ4OLL]

I like the Collins R-390A for receive and the Collins 32S-3 & 30L-1 (no photo) for transmit.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x257/fish1_07/collins_stuff.jpg

[N0SYA]

always wanted a kwm2

[W3JN]

So many choices....

Xmitter: TMC GPT-750, usually used with the "matching" GPR-90 receiver:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b153/throbbo/gpt750.jpg

One of my favorite receivers - very rare 1939 Meissner TrafficMaster, built from a kit:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b153/throbbo/trafficmaster.jpg

[KC8VWM]

Post pics if you have them! Let's see how "old school" makes for a fascinating looking station!:p

lol ok I'll bite :)

http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/uu18/kc8vwm/Hammarlund/hammarlund.jpg

http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/uu18/kc8vwm/Hammarlund/MVC-006F.jpg

http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/uu18/kc8vwm/station/MVC-009F-2.jpg

http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/uu18/kc8vwm/station/MVC-009F.jpg

Top: Collins TCS12 and R390A
Bottom: T827 Transmitter and 1051 Reciever

[WA7OET]

Very nice condition Viking Ranger II:

[WA7OET]

Inside showing new caps:

[WA7OET]

Inside top... nice and clean:

[KC8VWM]

Favorite band cruiser:

BC348Q





http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/uu18/kc8vwm/station/MVC-007F-1.jpg

Restored using wrinkle finish. Preserved original lettering, markings during the process using a toothpick and silly putty formed to mask the lettering before painting. Handles stripped down to bare brass and polished using jewelers polish and a Dremmel tool.

http://www.eham.net/data/articles/14371/index5.jpg

http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/uu18/kc8vwm/station/MVC-004F-3.jpg

http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/uu18/kc8vwm/station/image004.jpg

Remember that's "Megacycles" not "Megahertz" :)

[WA2ZDY]

I'm sure there are better receivers out there but a personal favourite was the 1938 Hammarlund HQ120. My brother gave me his when i turned 14. What an improvement over the Halliscrachers SX140 (also visibld in thw photo) I'd used from the start!

I later traded the 120 toward my first SSB rig, a Halliscratchers FPM300. That was a mistake on many levels. I decided after a couple of weeks that I didn't care for HF SSB and the rig was useless on CW, It was also just a dog in general. My HQ120 was gone and I've never had another.

My shack in the summer of 1976:

http://www.zdy61.com/aa2zdy.jpg

[N8YX]

What's the newest item which can be considered a boat anchor?

I've owned a number of hybrid rigs over the years and still have an FT901DM, TS-820S and related accessories for each at my operating position.

Do those count?

[K9STH]

YX:

Not really! The "basic" requirement to be a "boat anchor" is that the unit uses primarily tubes (both receiver and transmitter). Solid-state power supplies (i.e. uses silicon rectifiers) are generally acceptable but little else being solid-state.

Of course how big a "boat" that can be anchored depends on the individual model. For example, a Hallicrafters HT-4/BC-610 can anchor an aircraft carrier, a Hallicrafters HT-20 and a WRL Globe champion 350 can anchor a battleship, down to a Heath DX-20 which can anchor a PT Boat!

Glen, K9STH

[N8YX]

Let me see if I can dig up some pics of my HQ-180AC and GSB-100 combo. Used to set the Hammarlund's clock to turn the rig on about half an hour before I was due home from school, and through a relay arrangement it also turned on the Gonset. The rigs would be nice and warmed up - not drifting - when I got to the shack.

[WD0GOF]

While working for Northrop/Wilcox in the mid '70's I was introduced to the Hallicrafters SR series. I was so taken with the gear I went out and got my ham ticket. I have been obsessed with the series ever since. Now that I am retired I spend 10 to 30 hrs a week resurrecting rigs from attics and chicken houses. The series includes the SR-150, SR-160, SR-400 CYCLONE, SR-400 CYCLONE II, SR-400A CYCLONE III, SR-500 and the SR-2000. I have one of each in the shack. When ever I finish a restore I compare it to the one in the shack and keep the best pass on the other.

[KB2FCV]

YX:

Not really! The "basic" requirement to be a "boat anchor" is that the unit uses primarily tubes (both receiver and transmitter). Solid-state power supplies (i.e. uses silicon rectifiers) are generally acceptable but little else being solid-state.

Of course how big a "boat" that can be anchored depends on the individual model. For example, a Hallicrafters HT-4/BC-610 can anchor an aircraft carrier, a Hallicrafters HT-20 and a WRL Globe champion 350 can anchor a battleship, down to a Heath DX-20 which can anchor a PT Boat!

Glen, K9STH

I miss my BC-610! It was simply too big for me to handle and restore so I had to get rid of it. I feel good that it went to a good home. The new owner did a proper and full restoration and I've heard it on the air! He's been looking for one in the area for years. I rescued it from going to the trash heap.

My fav so far has been my Hallicrafters station, SX-101 and HT-32. It's a great pair to work with. I've got the matching linear and the SX-62. Rating up there with it is the HW-16. I used one in my novice days when I first got my license, which was lent to me. A decade or so later I eventually bought one and I put it on the air now and then.

I enjoy my hammarlund SW receivers, they nice to listen to. I've got the 180, 129x and a Super Pro (got that for $9!!).

[W8IXY]

Ones I still have:
Johnson Viking Valiant
Heathkit DX100B
Hammarlund HQ 180A

Ones I used to have:
Heathkit DX20
Heathkit DX35
Hammarlund HQ 110
Knight Kit Space Spanner
Several 1940's era console radios with shortwave bands. (I discovered WWV at a pre "ten" age on an old Stromberg-Carlson)

Semi- Boatanchors I still have:
Kenwood TS 830S
Kenwood TS 940S
Kenwood R5000

Plus, does anyone consider "pieces parts" as nostalgic Boat Anchor material? I still have some components removed from old gear, as well as various pieces of "junque" that elicit great memories.

73
Ted W8IXY

[KB3LAZ]

Toss up. HQ-180 or 75A-4. I love them both but sadly own neither one.:( I have extensively played with both though and love them.

[KF7AYS]

Favorite Boat Anchor? All of them...

They have a visual style that the newer rigs just can't compete with. Currently I am restoring my S-20r (http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?t=239250) and an enjoying every minute of the process. I think the next radio on my adgenda is a Garod TBX-8 Navy radio. After that, I have another Hallicrafters in the works.

My main radio is a Kenwood TS-830s. Not really a boat anchor, but a good oldie none the less.

The only modern radio I have is my HT which is a Yeasu VX-7R.

[WA7KKP]

I agree with the R-390 (plain). The 390A was a cheapened version, and didn't have the CW audio filter, or SQUELCH operation. I had one with the TMC MSR-4 SSB adapter, and it was amazing how well it worked, even in today's crowded bands. Mechanically they were Rube Goldberg's worst nightmare, but if it was working okay, you just didn't worry about it.

My other fav boatanchors included the CE 100-V as well. Not many radios had its features, including DSB, SSB with carrier, PM (FM equivalent), and FSK. Not to mention the broadbanded finals, thanks to Joe Batchelor.

And the Drake 2-B receiver, in the hands of a good CW operator is very hard to beat. I can take a CW sig in the noise and tweak it with the Q multiplier into a solid signal. Too bad they didn't make a general coverage version . . .

I had a Johnson desk Kilowatt amplifier. Never used it on the air, but I wanted it since it was grid-driven -- 10 watts SSB would drive it to a KW or more, and you could operate it class C for CW/FM/plate modulated AM. Team it with the Ranger, and you were in business. What else would you want? Besides a stong back.

IMHO these were the best non-Collins (except the 390) ham gear made in the boatanchor era. Even the new solid-state gear is second class to these.

Gary WA7KKP

[NA0AA]

Dunno that I have a favorite per-se, but I did just aquire a Hammarlund HQ-180C off of E-bay. It's in good working condition except the top two bands - I've tested tubes and such, it's just hard to get the tuning cap sections cleaned up enough to achieve resonance.

I like it for listening to SW and MW broadcast, but actually to use for operation? Just listening to a net for any length of time gives me a whole new respect for the OT operators for whom that was top of the line equipment.

But I love the glow and warmth for just casual listening.

But I'm not a collector - my Elmer has a few interesting military and BA radios, but I'm more interested in operating than collecting equipment.

[IW5CI]

i have several BA and i cannot say one is definitely better that another.
Hammarlund SP-600 in wonderful for AM BC and NET listening, while Hammarlund 180A is not as good due to the AM filter that is too narrow.
But HQ-180a is excellent in SSB.
As HAM bands only receiver Drake r4b is excellent and not very big. Also R2b offers incredible performance in a neat and little body, but i love also my National NC-303 that is great in AM and SSB.
And what to say about the kenwood hybrids? they work great.

[KE0ZU]

Here is what I use daily. National HRO-60, Gonset GSB-100, NCL-2000 Amp, MFJ-986 tuner. Antenna is a 160m dipole, with 450 Ohm window line and a DX eng 1:1 balun.

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62/mikeinkcmo/Radios/Station%20KE0ZU/KE0ZU11210.jpg

This setup gives me all modes 80 thru 10, but no warc bands. I also use a HQ-180 and NC-300 from time to time. I prefer the 180 for sideband, and either of the nationals for AM.


This pic was taken about two years ago and all the transceivers are gone now. Wish I had kept the NCX-5 though.
http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62/mikeinkcmo/Radios/Station%20KE0ZU/All%20National/NATStation1.jpg


Here is another shot with the 180 installed.
http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv62/mikeinkcmo/Radios/Station%20KE0ZU/Station3.jpg

Mike

[K9STH]

Within the past 24 hours I have posted some new photos of my "boat anchors" shacks. Arnie hasn't been sleeping at the AM position for a couple of days and I need a new photo of him. Therefore, no photo of Arnie at the present time.

For those who don't know who Arnie is: He is a domesticus felinus Americanus (a.k.a. "alley cat") who is snow white and adopted us almost 8 years ago. He likes to sleep at the AM position and when the Vibroplex "Original" is connected to a code practice oscillator he likes to "send" CW! Unfortunately, his spelling is atrocious!

The URL is

http://k9sth.com/uploads/K9STH_Shack_Photos.pdf

Glen, K9STH

[KC9OWM]

I don't have anything that extensive, but I use a 101ex that I use daily on hf, and a good E model for a backup. I have a heathkit Comanche and Cheyenne mobile set that I rebuilt a couple of years ago. My AM stuff I have a tram D201 and 201A and a good working set of mark 3 brownings. I have a Icom 775dsp and haven't had it on for 3 months because the tubes keep me nice and warm in the shack. LOL As far as the amps go, on the hf side I also have a ncl 2000 and love that amp. when I got it, some one had screwed up the keying relay in it. I changed that out and it worked like a champ. I did how ever change out the caps just so it wouldn't hit so hard when it kicked in after the warm up delay. I have a 2100B waiting in the wings.
mike

[AA3CS]

Favorite RX would be the R390A configured as the R-725/URR which was an R-390A with the R-390 IF deck, it was a pleasure to use and to work on. Favorite ham rig would be the KWM-2 and KWM-2A although I would really consider the hybrid Yaesu FT-901DM something of a boat anchor as well, I certainly love mine.

73 - Chuck, AA3CS

[PH5E]

Favorite all time, that's a hard one... Probably the Racal RA-17L (http://rigreference.com/rig/3694-Racal_RA_17L). I don't own one, and if I ever come across an affordable example I'm not even sure I'd buy it. The valves are just way out of my league.

[WB2WIK]

My favorite boat anchor is the Hallicrafters SX-88.

I had so many of them, I threw some in the trash.

Then I heard Pat WA6MHZ was looking for one. Oh, well.:p









(Okay, this is officially a joke, before MHZ has a heart attack.)

[K9STH]

Although MHZ would even give certain parts of his anatomy for a Hallicrafters SX-88, that particular receiver isn't all that great! Their "appeal" comes from the fact that only a relatively few were ever manufactured. Now they are not a "bad" receiver (i.e. on the same level as the National SW-54), but the absolute performance is fairly mediocre. There are several Hallicrafters receivers that are "on par" with the SX-88 including the SX-28 series.

Glen, K9STH
(who doesn't own an SX-88 but who has restored a few)

[KB2AAR]

It's been about 20 years, but I'm finally in a situation where I can rebuild my station, so I started unpacking my gear from the bins it was stored in. First out were these receivers:

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc341/sigmapisigma/Ham-receivers.jpg

... a Hammarlund HQ-170 and an old Navy SRR-13A; I have the manuals and such for these. Somewhere among the bins is a Hallicrafters HT-46 and a Collins 30S-1; the only antenna I could salvage (divorce) is a Hy-Gain trap vertical somewhere in the rafters of the garage. There's all the peripheral stuff too, including a small collection of Vibroplex "bugs". The CW practice lessons I wrote for a Commodore 64 still work, and my QSL card album isn't too musty- I remember how excited I was when I got 2 QSL cards from San Marino on 10 meters- in those days I think there were only about 4 or 5 licensed hams there in T77* (I think that's their call). It's like old friends to see these things again- the stuff that was always on the desk, the old Royal typewriter I bought for $1 at a garage sale about 30 years ago that I'd keep the log with; the 24 hour clock that was a left-over from my Air Force days, the padded headphones so I could copy CW without driving my now ex-wife nuts (she went nuts anyway), the QSL bureau credits that weren't used- it's a long time and the memories of those days sit a little heavy on me just now.

[WA2ROC]

Apache, Mohawk, Marauder, HO-10, SA-2040, SB-10 (non-working), 1410 keyer and that SX-111.

Antenna is a full wave loop up about 40 feet in the air.

36831

[W3RXO]

I'd have to say my all time favorite was an E.F. Johnson Invader 2000, with a Collins 75A-1. In CLOSE second place on the receiver would be a Hammarlund HQ 150, and for a transmitter, a Viking 500. In the amplifier category, I'd first take my old Viking Thunderbolt, then my former Gonset GSB 201 MkIII.
While I have had numerous boatanchors, over the years, I can't think of any I really didn't like, though my back didn't like ANY of them. Many I liked less than others, but I liked them all, just not equally.
I've had a couple of Valiants, a V II, a few Apaches, 2 Marauders, a DX-100 and a DX-60, (more than) a couple of Hallicrafters Receivers (SX99, SX101A come to mind, right off the bat) A Drake 2B, a couple of RME's, and an NC300. I also had a few home brew ship-anchors (too heavy for a boat). All of these were treasures, and I regretted selling each and every one. Some, more than others.
BUT, I can't keep them all, or I'd have ZERO room in my house, let alone my shack. Currently, the one I want back, more than any other, is the 75A-1, which I sold in 1980, for $125, and threw in a Viking II, for the new owner. BOY, I want that receiver back.

[K9STH]

RXO:

I owned Collins 75A-1 s/n 4 from the late 1960s until the mid 1970s when I traded it. At that time you almost had to pay for someone's gasoline to get them to "haul off" the item. I definitely would like to have that receiver again!

I have owned 3 different 75A-2 receivers (still have 1) as well as still have a 75A-3 and 75A-4.

Also have 2 each 75S-1 receivers (1 with the Waters' rejection circuit and the other with a 500 Hz CW mechanical filter) and a 75S-3A. I had a 75S-3 that I traded for my 75A-4.

Glen, K9STH

[W3RXO]

That's no joke. My 75A1, was in near perfect physical condition. It likely could have used an alignment, for someone who wanted to use it for a primary CW rig, though it had decent ears for AM use. The fellow who was interested in it wouldn't go $150, even with the V II, with a 122 VFO, thrown in. I asked $200 for the receiver and wound up selling it for $125, and still had to throw in the V II and VFO, just to get the guy to take it. Had I not been a young man, in need of cash, I would have been happy to keep it. Now that I am older, and in a somewhat more financially stable position, I understand better why my father sold very few of his old treasures.
Aside from the boatanchors, I also regret selling many classic old firearms and motorcycles, that are now worth huge amounts of money. Aww, the mistakes made, when we are young.
Then again, if I had the sentiment then, that I have now, I would have to rent a warehouse, to keep all of the treasures, that I wish I had never sold. It is what keeps me from entertaining the idea of getting into new hobbies. Between the radios, guns and motorcycles, it's getting expensive, to keep me occupied.

[W5RKL]

The best old boat anchor amateur radio transmitter/transceiver, for me at least, would have to be any of the Kenwood hybrids, TS-520, TS-530, TS-820, or TS-830.

73s
Mike W5RKL

[KB2AAR]

Boy, W3RXO hit it right on the head! Since my divorce 14 years ago there's been no one to moderate how the money is spent, no one to share space with, so my modest 2 floor house is full from basement to attic with my stuff, the 4 bay garage is as well. And with the same stuff RXO has- guns, motorcycles, radios, plus cars (5, of which 3 are just for fun, they have no real use), computers, model railroad and model-building, books (I love books, but not reading so much, except non-fiction), antique outboard motors and small engines, digital and "wet chemistry" photography ... I counted 3 workbenches in the house (reloading, gun making- flintlocks mostly, and modelmaking/whatever) and 1 in the garage. If company stays over they sleep on the couch, there's no "guest room".

See, I live alone and that's not what I wanted to be doing at this stage (68 in April), so since there's no one to share my home space with I've filled it with enjoyable distractions and entertainments and challenges, to fill my time and use my energy on. "Things" don't replace "people", but boy, it's pretty close in this case, given the person who is absent, and the things that are present.

All this is probably TMI, but I had a spasm of loquaciousness this morning, and too much coffee.

[KB3QJA]

Well, I have to put a plug in for Heathkit. I have the HW-101 and the SB-220 which have been serving me well. Alot of people must have thought them of use as thousands were sold and many are still on the air doing yoeman service day in and day out. Mostly on CW but the other night I was working a station in Alabama and got a glowing report on my audio with the Astetic D-104 crystal mic. Sucess is pretty hard to beat.

[W5LEL]

kwm-2a and i'm looking forward to getting mu 30L1 going with it.
K5DJZ

[PA3JD]

With no doubt, my four boatanchors are the best rigs at both sides of the Chinese wall: my two FT101ZD MkIII, the FT101E with the excellent receiver in it, and last but not least: the Kenwood TS820.
I use them since I got my license in 2008 and although they have worked for decades, they still do in an outstanding way. Meet me with CW on 20.
View them at QRZ.com and see what I'm talking about.73 to all of you.
Joop-PA3JD

[WW2S]

I don't even know what brand this kit was. I built it in 1982. But it is my favorite :)
(i get a link box when I try to upload)
http://tinyurl.com/yfsqruc

[AD5ND]

I've only had a few rigs, but my favorite was the Drake T-4x and R-4 twins. The finals should have been 6146's instead of the 6jb6's. They could have used a better quality wafer switches and tube sockets. But very few boat anchors of that vintage can be used almost any frequency from 1.5 to 30 mhz. If the fcc decides to open a new band, with just one crystal the drakes will operate there.

[AA4HA]

My favorite boat-anchor was my first radio back in the 70's. A Hammarlund SP-200 with it's gigantic companion power supply.

I have lots of newer radios SP-600's R-390A's and an R-220 but the SP-200 was the dependable radio that lived in a shelf in the closet. I could listen to HCJB Quito Equator at night and Radio Australia in the morning.

I had this old wooden horn speaker that was already an antique when the SP-200 was made before WW II. It was a great setup and I miss that radio.

[KB0MNM]

Folks,
My favorite boatanchor is the National NC-57 receiver that I need to sell. Twice, folks have replied to the for sale forum here at QRZ. They ask why I do not post photographs. They fail to look at what happens regarding posts and photos:
1. There is a maximum size photo that can be uploaded, set by QRZ, the last time that I tried my high-res. photo was denied.
2. The minute that someone asks for information, everyone assumes that the item is sold or in process.
I do have the rig, which belonged to a friend I will call C.J. Thompson. He asked that I try to do something with it. Since I moved and am between employers, I have had better things to do. If you do not, this could be your next project. ( KE0ZU, are you reading this? )-
-73 de KB0MNM:)

[K9STH]

MNM:

Just use any of the many graphics programs and reduce both the size and the resolution of your photograph. Frankly, anything larger than about 6 inches wide is a waste. Also, although I prefer to use 300 dpi even 72 dpi will look fine.

Glen, K9STH

[WA9CWX]

Without question my favorite oldie was the HRO-60 I had for about ten years( As for using it on the air, it was used as a companion to my Viking l on ten meter AM, and 80 CW...However as my major SWL receiver for years, (paired with a BC221 frequency standard) It was unbeatable. My favorite operating Boatanchors are my Drake 'B' line, and my Drake 2B and 2NT rigs...:)

[PH5E]

Just bought myself an RCA AR88LF yesterday. It's in fair state, considering its age. Needs some adjusting so I'm looking for manuals, diagrams etc. I've downloaded all from the BAMA archives, but that's no very much. If anyone has more info, I'd appreciate it!

[WA2ZDY]

. . . BUT, I can't keep them all, or I'd have ZERO room in my house, let alone my shack. Currently, the one I want back, more than any other, is the 75A-1, which I sold in 1980, for $125, and threw in a Viking II, for the new owner. BOY, I want that receiver back.

I bought a 75A1 for the asking price of $125 around 1988. It was in fine shape except for needing the paperr caps replaced, which I did. It was a fine receiver; its only fault was passing through my hands before BA gear turned to gold. I ended up GIVING it away a couple of years later.

I also had a 32V ten years earlier. At least I got my money back on the transmitter; I bought AND sold it for the same $20!!. Today of course those two together would be worth a small mint.

I too did the guns, motorcycles and cameras (I even majored and got my degree in photography during the age of film.) In my case, my health has made conntining such pursuits imprractical. My entire collection of ham gear consists of my Kenwood TS480, and a 1970 vintage Motorola HT200 Handie-Talkie on 29.6 MC that I will never use again now that I can no longer speak. (Good thing I like CW, huh?)

[W2AMR]

I like em all. :D But my favorite is probably my Johnson 500 transmitter.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3330/3313704712_b2551639dd_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3326/3313704686_5f923bacc5_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3479/3313704664_fd1c72cdcc_o.jpg

[KC8VWM]

That's a very fine looking shack studio.

[W2AMR]

That's a very fine looking shack studio.
Tnx Charles. :)

[KC9OWM]

I have several that really aren't classified as boat anchors yet. 101e, 101ee, 101ex, kenwood 520s and 820. I guess my true boat anchors would be my swan 350 and power supply with speaker, and my heath kit Comanche and Cheyenne (LOL) moble set, with mobile case. I have a couple of siltronix 1011D's I'm currently currently using my 350 and all of the unstable vfo floating doesn't apply to this one after a 20 minute warmup. Have fun.
mike

[AG3Y]

I haven't ever had a LOT of boat anchors, but I have operated a few in my time. My favorite setup would still have to be the 75A-4 and the 100V receiver and transmitter that was loaned to me when I stepped up from Novice to Advanced ! I would still have those radios today if I hadn't moved from Illinois to Maryland ! Heavy sigh ! ! !

Right now, I am restoring a set of Kenwood "golddust twins" which really aren't "boatanchors" in the truest definition of the term, since they are solid-state with tubes only in the driver and output stage of the transmitter. But I have always wanted a set, and was thrilled when a VERY GOOD FRIEND of mine, sent the set to me!

One has really not OPERATED a radio set until they have used the Collins and CE equipment! ( especially the CE transmitter - more knobs to twist and fiddle with than you could EVER imagine ! )

[WA4OTD]

Maybe my Eico 753 qualifies, really the only old boat anchor I had. I had hit the big time by the time I was using this rig!

[K8JD]

Back in the late 60's I had a working station with a Halli SX101a and EFJ Viking Valliant.
This took up a whole desktop. Worked really well !
I added the EFJ VHF converter, 6n2 transmitter with a homebrew power supply and high level AM modulator and the 6n2 VFO for more fun.

[IK1LBL]

Hi Guys !
Thats is my new SR-2000, just need some fixing.. BTW im very happy..

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9qNQjXJDNwM/S9SHY6ygN3I/AAAAAAAAASg/trHjyeIEw1I/s400/hurricane.jpg

Best 73s to all !!!
Mario IK1LBL

[KB2CRK]

my favorite boatanchor that i currently have is a heathkit hw-101 which i use on a regular basis.

[PH5E]

I bought a Dutch military GRC-3030 (http://rigreference.com/rig/5179-Van_der_Heem_GRC_3030) a couple of days ago. That would have to be my new favorite rig. It does about 10W in CW and AM and covers 2-12 Mc.

[WA3VJB]

Sorry John, that GPT750 is not properly deployed as a boat anchor.

Serving suggestion:

http://amwindow.org/pix/jpg/300gmmobile.jpg



So many choices....

Xmitter: TMC GPT-750, usually used with the "matching" GPR-90 receiver:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b153/throbbo/gpt750.jpg

One of my favorite receivers - very rare 1939 Meissner TrafficMaster, built from a kit:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b153/throbbo/trafficmaster.jpg

[WB0SND]

Here's my junk...uh....stuff. Pretty much all boatanchors all of the time. I even contest with the 75A4/KWS-1. The pictures are a little old. There's even a computer screen next to the Collins stuff! This past weekend I worked the CQWW-WPX CW contest with them. How crazy is that?

Oh, my favorite? Gotta be my trusty 75A4/KWS1 combo. They drove me crazy getting them right, but now, I LOVE 'EM!

http://www.vacuumtubes.com/images/collins_5-1.jpg

http://www.vacuumtubes.com/images/Drake_Station.jpg

Mike WB0SND

[KB3LAZ]

Here's my junk...uh....stuff. Pretty much all boatanchors all of the time. I even contest with the 75A4/KWS-1. The pictures are a little old. There's even a computer screen next to the Collins stuff! This past weekend I worked the CQWW-WPX CW contest with them. How crazy is that?

Oh, my favorite? Gotta be my trusty 75A4/KWS1 combo. They drove me crazy getting them right, but now, I LOVE 'EM!

http://www.vacuumtubes.com/images/collins_5-1.jpg

http://www.vacuumtubes.com/images/Drake_Station.jpg

Mike WB0SND

Now that is a sexy shack!

[KB3LAZ]

Picked up an HQ-129x today and it is a great addition to the shack. Someone sure took care of it as it looks new outside and is quite clean inside. It was recapped and aligned less than a year ago. It even has all documentation. I'll have to take a pic and post it later.

[K9WXR]

Two of my old favorites. Both make it out once a year and are operated for a few days to remind me of what operation was like in the very early 60's.


http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr153/corben1_photo/P7180325-1.jpg

[N4ISF]

Started life with an HQ 145 X and TX 1 Heathkit transmitter. I was trying to do CW and the receiver had way too much drift for the narrow CW filter I built. But I sure enjoyed listening to it. Someone gave me the HQ 145X because it was dead, found a missing power wire in it that fixed that. The TX 1 I traded for.

Actually my first shortwave radio was one that got passed my way after my grandfather died, a halicrafters s38C. That's the one that introduced me to the shortwave broadcast world.

[N2UGB]

I had a couple of Kenwood hybrids, but they aren't boat-anchors, strictly speaking. I had an SP600 receiver and that would qualify.

75A4/KW1 pair in late 50's modified for USAF frequencies when I was in that branch of the service.

[WA2ROC]

I guess my favorite boatanchors are the oned I use on a regular basis: Heathkit Apache, Marauder, Mohawk, HO-10. keyer, 2040 tuner and the Non-Heathkit SX-111

[WA9Z]

The huge one laying on the ground at Mystic Seaport, CT. I have a picture of me sitting on it when I was 5, and one with my wife in the same pose at 47. The anchor has aged much better. Keep 'em glowing.

[W1GUH]

'SMD: I see you've got the Hammarlund HC10. Wow! That always struck me as an almost required add-on to a BA receiver with a 455 kc IF and no product detector. I believe it's the "sideband" part of an HQ-170/180, and, as such, must be an outstanding performer. How do you like yours?

And did you ever have a GSB-1 for your GPR-90? That's highly recommended. It's got some of the most pleasant sounding SSB reception I ever heard.

GREAT SHACK!!

[WA1KBQ]

Although MHZ would even give certain parts of his anatomy for a Hallicrafters SX-88, that particular receiver isn't all that great! Their "appeal" comes from the fact that only a relatively few were ever manufactured. Now they are not a "bad" receiver (i.e. on the same level as the National SW-54), but the absolute performance is fairly mediocre. There are several Hallicrafters receivers that are "on par" with the SX-88 including the SX-28 series.

Glen, K9STH
(who doesn't own an SX-88 but who has restored a few)

I have restored four SX-88s so far and currently have a fifth receiver apart and in-process. While I will agree with you that the SX-88 might not be the best receiver ever produced they are actually pretty good and featured fairly advanced technology for their time which Hallicrafters never duplicated in their later offerings. The SX-88 was the only Hallicrafters receiver ever produced with Litz wound 50 KC IF transformers. In addition the IF transformer windings were placed inside ferrite sleeves and had threaded adjustable ferrite cores which yielded a "Q" of over 180. All subsequent 50KC IF transformers used in other later models including SX-100, 101 and 115, etc., were wound with single wire and had ferrite adjusters suspended from threaded brass rods. We all know what happens when you insert a brass rod into a coil.

Actually there is no best receiver when you get on the high end as compromises become necessary depending upon what the engineers were attempting to accomplish with it. The SX-88 had no peer in its day and can still more than hold its own especially in today's crowded band conditions.

Below are links to pictures from the latest restoration job. Notice the receiver was extensively disassembled in order to gain access to hidden caps and resistors in the RF stages and second converter deck. An SX-88 cannot perform at its original design level unless all stages are made to work properly again.

A Brief Picture History of #444 Restoration

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/IMG_3178.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/IMG_3198.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/444-007.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/444-021.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/444-008.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/446-022.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/444-009.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/444-010.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/444-011.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/444-012.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/444-026.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/444-022.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/444-023.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/444-024.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/444-025.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/IMG_3075.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/IMG_3076.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/IMG_3085.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/IMG_3091.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/IMG_3099.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/IMG_3183.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m191/wa1kbq/SX%2088%20-%20444/IMG_3182.jpg

[W1GUH]

'KBQ:

That's some very interesting information about the evolution of Hallicrafters receivers. Makes me wish I could have been a fly on the wall when those decisions were being hammered out. Citing the example you described, the IF transformers, I wonder how going away from the Litz wound transformers with the ferrite cores affected the performance of the final end product? I'm sure there were a lot more of those decisions over the year. Is this information in Chuck Dachis' book? Or is it stuff you picked up in your years of restoration?

Thanks for the great post!

[WA1KBQ]

Hallicrafters SX-88 Review; QST Magazine, June 1954
Excerpts

Sooner or later some wit is going to come up with the facetious remark that, "That new SX-88 is sure a lot of receiver—it's 20 inches wide and 18 1/4 inches deep." And while it's true that 18 1/4 inches is deep for a receiver and may occasionally pose a problem in finding operating-table space, there's quite a bit more to the story.

This Hallicrafters receiver has already been advertised extensively, so some of the data you find here may be old hat. Bear with us, however—some of it hasn't been in the ads.

The SX-88 is a double-conversion two-dial receiver that covers 0.535 to 33 Mc. in six ranges. The bandswitch also operates masks in back of the dials so that only portions of the scales, corresponding to the range in use, are back-illuminated at any time. To facilitate setting up on any amateur band, a 100-kc. crystal-oscillator "Calibrator" is included—when changing to a new ham band you throw the bandswitch, turn the "Calibrator" on, set the bandspread scale to some even 100 kc. within the ham band and set the bandset dial to a dot at the high-frequency end of the band. At this point you will be within easy reach of the 100-kc. marker signal so you rock the bandset dial, zero on the marker signal, and lock the bandset dial. The bandspread dial then reads directly in frequency, and you can, of course, check it every 100 kc. with the calibrator signal. The calibration marks on the bandspread dial are every 10 kc. on the bands up to and including 14 Mc. (they're every 20 kc. at 21 Mc. and every 50 at 28 Mc.), so it can be read easily to about 3 kc. (except on 21 and 28 Mc.) and closer if one is a good judge of distance.

http://www.antiqueradio.org/art/qstfig1.jpg

Figure 1. Block diagram of the SX-88 receiver. Only one
r.f. stage is used in the broadcast range—all other ranges
use the two r.f. stages. The first i.f. is normally 2.075 Mc.
Band 2 includes this frequency, however, so on Band 2
the first i.f. is made 1.550 Mc. The 4H4 current regulator
is in the heater circuit of the 6U8 1st mixer, for maximum
stability under varying line-voltage conditions.

The receiver has a lot of selectivity (as we'll elaborate on later), and there might be times during c.w. operation with high selectivity when a 3-kc. approximation of frequency wouldn't be good enough to allow one to return from some other part of the band to a signal he had been stalking previously. (As, for example, in a DX contest when you're trotting back and forth between several pile-ups.) For such cases, there are arbitrary markings on both the scale and the tuning knob that give a 0-2400 scale for logging and reset.

This receiver has no "selectivity" control and no crystal filter—it has a "Bandwidth" switch. This switch has six positions (not counting a seventh marked "Phono" for feeding a record player through the audio amplifier), and those positions are marked ".250," ".500," "1.25," "2.50," "5" and "10." These figures represent in kilocycles the 6-db.-down bandwidths of the 50-kc. second i.f. (the first i.f. is 2075 kc., except on one range), and the corresponding 60-db.-down bandwidths are .850, 1.50, 3.75, 7.5, 15 and 21 kc. If you dig back through old copies of QST, you will find that this degree of selectivity exceeds almost anything that has been described by home constructors, with only a few exceptions in the case of "super-selective" c.w. receivers. It certainly is better than anything that has been described in the way of graduated selectivity, because it goes all the way from a nominal 250-cycle bandwidth to one of 10 kc.

The two sharpest positions give the kind of selectivity that the "super-selective" c.w. gang has been plugging for the past few years: no audio image at all on "the other side" of zero beat. On 'phone, the 5-kc. setting is used when there is no QRM, the 2.5-kc. bandwidth is right for s.s.b. reception of a.m. or s.s.b. signals, and the 1.25-kc. bandwidth is useful for tough QRM on a.m. or s.s.b. The b.f.o. should be used for exalted-carrier reception of a.m. signals at the 1.25-kc. bandwidth, although two operators reported that it isn't absolutely necessary—we rate them as "old pros" at copying 'phone and not necessarily typical.


The I.F. Amplifier
As an "old skirt-selectivity man," the writer was particularly interested in the 50-kc. i.f. amplifier, and we'll take a little time here to tell you how the SX-88 gets its wide range of bandwidths. The heart of it is, of course, the tuned circuits that are used. These are special coils tuned by a ferrite slug and surrounded by a ferrite sleeve. The special design gives a coil with a Q of 175 to 185 at 50 kc., as compared with the Q of 100 of the coils used in the S-76. An interesting sidelight is that it was found impossible to obtain a Q of higher than 130 until a metal screw was removed from the ferrite core and a means was found for threading the glass-hard and glass-brittle ferrite.

Any skirt-selectivity man can build a sharp i.f. amplifier if someone hands him a bunch of Q = 180 coils, but the SX-88 i.f. has the various bandwidths mentioned earlier. This poses quite a problem, because the frequency must not be changed radically by the bandwidth-variation method, and the gain must be held substantially constant. This was accomplished by the Hallicrafters engineer in the general way shown in Fig. 2A.

http://www.antiqueradio.org/art/qstfig2.gif
Figure 2. (A) Basic circuit of the variable-bandwidth i.f.
used in the SX-88. The coupling is increased as C is
made smaller, and the Q of L2C2 is reduced as R is
increased. The stage gain is held constant with changes
in bandwidth by tapping the grid and plate up or down
on the coils. (B) The effect of varying C and R in (A) is
that the passband "grows" out to a higher frequency,
as illustrated here.


This simplified diagram shows a variable condenser ganged with a variable resistor—in the actual receiver these are step-switched, of course. It can be seen that the smaller the capacity of C, the tighter will be the coupling between the two tuned circuits, L1C1, and L2C2. Furthermore, the larger the value of R is made, the lower becomes the Q of the grid tuned circuit, L2C2. By proper proportioning of the various values of C and B (at different switch positions), the wide range, in bandwidth variation is obtained. One of the three 50-kc. i.f. stages has taps on the coils, as represented in Fig. 2A by the leads to S1, and this enables the gain of the i.f. amplifier to be held relatively constant over the entire range.

The midband frequency of this i.f. system does not remain constant—the low-frequency edge remains substantially constant. This is illustrated in Fig. 2B, and it is something the operator must remember if he is to understand fully the performance of the receiver as the bandwidth is changed. Here three conditions ("sharpest," "medium" and "broadest") are shown—the effect is as though the bandwidth "grows" to the higher frequency. It is pointed out here to explain what will undoubtedly puzzle some operators when they switch bandwidths and find that sometimes the carrier drops out and sometimes it doesn't. Obviously, it will depend on whether one has the carrier centered at around 50 kc. or on the high-frequency side of the i.f passband.

[WB5WSV]

I have a TS-520, a TS-820S, both of which I bought in non-working condition and repaired as well as a total of 6 BC-348's in various stages of restoration. But my favorite boatanchor is my first piece of ham gear, my National NC-155, purchased used from AES in 1974. It's beautiful, rugged, and does a great job.

And I have a new favorite that ranks right up there with the 155, an NC-190. I purchased it on ebay and had to install a new volume control, replace some tubes, and do alignment. On the AM broadcast band it is just awesome and on the higher bands WWV comes right in on 15 MHZ, if anything even better than on my TS-820S.

The next step wil be to replace the electrolytic filter cap in the 155 - for the third time.

And the NC-190 makes such a nice companion to my NC-155. It looks like National designed them to sit next to each other.


Robert
WB5WSV

[WA9CWX]

I will just repeat myself, in terms of operating rigs, my favorite boat anchor is my Drake 'B' line, I also have a working station that includes a beautiful Home Brew 6AG7/807 rig, and a restored to original condition HQ129X. That is always a nice trip down memory lane, but the convenience of operating it is no were near the Drake...:D

Frank

[KJ4OLL]

I have a new "favorite" boatanchor receiver!
The R-390 audio sounds better to my old ears than the R-390A.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x257/fish1_07/collins_hp_tek1.jpg

[ND4JS]

My Favorite BAs.

Hammerlund 129
Johnson Viking II
Heathkit DX-100
Hallicrafter sx110

I now have a National nc300 not in picture.

http://www.qrz.com/hampages/r/h/kc4phr/AM_Station.jpg

[KE7NUB]

I like the 5100B B&W alot.Injecting line audio to it with the Behringer rack. Very well layed out transmitter.Mine has had many mods over the years. My little Ranger sounds like music.I have made a few changes since this picture was taken.http://http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz294/250nw1961/anchorsaway001-1.jpg

[WD0GOF]

Of course it's one I don't have. I would love to get my hands on a Hallicrafters HT-45, known as the "Loudenboomer". But alass a working one is too rich for me. Even a tech unit with no final commands more $$$$$ than I have to spend.

[KB1OKL]

I have several favorites, R-390A's with a DX-100 for hamming and an SP-600 for broadcast band DXing which I'm listening to right now, I have something on 693, probably BBC it's mostly below WOR's IBOC. I Also love the old National HRO's. My first good receiver was an HRO-60 I bought in 1980. I think my coolest receiver is a back wrinkle HRO-50R1 I have that is in almost mint shape.

[PE1IOC]

Love the Racal stuff, but have to repair first some...

73 from Holland,

Tjerk
PE 1 IOC