Hallicrafters S-76 restoration completed, can you suggest a transmitter to go with?

[N8ZRY]

I restored this old Hallicrafters S-76 a couple of years ago, i documented the restoration on the web:
http://www.mit.edu/~gr20603/Dr.%20Gr...rs%20S-76.html

This was my first antique radio restoration, it was alot of fun and I have restored a number of antique radios since then.

But now i am starting to think of matching this up with a nice vintage transmitter. I would like to give AM a try.

Any suggestions?

73, Greg N8ZRY

[K6DDX]

I recommend Johnson Viking Ranger.

[KM1H]

At about 30W output a Ranger will not be very effective except for local use or 10M during an opening. It does make a nice driver for a linear.

The Viking I, II, and Valiants, Heath DX-100/Apache, offer more power as does the B&W 5100 series, HT-20 and some others using plate modulation.

A Heath DX-60/HG-10 with some audio mods also works well wih a linear.

There are also several vintage and more modern riceboxes that sound nice on AM but again a linear is usually neeed.

An Elmac AF-67/68 is a nice compact AM rig as are the Morrow, Gonsets, and a few others if you dont mind building a PS. The cost is low, I paid about $40 for the AF-67 and run it once in awhile on 10M using a $50 Hallicrafters SR-150 DC PS and an existing Astron PS. However the primary rigs are Vikings I and II and a pair of HT-9's along with a pair of big plate modulated amps when needed

Carl

[K9STH]

The Johnson Viking I, Viking II, and Valiant, as well as the Heath DX-100, DX-100B, and Apache are fairly plentiful. The B&W 5100 and 5100B not so plentiful. Then the Hallicrafters HT-20 are pretty rare, supposedly less than 500 were ever made, some sources say as little as 300. My HT-20 is serial number 11.

A couple of other AM transmitters that are excellent choices, although a bit "pricey" these days, are the WRL Globe King series and the WRL Globe Champion series. I don't have any Globe King transmitters but I do have one of the fairly scarce Globe Champion 350A (the last of the series) transmitters.

Glen, K9STH

[N8ZRY]

Thank you for the advice! I definitely want to acquire something American made and something that needs some degree of restoration.

I will keep an eye out for the Johnson Vikings I, 2 and Valiant, the Heath DX-100 and the Apache.

73, Greg N8ZRY

[W1GUH]

In the "single 6146" category, the Eico 720/730 combo is well respected. The "catch" is that the 730's are reported to be getting rare and pricey. Seems that the audio-file contingent has found that they make excellent hi-fi amps and are buying them up willie-nillie at audiophool prices. Wonder who let the cat out of THAT bag!

But that's a resounding testament to how good the 730 can sound, and the mods to make it sound really good are almost in the "trivial" category.

And you can do the same with an Apache. Glen has the details of that mod on his site.

OTOH....

For an SX-71, both the Apache & the Eicos seem "too modern." I would have thought a DX-100 or a Johnson would be a better period match.

P.S. You DO realize that this disease has no cure? That it can lead to a basement full of radios?

[KA4DPO]

The S-76 does not have a crystal filter ans so would not make a very good communications receiver for CW or even AM since the AM windows are surrounded by sideband stations. If you are looking to recreat a novice type station any of the 35 to 50 watt CW transmitters would work just fine. I'm a bit curious about KM1H's statement that 35 watts would not be effective except for close in work. Plenty of us worked DX all over the globe as novices with less power than that on CW. If band conditions are even marginally good a 35 watt CW signal should reach almost anywhere on the planet.

If you are planning to only run AM then you will need at least a 125 watt transmitter if you expect to be heard through the QRM.

The WRL Globe Chief 90A would be a good pick, the Globe Scout is in the same power output category as the Johnson Ranger but uses an 807 in the output.

The Globe Champion is another good choice and is a 125 watt AM transmitter but may be hard to find.

[K9STH]

DPO:

The WRL Globe Chief 90, 90A, and Deluxe are CW only, crystal controlled, transmitters that use a pair of 807s in the final. WRL did make 2 different modulators for use with the Globe Chief series, a plate modulator and a screen modulator. The 90 and 90A cover 160-meters through 10-meters whereas the Deluxe model only covers 80-meters through 10-meters. The Globe Scout series does use a single 6146 in the final and uses Heising modulation which is a form of plate modulation. All the Globe Scout versions are crystal controlled and, depending on the exact model, cover either 160-meters through 10-meters or 80-meters through 6-meters. The WRL 755 or 755A VFOs were made for use with either the Globe Chief or Globe Scout equipment.

The Globe Chief series puts out between 60 and 75 watts on the lower frequencies but drops to about 25 watts out on 10-meters. This is because the transmitter doubles in the final for 10-meters. The Globe Scout series puts out about 30 to 35 watts on the lower frequencies and about 20 to 25 watts on 10-meters. Depending on whether or not the optional driver assembly is installed, they put out between 10 and 20 watts on 6-meters.

There is a photo of a WRL Globe Chief 90A along with the WRL 755 VFO and a WRL Model SM-90 screen modulator in the 2nd photo at

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

The Globe Champion has a carrier output of between 175 and 200 watts on the lower frequencies dropping to about 150 watts on 10. I do have a Globe Champion 350A.

Glen, K9STH

[KM1H]

I'm a bit curious about KM1H's statement that 35 watts would not be effective except for close in work. Plenty of us worked DX all over the globe as novices with less power than that on CW. If band conditions are even marginally good a 35 watt CW signal should reach almost anywhere on the planet.

I guess you didnt fully read and comprehend what I said. Besides the interest was stated as AM, not CW.

Carl

[WA7KGX]

The s-76 has a 50 kHz second IF with several selectivity choices.
One could beat it with an SDR but not with almost all boat anchors.

And, there is **NO** beating that giant multimedia S-meter.
Add a magic eye and you're home.