I bought a used Hallicrafters SX-42 and matching speaker when I was in high school in the late 1960s. The standout feature of the SX-42 was the amount and quality of its audio output, especially when listening to AM using the widest bandwith. I used to listen to an Australian shortwave station while getting ready for school. I liked the kookaburra noises and Waltzing Matilda melody. The capacitors in the old SX-42 began to short out, burning resistors and generating smoke. Eventually, I grew weary of repeated repairs and sold the receiver. The SX-42 and matching speaker were often used as studio props in science fiction movies and TV shows, like Superman. Thanks for the video.
Hi Nick, even though SSB was first developed in the teens of last century, it didn't become popular on Ham receivers until the mid 50's. Many coveted Ham receivers in the day only listed AM/CW on the front panels. Of course as you well know CW mode turns on the BFO which allows you to tune in SSB. Later receivers had improved product detectors which through the re AGC kept signals more or less near the same volume level. Listen to a net on 75 meters with the AGC off you'll quickly be riding the RF control to bring the weak sigs up and turning it down when the strong sigs are busting your ear drums. Always enjoy your well done videos, especially, since I have many of the same receivers less the Telefunken unit you debuted recently and the Asian transceivers. I have been licensed as a Ham op since I was 15, 52 years ago. YIKES. So, I have had years to collect my receiver collection. I wonder if you have compared the Drake R8B with the TT RX340, both are very nice units. I have been chasing NDB aviation beacons between 200 and 500 KHz. Even on the weakest beacons the R8B and RX340 are about the same except, when I am listening to a weak NDB right next to a much stronger, the 340 does better with its improved IF filtering, Between these two units I like the RX340 audio slightly more and the 340 is easier to navigate the front panel. Anyway, I was wondering what your thoughts are on these two units. And, in your opinion of all of the receivers you have analyzed is there one you consider the clear winner in terms of digging out weak sigs? For me, one of my finely aligned R390 or 390A's clearly hear sigs that are in the noise with the TT and Drake. It's still a very hard copy but the 390's dig the weak stuff out better. Of course the audio on the TT and Drake are a good bit better IMHO, with the 390 sounding just a bit better than the 390A. Again, thanks so much for your great videos. 73, Glenn WA4AOS
Hi Glenn, thanks for the info on early CW. Yes, I love my R8B and I think it might be one of the best SWL receivers ever. This is because first, it has a good sync, second it has perfect filter spacing for weak SW voice signals (6 and 4 khz), 3 khz is too small for voice in my opinion, and third it is extremely sensitive. I can’t run a comparison with my TT340 cause she aint working. Sell me your scratched up 340! One last thought on which is the best receiver, after decades even the best receivers might need some tuning or repair even though they actually still work. So it is hard for one person to test one receiver and then say all 390’s are not as good as all 8711’s. Since I can’t repair radios I am stuck with what I have. My opinion for SWL- (assuming correct operational condition) the 340 and 8711 are identical along with the Icom 9500 and Drake R8B, All are AWESOME. Notice the similarities of these 3 radios - all have good sync and excellent filter choices. Second tier-, still incredible, but at a slight disadvantage because of sync and filters, Hammarlund HQ180, Yaesu 5000, Icom 7610, AEG, Rhode & Schwarz, Icom 9000, Siemens 311, Collins 388, and several others I am forgetting. The filtering on the HQ180, Icom 7610 and the Collins 388 slightly elevate these above the others. But it is too bad that the AEG, Rhode, Schwarz, 851S1, Icom 9000, and others are all hampered by their filtering jump from 6khz to 3 khz. Having a filter at approximately 3.8 or larger as choice below 6khz is a huge benefit on weak voice signals.
@@dieselten01 Hi Nick, Thanks for your perspective regarding the various receivers you have at your disposal. Actually, you don't have a bad apple in your lot. Most SWL people and Hams would be tickled with any one of your receivers. You do have some more rare units I have not played with, let a lone, owned such as your impressive Telefunken, WJ and R&S. However, I do have at least one example of the rest, well, except for the Asian transceivers. I agree with your assessments. however, a R390 or 390A restored properly and aligned well is as about as good as the RX340, not better but they will both dig out the weakest signals. Downside to the 390's as you know, the tuning mech is a bit of a pain. When I restore one of these, I take every gear out, clean them in my ultrasonic tank and lube them with a synthetic lube. My restores are very smooth to tune but still not as nice as a modern transceiver. Also, most 390A's have loads of black beauty caps which I change out as well as out of spec resistors and weak tubes.. And so much more I do over the course of 3-4 long days to make them perform better than they did new. More later on all of that. As a retired E.E. and owner of three electronics companies, I have a very well equipped electronics lab, mostly HP and Tektronics equipment and I enjoy restoring receivers. As mentioned, I am more or less grounded now awaiting back surgery. So, your Utube videos help keep me going, knowing after surgery, I'll be back to daily snorting lead laced solder fumes in my lab. I really appreciate your videos, especially, with regard to receivers. I too am a gun collector but mostly pistols and shotguns. Last year I bought a JTS, 12 ga shotgun, from Palmetto Armory which resembles an AR and it was ~$450 new. 10 round mags were an option. I have only been able to go to a local range once due to my back but it was a fun gun to shoot. ( back brace on and back against a tree, still, I was in bed a day afterwards) YUCK !!!! Here is the link to the JTS I have below. 73, Glenn WA4AOS palmettostatearmory.com/jts-m12ar-18-5-5rd-12ga-semi-auto-shotgun-black-m12ar.html
Just hope you don’t get a band switch problem/failure. The SX-42 is notorious for band switch problems. Unfortunately, the assembly of the band switch assembly and wafer switches is incredibly congested and difficult to access for repair. I completely recapped and refurbished an SX-42 back in the late1990’s. It worked well for a few months then arced-over on a band switch wafer. I tried every trick in the book to repair the wafer, but ultimately threw in the towel and sold it for a parts unit. Sure, the 42 looks cool, and sounds great (when working), but… It’s a turkey as far as the band switch design and difficulties. It’s also a hellish mess of TOXIC cadmium chassis plating, which is very dangerous to try and clean, as the cadmium and cadmium oxide is a highly toxic and very carcinogenic. I’ve had similar problems with other Hallicrafters Receivers, and so I now blanket avoid all Hallicrafters receivers. I’m 100% done owning them or working on them.
Audiophiles are returning to valve power amplifiers now Nic and there's nothing like that mellow tube sound. Anolog is better than discreet steps imho when it comes to vinyl records and similar must apply to communication receivers I'm guessing, I imagine that it's capable of some sweet BCB listening and there's something more alive and less jarring on the ears in many reception conditions. I think they're pretty sensitive too and I'd be interested in looking at the sensitivity figures, another interesting video NIC for a Sunday Morning.
I know my IPhone camera did not do justice to the actual sound from this radio. I have never heard AM broadcast sound so good. You are right about the sensitivity too, this will get any broadcast out there. Sometimes I get too picky about dial alignment and being able to separate close weak signals, but then I realize I have other radios that can do that so I can just enjoy listening to something sweet like the 42. Thanks Shaun
@@dieselten01 Nic is there a line l/O to connect anything peripheral on the audio side because if it has some vinyl records would sound awesome and add yet another string to a really capable antique still ripped decades later.
@@dieselten01 you'd need crazy expensive speakers eh Nic but what an awesome natural sound. I 💬 the way purist analogue tube sound is how good vinyl recording sounded at it's most refined...... I bet some jazz music would be a real joy to listen to. Respect...... probably defeats the purpose but even 24bit 192Khz DSD. P.S. I have that same communication receiver in the 94th edition ,I think, of Fred Hausterman and his communication receivers past and present. Liked the centrally located signal meter and the smooth analog sounds.
@@dieselten01 awesome, you can't beat truly analogue sound, got to be very careful though from the tiny bit I've Heard, those reel to reel had fantastic audio reproduction, you can record high quality audio using VCR's too....... life's rich like tapestry if you put it out in time.
Fantastic thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your comments!
I bought a used Hallicrafters SX-42 and matching speaker when I was in high school in the late 1960s. The standout feature of the SX-42 was the amount and quality of its audio output, especially when listening to AM using the widest bandwith. I used to listen to an Australian shortwave station while getting ready for school. I liked the kookaburra noises and Waltzing Matilda melody. The capacitors in the old SX-42 began to short out, burning resistors and generating smoke. Eventually, I grew weary of repeated repairs and sold the receiver.
The SX-42 and matching speaker were often used as studio props in science fiction movies and TV shows, like Superman. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for your comments!
Hi Nick, even though SSB was first developed in the teens of last century, it didn't become popular on Ham receivers until the mid 50's. Many coveted Ham receivers in the day only listed AM/CW on the front panels. Of course as you well know CW mode turns on the BFO which allows you to tune in SSB. Later receivers had improved product detectors which through the re AGC kept signals more or less near the same volume level. Listen to a net on 75 meters with the AGC off you'll quickly be riding the RF control to bring the weak sigs up and turning it down when the strong sigs are busting your ear drums.
Always enjoy your well done videos, especially, since I have many of the same receivers less the Telefunken unit you debuted recently and the Asian transceivers. I have been licensed as a Ham op since I was 15, 52 years ago. YIKES. So, I have had years to collect my receiver collection.
I wonder if you have compared the Drake R8B with the TT RX340, both are very nice units. I have been chasing NDB aviation beacons between 200 and 500 KHz. Even on the weakest beacons the R8B and RX340 are about the same except, when I am listening to a weak NDB right next to a much stronger, the 340 does better with its improved IF filtering, Between these two units I like the RX340 audio slightly more and the 340 is easier to navigate the front panel.
Anyway, I was wondering what your thoughts are on these two units. And, in your opinion of all of the receivers you have analyzed is there one you consider the clear winner in terms of digging out weak sigs? For me, one of my finely aligned R390 or 390A's clearly hear sigs that are in the noise with the TT and Drake. It's still a very hard copy but the 390's dig the weak stuff out better. Of course the audio on the TT and Drake are a good bit better IMHO, with the 390 sounding just a bit better than the 390A.
Again, thanks so much for your great videos.
73, Glenn WA4AOS
Hi Glenn, thanks for the info on early CW. Yes, I love my R8B and I think it might be one of the best SWL receivers ever. This is because first, it has a good sync, second it has perfect filter spacing for weak SW voice signals (6 and 4 khz), 3 khz is too small for voice in my opinion, and third it is extremely sensitive. I can’t run a comparison with my TT340 cause she aint working. Sell me your scratched up 340!
One last thought on which is the best receiver, after decades even the best receivers might need some tuning or repair even though they actually still work. So it is hard for one person to test one receiver and then say all 390’s are not as good as all 8711’s. Since I can’t repair radios I am stuck with what I have.
My opinion for SWL- (assuming correct operational condition) the 340 and 8711 are identical along with the Icom 9500 and Drake R8B, All are AWESOME. Notice the similarities of these 3 radios - all have good sync and excellent filter choices. Second tier-, still incredible, but at a slight disadvantage because of sync and filters, Hammarlund HQ180, Yaesu 5000, Icom 7610, AEG, Rhode & Schwarz, Icom 9000, Siemens 311, Collins 388, and several others I am forgetting. The filtering on the HQ180, Icom 7610 and the Collins 388 slightly elevate these above the others. But it is too bad that the AEG, Rhode, Schwarz, 851S1, Icom 9000, and others are all hampered by their filtering jump from 6khz to 3 khz. Having a filter at approximately 3.8 or larger as choice below 6khz is a huge benefit on weak voice signals.
@@dieselten01 Hi Nick, Thanks for your perspective regarding the various receivers you have at your disposal. Actually, you don't have a bad apple in your lot. Most SWL people and Hams would be tickled with any one of your receivers.
You do have some more rare units I have not played with, let a lone, owned such as your impressive Telefunken, WJ and R&S. However, I do have at least one example of the rest, well, except for the Asian transceivers.
I agree with your assessments. however, a R390 or 390A restored properly and aligned well is as about as good as the RX340, not better but they will both dig out the weakest signals. Downside to the 390's as you know, the tuning mech is a bit of a pain.
When I restore one of these, I take every gear out, clean them in my ultrasonic tank and lube them with a synthetic lube. My restores are very smooth to tune but still not as nice as a modern transceiver. Also, most 390A's have loads of black beauty caps which I change out as well as out of spec resistors and weak tubes.. And so much more I do over the course of 3-4 long days to make them perform better than they did new. More later on all of that.
As a retired E.E. and owner of three electronics companies, I have a very well equipped electronics lab, mostly HP and Tektronics equipment and I enjoy restoring receivers. As mentioned, I am more or less grounded now awaiting back surgery.
So, your Utube videos help keep me going, knowing after surgery, I'll be back to daily snorting lead laced solder fumes in my lab.
I really appreciate your videos, especially, with regard to receivers. I too am a gun collector but mostly pistols and shotguns.
Last year I bought a JTS, 12 ga shotgun, from Palmetto Armory which resembles an AR and it was ~$450 new. 10 round mags were an option. I have only been able to go to a local range once due to my back but it was a fun gun to shoot. ( back brace on and back against a tree, still, I was in bed a day afterwards) YUCK !!!!
Here is the link to the JTS I have below.
73, Glenn WA4AOS
palmettostatearmory.com/jts-m12ar-18-5-5rd-12ga-semi-auto-shotgun-black-m12ar.html
Just hope you don’t get a band switch problem/failure.
The SX-42 is notorious for band switch problems.
Unfortunately, the assembly of the band switch assembly and wafer switches is incredibly congested and difficult to access for repair.
I completely recapped and refurbished an SX-42 back in the late1990’s. It worked well for a few months then arced-over on a band switch wafer.
I tried every trick in the book to repair the wafer, but ultimately threw in the towel and sold it for a parts unit.
Sure, the 42 looks cool, and sounds great (when working), but…
It’s a turkey as far as the band switch design and difficulties.
It’s also a hellish mess of TOXIC cadmium chassis plating, which is very dangerous to try and clean, as the cadmium and cadmium oxide is a highly toxic and very carcinogenic.
I’ve had similar problems with other Hallicrafters Receivers, and so I now blanket avoid all Hallicrafters receivers. I’m 100% done owning them or working on them.
Audiophiles are returning to valve power amplifiers now Nic and there's nothing like that mellow tube sound. Anolog is better than discreet steps imho when it comes to vinyl records and similar must apply to communication receivers I'm guessing, I imagine that it's capable of some sweet BCB listening and there's something more alive and less jarring on the ears in many reception conditions. I think they're pretty sensitive too and I'd be interested in looking at the sensitivity figures, another interesting video NIC for a Sunday Morning.
I know my IPhone camera did not do justice to the actual sound from this radio. I have never heard AM broadcast sound so good. You are right about the sensitivity too, this will get any broadcast out there. Sometimes I get too picky about dial alignment and being able to separate close weak signals, but then I realize I have other radios that can do that so I can just enjoy listening to something sweet like the 42. Thanks Shaun
@@dieselten01 Nic is there a line l/O to connect anything peripheral on the audio side because if it has some vinyl records would sound awesome and add yet another string to a really capable antique still ripped decades later.
@@TheShaunksread yes, there is a port on the back and the mode switch on the front has a Phono position
@@dieselten01 you'd need crazy expensive speakers eh Nic but what an awesome natural sound. I 💬 the way purist analogue tube sound is how good vinyl recording sounded at it's most refined...... I bet some jazz music would be a real joy to listen to.
Respect...... probably defeats the purpose but even 24bit 192Khz DSD.
P.S. I have that same communication receiver in the 94th edition ,I think, of Fred Hausterman and his communication receivers past and present. Liked the centrally located signal meter and the smooth analog sounds.
@@dieselten01 awesome, you can't beat truly analogue sound, got to be very careful though from the tiny bit I've Heard, those reel to reel had fantastic audio reproduction, you can record high quality audio using VCR's too....... life's rich like tapestry if you put it out in time.