The old vacuum radios had sound, sensitivity and selectivity not found much today. Electronics today are made as cheaply as possible, and the AM circuitry isn't given the attention it received when it was the only game in town. I have an electronically restored HQ-129x I'd put against anything made in the solid state age in terms of fidelity of sound, sensitivity and intelligibility of weaker signals, and the ability to separate close stations. I play the old Hammarlund 4-6 hours every day.
Nice radio one of these would look nice in my shack, I love the old valve stuff, I've still got my first AM/CW transmitter that I made in the mid 70's it runs 150 watts with two 807's running class C in the PA, plate and screen modulated with two more 807's in class AB1 to modulate up to full power, and the whole thing is controlled with a Jeloso VFO thank's for sharing your video.
Good point. On this receiver that would be about 535kc-1100kc. My recollection is it performs well across those frequencies, but of course, strong broadcast stations always win. I'll run some weak signal performance tests and post an update. Thanks always. Greg - K6SRO
Yes, the tubes can still be found. There are several sellers on the internet. Just search for vacuum tubes or valves. I get mine from Walt Eby, email is Radiotinkerer@aol.com
EBAY is another resource but shop the prices. Some charge much higher than market and you don't need matched tubes for this receiver.
Nice video but RCA's General David Sarnoff was a predatory man who drove Edwin Howard Armstrong to the breaking point and financial ruin by stealing his FM patents, using legal wrangling in courts to screw Armstrong over. I am no fan of Sarnoff.... I do like some early RCA radios, but as a corporation in the day, they were the personification of corporate hubris. Where is RCA today? The only new radios today are made in China.
This video is about a receiver not about a man, please, let's keep company politics out of this. I do this because I love old tube communications receivers. I know what you mean, and I feel bad for what happened to Armstrong. He was truly a much bigger giant of than Sarnoff. Whatever the case, this series of receivers were designed by some truly outstanding radio hardware engineers.
I agree with you, RCA's greatness comes from the engineering and agree, that is an amazing radio. I just finished a RCA 8R71 AM/FM consumer radio circa 1948? Nice radio.
@gmcjetpilot This is true. I like this beautiful radio too.... I'd like better to see what it can do on the upper-end of it's tuning range, but
I know It's relatives played a big role in winning WW-II. "The Sarnoff" though is only deserving of our contempt; by all accounts, a truly dreadful humanoid!
Завидую такой личной коллекции
Moskalenkovalerii 1 month ago
Наверное это останется после взрыва.....
Moskalenkovalerii 1 month ago
Translated, it means, "Surely this will remain after the explosion". Gosh! I hope so. What explosion? The big EMP perhaps?
radiodad2008 1 month ago
Я имел ввиду что эта аппаратура нас переживет
Moskalenkovalerii 1 month ago
The old vacuum radios had sound, sensitivity and selectivity not found much today. Electronics today are made as cheaply as possible, and the AM circuitry isn't given the attention it received when it was the only game in town. I have an electronically restored HQ-129x I'd put against anything made in the solid state age in terms of fidelity of sound, sensitivity and intelligibility of weaker signals, and the ability to separate close stations. I play the old Hammarlund 4-6 hours every day.
mnpd007 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Nice radio one of these would look nice in my shack, I love the old valve stuff, I've still got my first AM/CW transmitter that I made in the mid 70's it runs 150 watts with two 807's running class C in the PA, plate and screen modulated with two more 807's in class AB1 to modulate up to full power, and the whole thing is controlled with a Jeloso VFO thank's for sharing your video.
markadoglet 1 month ago
Nice radio.You are lucky to have an AM station that plays music.All we have here is Mexicans and rachet jawing. Thanks for the video.
wolfhawg 2 months ago
Greg ,can you try the 88 on MW ,.When you try the sensivity on a radio do it on MW !!
MW are always the weakest place for a receiver .Thanks in advance
antennebuis 1 year ago
@antennebuis
Good point. On this receiver that would be about 535kc-1100kc. My recollection is it performs well across those frequencies, but of course, strong broadcast stations always win. I'll run some weak signal performance tests and post an update. Thanks always. Greg - K6SRO
radiodad2008 1 year ago
Yes, the tubes can still be found. There are several sellers on the internet. Just search for vacuum tubes or valves. I get mine from Walt Eby, email is Radiotinkerer@aol.com
EBAY is another resource but shop the prices. Some charge much higher than market and you don't need matched tubes for this receiver.
Hope this helps.
Greg, K6SRO
radiodad2008 1 year ago
are the tubes still available? i have 2 units awaiting restoration. thanks for the upload.
zjenson 1 year ago
Nice video but RCA's General David Sarnoff was a predatory man who drove Edwin Howard Armstrong to the breaking point and financial ruin by stealing his FM patents, using legal wrangling in courts to screw Armstrong over. I am no fan of Sarnoff.... I do like some early RCA radios, but as a corporation in the day, they were the personification of corporate hubris. Where is RCA today? The only new radios today are made in China.
gmcjetpilot 1 year ago
This video is about a receiver not about a man, please, let's keep company politics out of this. I do this because I love old tube communications receivers. I know what you mean, and I feel bad for what happened to Armstrong. He was truly a much bigger giant of than Sarnoff. Whatever the case, this series of receivers were designed by some truly outstanding radio hardware engineers.
radiodad2008 1 year ago
@radiodad2008
I agree with you, RCA's greatness comes from the engineering and agree, that is an amazing radio. I just finished a RCA 8R71 AM/FM consumer radio circa 1948? Nice radio.
gmcjetpilot 1 year ago
@gmcjetpilot This is true. I like this beautiful radio too.... I'd like better to see what it can do on the upper-end of it's tuning range, but
I know It's relatives played a big role in winning WW-II. "The Sarnoff" though is only deserving of our contempt; by all accounts, a truly dreadful humanoid!
Destry7 2 weeks ago