posted on October 7, 2000 08:35:17 PM new
Went to an auction today and got a couple of Hallicrafters short wave radio receivers. One is in near mint cosmetic condition and is an SX-122 (circa 1966), The other is a Super Skyrider (circa 1950) in OK looking condition.
I want to hook up a speaker and antenna wire to try them out but...does the speaker have to have a transformer to work (or is a speaker transformer inside the unit?)? Or can I simply wire a speaker to the terminals on the back to check the units? Will any old insulated wire work for an antenna?
I think these are way cool, but have no experience with them, that's why all the questions. I have no manuals for them.
posted on October 7, 2000 08:57:40 PM new
Loosecannon,
You should be able to hook a speaker directly to the terminals. I can't recall Hallicrafters ever needing a line transformer. It should be a standard 8 ohm connection so just about any old speaker you have laying around will work. As for the antenna, you can get by with insulated wire, the longer and higher the better. Be sure you connect a ground wire from the chassis to a cold water pipe or a good (copper rod) earth ground before you try stringing the antenna. This is especially true with the Skyrider if the antenna will be going outside where someone might be able to touch it. We're talking some high voltages with those vacuum tubes and if there is a component breakdown and that voltage winds up on the chassis, you want it going to ground instead of through your body. It could ruin your whole day. BTW, congrats on your find. If there is a signal on the shortwave bands anywhere in the world, you'll be able to hear it with either one of those rigs. If any of the tubes are bad, bring up the thread you, me and Thermionic were posting to a few weeks ago when HCQ found those tubes. There was a lot of good info in there.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on October 7, 2000 08:59:55 PM new
Antenna: For basic receiving almost any wire for an antenna will work. You may be able to pick up a few strong stations with just 10 feet or so of wire but likely will do much better with 50 or 100 feet run out the window to a tree or mast. Time of day and frequency can also make a difference. Radio Shack used to publish an inexpensive book, "Short-wave Listener's Guide" that you may find helpful in locating international broadcasts. For Ham radio try the 40 meter band (7150-7300 khz)during the day and 80 meters (3750-4000khz) at night. If they sound like they are talking under water switch to sideband if your radio has that feature.
Speaker: Likely almost any inexpensive speaker or headphones will work. What you use on your computer would be worth a try.
posted on October 7, 2000 09:00:49 PM new
Hey cool, Sparkz. Thanks a lot!
And spadevlj too!
I'm very excited about the SX-122. I found out it was top of the line in those days. Nice looking unit--that I know absolutely nothing about. Gotta start somewhere though, right?
Thanks again.
[ edited by loosecannon on Oct 7, 2000 09:04 PM ]
