OT - Heath CW Twins
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Since there are CW and Heath enthusiasts in one place, I was curious
about a set of twins I picked up 4 or 5 years ago. You are welcome to reply off lists if it is not appropriate, as I do not wish to offend. I picked up a Heathkit HR1680, and HX1681, complete with all manuals and power supply / speaker. I have operated with them a bit. I picked up some matching Heathkit paddles, and manuals, though I haven't tried them out. I have only used the twins with a straight key. I like the setup, but for now, I do not have the time to devote to going back over it and checking it out. I was just curious about the opinions on these rigs from the folks that have experience with them. I have not gotten much out of them, power wise, but assumed they just needed some attention. The ham I got them from, was still using them, was retiring from the hobby, as he was up in age, and had to slow down to 35 wpm. That was killing me as I was struggling at about 10wpm at the time. I got the impression he was going to live with his daughter, but he did not say. It was fun learning how to operate a split system and it was with these rigs that I learned, what little I have learned, about zero beat. In one sense, I would like to keep these rigs for the day when I will have more time to pay attention to them, and go through and check them out. On the other hand, I have a bit of a situation here at home, and I may not really get a chance to do those sort of things, and it would be a shame for them to sit around when someone else could be enjoying them. I'm hoping that hearing about the rigs, what they were capable of, and how well they worked, will help me tip the balance which way I want to go with them. I really do like how they look on the bench, especially powered up with all the red lighting. They are in my shack pic on QRZ, http://www.qrz.com/k4dgw , though they were not powered at the time. They do not sell for that much, as most folks are not interested in CW only rigs, so they would not do much to help me towards a K3. Did I mention they looked cool? ;^) I sold my other rigs, TS-570, and IC-718, to pay for the K2 and all the goodies. The 706 that is in the picture was put in the vehicle with a 20m hamstick, so I can listen to CW while I am driving. Thanks. -- David Wilburn [hidden email] K4DGW K2 #5982 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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The eham reviews are mixed.
I don't think they were great rigs, but likely a lot of fun. I did a Google search, usually anything heathkit brings up loads of mods and such, but nothing on these rigs... Old stuff is fun to play with, but often not real fun to actually use, although the solid state stuff (no tune?) might be better. I have really been spoiled by modern transceivers, even the old KWM2-a was a chore to hop around the band with. They might be more fun to play with then any amount of money you might get for them. I had a few HW101's, extra clean they go for about $100.00 with power supply, ebay sometimes a bit more... Surely the old stuff is more fun to play with then its worth to sell... Brett N2DTS _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by dave.wilburn
David:
In 1977 (Good Heavens! That's 30 years ago.) I built a HR-1680 and used it for several years. As a strictly CW guy, and preferring separate units, the 1680/81 combination was just what I was looking for. The HR-1680 was not a high performance receiver compared to modern rigs, but I worked an awful lot of DX with it. The real beauty of the HR-1680 was that Heath had a scheme that let you use the VFO as a signal generator and the S-meter as a tuning indicator, and you could align the receiver with no other instruments except a VOM. It was easy for a relatively inexperienced person to build it and get it running correctly. I used a Viking Ranger as a transmitter. As far as I know, Heath never actually sold the HX-1681 at retail. After I built the 1680, I really wanted the companion transmitter, but it never showed up in the Heath catalog. In 1978, I saw a finished HX-1681 on display at a Heath retail store in the Boston suburbs, and asked when it would be for sale. The Heath people told me they were having trouble getting it type accepted by the FCC. Evidently they never did. Thus, I'm not sure how you managed to acquire a 1681. You must have gotten one of the old display units. Given that Heath was having trouble meeting FCC requirements I'd be concerned about the spectral purity of the HX-1681. I would look at the output on a spectrum analyzer before I put the thing on the air. Anyway, the pair would be fun and simple to use, but the HR-1680/HX-1681 is no match for the K2. 73, Steve Kercel AA4AK At 08:19 PM 10/5/2007, David Wilburn wrote: >Since there are CW and Heath enthusiasts in one place, I was curious >about a set of twins I picked up 4 or 5 years ago. You are welcome >to reply off lists if it is not appropriate, as I do not wish to offend. > >I picked up a Heathkit HR1680, and HX1681, complete with all manuals >and power supply / speaker. I have operated with them a bit. I >picked up some matching Heathkit paddles, and manuals, though I >haven't tried them out. I have only used the twins with a straight key. > >I like the setup, but for now, I do not have the time to devote to >going back over it and checking it out. I was just curious about >the opinions on these rigs from the folks that have experience with >them. I have not gotten much out of them, power wise, but assumed >they just needed some attention. > >The ham I got them from, was still using them, was retiring from the >hobby, as he was up in age, and had to slow down to 35 wpm. That >was killing me as I was struggling at about 10wpm at the time. I >got the impression he was going to live with his daughter, but he did not say. > >It was fun learning how to operate a split system and it was with >these rigs that I learned, what little I have learned, about zero >beat. In one sense, I would like to keep these rigs for the day >when I will have more time to pay attention to them, and go through >and check them out. On the other hand, I have a bit of a situation >here at home, and I may not really get a chance to do those sort of >things, and it would be a shame for them to sit around when someone >else could be enjoying them. > >I'm hoping that hearing about the rigs, what they were capable of, >and how well they worked, will help me tip the balance which way I >want to go with them. I really do like how they look on the bench, >especially powered up with all the red lighting. They are in my >shack pic on QRZ, http://www.qrz.com/k4dgw , though they were not >powered at the time. They do not sell for that much, as most folks >are not interested in CW only rigs, so they would not do much to >help me towards a K3. Did I mention they looked cool? ;^) I sold my >other rigs, TS-570, and IC-718, to pay for the K2 and all the >goodies. The 706 that is in the picture was put in the vehicle with >a 20m hamstick, so I can listen to CW while I am driving. Thanks. >-- > >David Wilburn >[hidden email] >K4DGW >K2 #5982 > >_______________________________________________ >Elecraft mailing list >Post to: [hidden email] >You must be a subscriber to post to the list. >Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): >http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > >Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm >Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by dave.wilburn
Hello David,
Chuck Penson's excellent book, HEATHKIT: A GUIDE TO THE AMATEUR RADIO PRODUCTS, 2nd Ed., lists both the HR-1680 and the HX-1681. According to Chuck, the HR-1680 was released in the Fall of 1967, but the HX-1681, which initially was advertised as "coming soon," was plagued with problems and not released until the summer of 1979. Continuing Chuck's comments, early HX-1681s had key-click problems, and Heath provided a free modification to owners to remedy this. This modification was included in later-production HX-1681s. A modification to solve the key- click appeared in the March, 1981, QST. Eventually the HX-1681 was pulled from production a year earlier than the HR-1680. Chuck further says that, the both the HR-1680 and the HX-1681 use plug-in circuit cards, and the card-edge connectors are subject to oxidation over time. These connector contacts may need periodic cleaning. Overall, Chuck Penson has kinder things to say about the HR-1680 than he does about the HX-1681. I hope this is helpful 73, John, no8v _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by dave.wilburn
In a message dated 10/6/07 12:07:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [hidden email]
writes: > According to > Chuck, the HR-1680 was released in the Fall of 1967, I think he meant "fall of 1976". The first advertisement for the HR-1680 that I could find was QST for October, 1976. The ARRL Product Review came out in January 1977. 1967 was the year of the HW-100 and soon after the HW-16. Much too early for the all-solid-state HR-1680. The Product Review says the VFO stability deserves special note, as it was measured as under 75 Hz from cold start to stabilization, and less than 20 Hz per hour after that. Using the SSB-bandwidth filter (CW selectivity is provided by an active audio filter), the rx noise floor was measured as -137 dBm, BDR of 108 dB, and IMD two-tone IMD as 82 dB. The review notes some of the corners that were cut to keep the price down ($200 range). The RF circuits are diode switched, the IF xtal lattice filter is only 4 poles and made of discrete components rather than packaged, and the builder assembles the VFO. Only the first 1 MHz of 10 meters is covered, and there is no provision for more band xtals nor other IF filters. Since the receiver predates WARC-79 by several years, there's no 30, 17 or 12 meter coverage. The HR-1680 seems to me to have been meant as a replacement for the HR-10, but with much better performance and features. But at over $200 for the kit, I don't recall it being a big seller. If you wanted a hamband receiver, a used Drake 2B could be had for about that price or less, and offered a lot more features. The HW-101 transceiver cost only about $100 more than the HR-1680, and needed a power supply, but the '101 was a full-scale 100-watt class CW/SSB transceiver, covered all of 10 meters, and could be set up with the optional CW IF filter. 73 de Jim, N2EY ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by dave.wilburn
Jim, N2EY, is correct; the 1967 is a typo on my part. Chuck Penson states that
the HR-1680 was released in the Fall of 1976. ---- Original message ---- Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2007 15:54:32 EDT From: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT - Heath CW Twins To: [hidden email], [hidden email], [hidden email] In a message dated 10/6/07 12:07:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [hidden email] writes: >According to Chuck, the HR-1680 was released in the Fall of 1967, I think he meant "fall of 1976". <----snip----> 73, John, no8v _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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