shacktour

Shack Tour - Specialty Receiver Page

I am often asked to show various components of my shack. Enjoy this tour of the specialty receivers.

Here is the R390A I use with 20V-2 AM Rig. It is a 1967 EAC unit which I restored and is extremely sensitive. Tested out at .07uv for 10db S/N + N using the 4kc filter and standard AM detection. This configuration also uses a Delta Electronics, ISB-1 SSB/Sync AM adaptor located beneath the receiver. Both are mounted in a table-top rack.

This is always a conversation piece. Its a Harris RF-590. Used by various branches of the US military, State Department and other monitoring agencies, the RF-590 is still in regular service.

Above it is an R1051H, the receiver which the RF-590 replaced.

Offering what is arguably the best audio from an unmodified receiver, the Hammarlund SP-600JX is popular in the AM and SWBC DX communities. This one has been completely restored having all 57 of the old, "black beauty" capacitors replaced. These are the single most common failure cause in an
SP-600.

While its not obvious from the picture, this receiver is mounted in an original
SP-600 cabinet.

his

Going back a few more years, here is another SP-600. This version is a JX-1and again, its fully restored, caps an all.

While it is in a cabinet, this one is not in a "genuine SP-600 Cabinet." Note the side handles.

A good performer for SSB and one often passed is the Stewart-Warner R1051. This one is an "H" variant. The R1051B's and even a few "G" models are much more common.

A Tube/Solid State hybrid, the R1051 is extremely stable and its tube front end makes in nearly immune to overload. This is not a band cruiser however. Setting the frequency requires the user to dial in the frequency using the 5 large front panel knobs. Close inspection shows this one is set to 5.000 Mhz. Once that is done, motors drive the tuning mechanism setting up the receiver for the frequency selected.

I call the Drake R8B "the best bang for the buck on the street." Its superb DX performer which also offers the casual listener audio that is second to none.

The Drake R8 series receivers are the top sellers on the new market. Among the improvements to the R8B is a synchronous AM detector that is second to none.

The Watkins-Johnson HF1000 is considered by many to be the premier SWBC DX receiver. Its DSP based IF system offers the user a total of 58 IF bandwidths. The HF 1000 receives in AM, AM-Sync, LSB, USB, ISB, CW and FM.

This one is an improved "A" variant featuring a double speed board as well as many other new features.

Long a favorite of Hams and SWL's alike, the Collins 51J-4 is an excellent receiver. Its mechanical filters offer 6, 3 and 1kc bandwidths. 4 additional crystal filters as well as a Crystal Phasing control provide extra IF bandwidth flexibility.

Mine is pictured with a 270G-3 Collins speaker.

A short time addition was a Rockwell-Collins HF-2050. The first production
DSP receiver made, this one in was in prime condition and now in a new home.

The audio recovery from the HF-2050 is second to none, making it a star performer.

The 51S-1 is a fun receiver to use when doing a little "easy" SWBC listening or checking out an Amateur net.

Despite its low serial number of 238, this receiver saw kind service and is in excellent condition. It is pictured with a 312B-3 speaker at the left.

A recent addition to the market from our friends at AOR in the UK, the 7030 is an excellent general coverage receiver. It offers portability and excellent audio detail.

This is an upgraded "PLUS" version.

This is it. My first "keeper" R390A. A 1967 EAC (Hammarlund) model, its still largely unrestored. Since this one was nearly new in the box when I got it, full restoration is not exactly a pressing issue.

Bringing up the end is this beautiful Hammarlund HQ-180AC and SP-200 speaker. Fully restored and operational, the '180A is a fun afternoon band cruisier or suprising enough, a premier Medium Wave DX receiver.

Revision: 04 June 2, 2007