1/26/07: Well I got the HQ-170 in via UPS last night. Unpacked the box
and put it on the bench. Noticed several things bouncing around inside.
Removed the 3 case screws from the rear and pulled off the cover. What
was rattling around was about 3 tube shields. I replaced these and
straightened several tubes. Checked the fuse and it looks good. Made
several checks to make sure there was no shorts, all checked good.
Don't see any burned components.
I do see a couple interesting items:
1. The first IF transformer, T1 has had several things soldered to it.
Looks like it may have been replaced some time in the past.
2. The can transformer at the rear of the chassis near V13 has been
removed and it looks like an open type adjustable transformer has been
installed in its place. There is a coax cable connected to this
transformer that is connected to the vernier tuning cap.
Connected a speaker and antenna. Plugged it in and turned it on. Got
one dial lamp burning and all the tubes look to be lighting up. After a
short warmup period, I can hear some signals on 40 meters....very nice,
the SSB and AM signals sound good. Trying the other bands...I can hear
some...only a couple signals on 75 meters and nothing on 160. I can
hear static on 20 meters and the other higher frequency bands, I can
hear static but no signals. I can hear the calibrator on these bands.
Looking at the overall physical condition of the receiver it has all
the knobs, including the clock knobs. The plastic lens on the clock is
cracked. The cabinet has a few paint abrasions, a couple dents. Needs
cleaning inside and out.
Looks like I have a good project here. Hope to get started on it this
weekend. Appreciate all the comments and hints on the restoration. If
you see something I need to look for from my description please pass it
on to me.
Thanks and best 73 de Randy, wb5kcm


On Jan 25, 5:25 pm, "wb5kcm" wrote:
Thanks Straydog and others...lots of very good advice. Hopefully the
HQ-170 will arrive soon but I expect it early next week. I have printed
out the manual and some of the other tech notes. Making a book with all
this info. I enjoy listening to the Amers on 75 and 160 and hope to
have my own vintage station setup eventually. This HQ-170 is my first
item. After I get the HQ-170 going well, I will start looking for a
transmitter. Thanks again and 73 de Randy, WB5KCM Fort Worth, Texas

On Jan 25, 5:07 pm, Straydog wrote:



On Tue, 23 Jan 2007, wb5kcm wrote:
Hello to the group, I am setting up a vintage station and just bought
an unknown/untested HQ-170 on eBay. Can anyone tell me what to check
for or what to expect when this jewel arrives? Let me know what you
think..good or bad..
Thanks, Randy, WB5KCMHere would be my things to check, and priority:

1. Does it turn on?
2. Can you hear stations with it?
3. Is the sensitivity up to where it should be, or low (weak tube(s)?)?
4. What is the calibration like on all bands?
5. Functionality of other stuff (AVC speed, slot filter, etc.)
6. Scratchiness/dirt in bandswitch, and pots.

I bought a HQ-170 at a hamfest several years ago and it wasn't in the best
or worst of conditions. I heard stations but the S-meter needle never went
up all that high. I actually used the receiver for many contacts. Yes,
there is warm-up drift (maybe 10 kc on 75 meters). Also, I noticed that
the receiver sensitivity actually got a little better after an hour's
warmup. Also, the crystal calibrator never worked cold (also, worked fine
after an hour warmup). Selectivity was better than on my Icom 707 and you
could move the BFO freq to adjust the position of the steep sides of the
IF passband to beat some close signals. However, my slot filter does not
work. My 170 is 160 through 6 meters; I think maybe earlier ones were only
160 through 10 meters.

Overall, its not too bad. And, when I get done with some other higher
priority work, I'm going to go through the tubes and check whether they
are weak or OK.

Yes, I'm going towards "retro" myself. Ultimate goal is to build (with
drill and soldering iron) a complete, total, homebrew tube station (AM and
SSB) mainly for 75 and 160). I already have most of a total homebrew
transmitter finished (including pair of 813s in GG). You can see some of
this at: http://www.panix.com/~asd

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