Today I saw a Hammarlund HQ-180 (not the "A" model) for $450. This seems
to me to be a bit on the high side of reasonable and I wanted to see what
you all think.

It looks like it's in better than average cosmetic condition, though not
"mint" by any means (looks like a 50-year-old radio that was well taken
care of but is, after all, 50 years old). Inside is a bit dusty but I
didn't see any corrosion.

Unfortunately, where I saw it wasn't anyplace where I could plug it in,
hang a wire off the back, and check it out, but I am arranging with the
owner to be able to do that sometime in the next couple of weeks.

It has the clock (so, I guess that makes it the HQ-180C model).

It has the original owner's manual.

When I go to check it out, what are the main things I should check for,
other than the normal ability to receive across all bands?

If I can borrow a signal generator from somebody and take it with me, what
level of sensitivity should I expect?

What are some of the options for that model of receiver that I should look
for that might make it worth more?

What do you all think of the $450 price, if everything works?

You can check past prices on Ebay by going to completed sales area.
(You do have to register for Ebay to go to that portion) There you
will see what people are actually willing to pay for this and nearly
every other receiver. This is, of course, the true measure of what
something is worth...the price people are willing to pay.

It does seem a bit high though. I'd say maybe $350 for a decent HQ-180
in working order in clean condition.

W3JT Jon

On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 12:29:39 -0400, Rick wrote:


Today I saw a Hammarlund HQ-180 (not the "A" model) for $450. This seems
to me to be a bit on the high side of reasonable and I wanted to see what
you all think.

It looks like it's in better than average cosmetic condition, though not
"mint" by any means (looks like a 50-year-old radio that was well taken
care of but is, after all, 50 years old). Inside is a bit dusty but I
didn't see any corrosion.

Unfortunately, where I saw it wasn't anyplace where I could plug it in,
hang a wire off the back, and check it out, but I am arranging with the
owner to be able to do that sometime in the next couple of weeks.

It has the clock (so, I guess that makes it the HQ-180C model).

It has the original owner's manual.

When I go to check it out, what are the main things I should check for,
other than the normal ability to receive across all bands?

If I can borrow a signal generator from somebody and take it with me, what
level of sensitivity should I expect?

What are some of the options for that model of receiver that I should look
for that might make it worth more?

What do you all think of the $450 price, if everything works?

For reference/comparison purposes only.

The HQ-180 is much more radio than the HQ-145. I just finished the repair [minor
2 resistor replacement and electrolytic reforming], replacement of three tubes,
realignment and recalibration of a HQ-145 where the cabinet was in 9.5+
condition and the interior was hard dust [still needs a little careful brushing
of some surfaces].

The AVC/AGC circuit is a hybrid and is set ONLY for AM. The design of the S
meter circuit is disabled by design on CW/SSB. The calibration/realignment
produced the same response at S7, S9 and S9+20 in the AM mode as my ICOM 746
when calibrated against a signal generator [in a transfer mode calibration -
switching between both radios in one common setup]. The 746 does have better
MDS. My signal generator does not produce reliable outputs below ~S5.

For $$$ comparison I paid $227 for the HQ-145 on Ebay two weeks ago.

The HQ-180 does sound a bit high at $450. But, if it is in GREAT condition and
operable as it stands ... maybe??

/s/ DD, W1MCE

Rick wrote:
Today I saw a Hammarlund HQ-180 (not the "A" model) for $450. This seems
to me to be a bit on the high side of reasonable and I wanted to see what
you all think.

It looks like it's in better than average cosmetic condition, though not
"mint" by any means (looks like a 50-year-old radio that was well taken
care of but is, after all, 50 years old). Inside is a bit dusty but I
didn't see any corrosion.

Unfortunately, where I saw it wasn't anyplace where I could plug it in,
hang a wire off the back, and check it out, but I am arranging with the
owner to be able to do that sometime in the next couple of weeks.

It has the clock (so, I guess that makes it the HQ-180C model).

It has the original owner's manual.

When I go to check it out, what are the main things I should check for,
other than the normal ability to receive across all bands?

If I can borrow a signal generator from somebody and take it with me, what
level of sensitivity should I expect?

What are some of the options for that model of receiver that I should look
for that might make it worth more?

What do you all think of the $450 price, if everything works?

Looking at several "points of interest", it looks like the price of $450
is just about at the top of the heap for any version of the HQ-180 and
maybe out the top for a straight 180. Beings that condition condition
condition (like real estate location.......) IF it would qualify as
virtually like-new, you might want to seriously consider it. The
HQ-180A uses solid-state rectifiers vs. a 5U4 and has an extra filament
transformer to keep the LO and first mixer on and warmed up. This is
supposed to help stability, at turn-on. Beyond that, there's not a whole
lot of difference, the top opens up and as I recall, the 180A has a coax
connector already mounted. Just had a quick look at mine.... almost
forgot, the BFO on the 180A has a USB and LSB position so you don't have
to adjust the BFO freq. when you change sidebands. It also has an octal
accessory socket on the rear panel and has a 500 ohm line audio output
as well as 8 ohms for the speaker. If the receiver includes the S-200
(big) speaker, it a better deal, too. That's all folks..........
de Jeep/K3HVG

I'd say thats way too high. My $.02 anyway.
Don't be embarrased to ask to see under the chassis.
I've seen a number of rigs that looked super nice
on the outside/top of the chassis that were a horror
underneath.

Check all bands and look for intermittent switches.
Sometimes all thats needed is a good cleaning.
Other times the wafers can be cracked, or just
plain worn out.

Lots of these around. If you see anything that looks
funny, be patient and find the right one for you.

Steve

On Sun, 18 Mar 2007, Steve wrote:

I'd say thats way too high. My $.02 anyway.
Don't be embarrased to ask to see under the chassis.
I've seen a number of rigs that looked super nice
on the outside/top of the chassis that were a horror
underneath.

Here is another item to look for: the old style first "printed circuits".
What they did was mold a network of resistors and capacitors into a molded
"chip" and it hangs there, suspended in mid-air, and they don't make those
any more. I had an HQ-170 that had one of those and you could not find out
what was in that network because the manual just showed it as a box with
leads coming out. If it goes bad, then you would have to guess what was in
it. Examine the manual to see if there is a "black box" square in the
schematic that does not tell you what is inside. So, if it craps out, you
might be up the creek.

Check all bands and look for intermittent switches.

And, scratchy-noisy pots, too!

Sometimes all thats needed is a good cleaning.
Other times the wafers can be cracked, or just
plain worn out.

Lots of these around. If you see anything that looks
funny, be patient and find the right one for you.

Steve

Straydog wrote:

SNIPPED


Here is another item to look for: the old style first "printed
circuits". What they did was mold a network of resistors and capacitors
into a molded "chip" and it hangs there, suspended in mid-air, and they
don't make those any more. I had an HQ-170 that had one of those and you
could not find out what was in that network because the manual just
showed it as a box with leads coming out. If it goes bad, then you would
have to guess what was in it. Examine the manual to see if there is a
"black box" square in the schematic that does not tell you what is
inside. So, if it craps out, you might be up the creek.


SNIPPED

The HQ-145 I just finished refurbishing has two of those circuits in it. One is
the AVC/AGC network; the other is interstage coupling for the audio output.

The schematics for both are shown within the field of the basic receiver schematic.

The schematic for the HQ-180 at the BAMA site shows the parameters inside the
hybrid.

/s/ DD, W1MCE

The self contained circuits containing resistors and capacitors were often
used in the audio chain of receivers. Many schematics show the contents of
the integrated circuit at the side of the schematic - but if not, it is easy
to go to any tube design handbook and reverse engineer the components. As I
recall, all of the RCA tube handbooks contain the elementary design data
needed to determine how the chip should have been constructed.

Certainly not rocket science.

Colin K7FM

On Sun, 18 Mar 2007, Rick wrote:


Today I saw a Hammarlund HQ-180 (not the "A" model) for $450. This seems
to me to be a bit on the high side of reasonable and I wanted to see what
you all think.

Yep, its definitely on the high side. Might be OK for eBay where the
shills bid against you to artificially raise the prices (now you know
another reason for identity theft) and people are so nuts about something
that they will pay out double or triple a decent hamfest price for
something in their dreams.

It looks like it's in better than average cosmetic condition, though not
"mint" by any means (looks like a 50-year-old radio that was well taken
care of but is, after all, 50 years old). Inside is a bit dusty but I
didn't see any corrosion.

Unfortunately, where I saw it wasn't anyplace where I could plug it in,
hang a wire off the back, and check it out, but I am arranging with the
owner to be able to do that sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Even if it works up to snuff (S-meter, sensitivity, etc., all work), I'd
still be looking at $200-250 tops, as my offering price. Be willing to
walk away, or at least if he says no, then tell him you'll think about it.

It has the clock (so, I guess that makes it the HQ-180C model).

It has the original owner's manual.

When I go to check it out, what are the main things I should check for,
other than the normal ability to receive across all bands?

Ask to take a screwdriver and take the chassis out of the cabinet and look
underneath. Rust, dust, cobwebs, smoke deposits, cracks in anything.

If I can borrow a signal generator from somebody and take it with me, what
level of sensitivity should I expect?

Hook some 10-20 feet of wire, and maybe a small portable antenna tuner and
see what it sounds like listening to anything across the bands. On the top
band (about 12-30 mHz) you might not hear much because not much is there
except at the low end.

What are some of the options for that model of receiver that I should look
for that might make it worth more?

Matching Speaker? Maybe some other guys will have some ideas.

What do you all think of the $450 price, if everything works?


Fine for ripoff eBay price, but still high even if in mint condition. If
you are too far from hamfests and can't wait, then its your price or talk
the guy down. I've seen really really outrageous prices (surely bid up by
shills) on eBay.

I agree it's high. I sold a very nice HQ-180AC for around $200 at a swap
meet a couple of years ago. Of course, swap meets are full of chronic
cheapskates :-)

That receiver is new enough that it doesn't use a bunch of old paper
capacitors, so there is not much to check apart from what has already been
mentioned.

I enjoyed my 180, although the audio quality is nothing to write home about.
Receivers with push-pull audio are more to my taste.

If it has a matching Hammarlund speaker, that adds to the value. Those may
sell for $50 to as much as $100 if the right person wants one. They are much
more scarce than the radios themselves, since some purchasers used a
different speaker or headphones. I regret selling my speaker for as little
as I did.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html