On Jul 7, 12:45?am, "Beech Creek" wrote:
I am interested in opinions as to the best tube-type transceiver ever
produced and why?

I presume you mean "amateur HF band transceiver", and whether you
allow matched-pair receiver/transmitter setups that allow transceiving
on one or both of the VFOs.

I think it all depends on how you define "best", and whether you allow
mostly-SS hybrids like the TS-520S to be considered "tube".

For example, if the definition is best-performing-on-SSB one-box
transceiver, the KWM-2A is at the top. Yes it's mediocre on CW, has no
RIT and cost the earth in its time, but for performance on SSB it was
tops in its era.

If you want RIT and good CW performance in one box, the Drake TR-4cw
(the latest version) is the one to have.

OTOH, if the definition is most-performance-for-your-money, it's a
close tie between the Heath SB-101 and HW-101. I do agree about the
mechanicals but consider what they cost in their time, compared to
other rigs.

If you allow matched-pair tx/rx, the Collins S-line (meatball 75S-3C/
32S-3) are at the top, followed closely by the Drake 4C twins.

---

Although I haven't tried it, there is allegedly a cure for the cheap
Heath mechanicals in the HW-100/101 and SB series.

What you do is to look around for a junker Tempo One, which is
actually a Yaesu FT-200. All you need from it is the VFO assembly,
which covers the same range as the Heath LMO - 5 to 5.5 MHz.

Then you remove the Heath LMO/VFO and replace it with the Tempo unit.
Some mods will be needed to get supply voltages and make up for the
loss of the tube in the Heath LMO/VFO, but those aren't hard to do.
The mechanical mods are left as an exercise for the reader - if it
were me, I'd make a new front panel while I was at it. As a bonus, the
Tempo VFO unit has RIT.

The Tempo VFO is solid-state, but more important, has a sweet all-
antibacklash-gear drive and 1 kHz readout. (It's arguably the best
part of the rig).

--

Although it's not really a transceiver, but rather a receiver and
transmitter in one box with a common power supply, the Heath HW-16 has
to win the award for best-HF-amateur-tube-rig-designed-for-a-specific-
purpose. It was meant as a Novice rig for the privileges of its time,
and except for being anemic on 15 did that job very well and at a low
low price.

All IMHO

73 de Jim, N2EY