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Thoughts on the Hallicrafters S-120
Actually, I don't have any...but I'm looking for some. I saw one today at a
flea market for $20. It appeared to my casual glance to be in pretty good shape. The seller told me that the only problem with it was the power cord; it was missing when he acquired the radio, and so the one on it now is a half-assed temporary sort of fix. I should have bought it -- but not being a collector, having a suspicious nature, and knowing pretty much zero about radio tubes and the devices they sit in all added up to me passing on it and spending my money elsewhere. Of course, now I expect all sorts of verbal abuse and I probably deserve it. Anyway, I'd like to hear what the veterans in these parts think of that radio as far as performance, etc. goes. Is it worth having, as a casual SW listener? I imagine that a collector of boat anchors (albeit small ones) might want it, but would I? I've got a modern portable, a Grundig S350 that I never tote Would the S-120 have done things that the Grundig won't? Besides getting me into the illustrious ranks of the non-toters, that is. Thanks in advance. |
On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 03:37:46 GMT, "Honus"
wrote: Actually, I don't have any...but I'm looking for some. I saw one today at a flea market for $20. It appeared to my casual glance to be in pretty good shape. The seller told me that the only problem with it was the power cord; it was missing when he acquired the radio, and so the one on it now is a half-assed temporary sort of fix. I should have bought it -- but not being a collector, having a suspicious nature, and knowing pretty much zero about radio tubes and the devices they sit in all added up to me passing on it and spending my money elsewhere. Of course, now I expect all sorts of verbal abuse and I probably deserve it. Anyway, I'd like to hear what the veterans in these parts think of that radio as far as performance, etc. goes. Is it worth having, as a casual SW listener? I imagine that a collector of boat anchors (albeit small ones) might want it, but would I? I've got a modern portable, a Grundig S350 that I never tote Would the S-120 have done things that the Grundig won't? Besides getting me into the illustrious ranks of the non-toters, that is. Thanks in advance. POS...entry level radio. Most boatanchor collectors don't want them. They really aren't boatanchors anyway. It's a single conversion hybrid. Might have been worth 20 bucks to rob it for parts but I doubt it. You should have offered 5. |
"Bierbarrel" wrote in message POS...entry level radio. Most boatanchor collectors don't want them. They really aren't boatanchors anyway. It's a single conversion hybrid. Might have been worth 20 bucks to rob it for parts but I doubt it. You should have offered 5. Gee Tracy. There not that bad of a radio :) $20-40 in good shape is very good. Go for it Honus. -- 73 and good DX. B.H. Brian's Radio Universe http://webpages.charter.net/brianhill/500.htm |
On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 03:37:46 GMT, "Honus"
wrote: Actually, I don't have any...but I'm looking for some. I saw one today at a flea market for $20. It appeared to my casual glance to be in pretty good shape. The seller told me that the only problem with it was the power cord; it was missing when he acquired the radio, and so the one on it now is a half-assed temporary sort of fix. I should have bought it -- but not being a collector, having a suspicious nature, and knowing pretty much zero about radio tubes and the devices they sit in all added up to me passing on it and spending my money elsewhere. Of course, now I expect all sorts of verbal abuse and I probably deserve it. Anyway, I'd like to hear what the veterans in these parts think of that radio as far as performance, etc. goes. Is it worth having, as a casual SW listener? I imagine that a collector of boat anchors (albeit small ones) might want it, but would I? I've got a modern portable, a Grundig S350 that I never tote Would the S-120 have done things that the Grundig won't? Besides getting me into the illustrious ranks of the non-toters, that is. Thanks in advance. http://www.dxing.com/rx/s119.htm |
On Sat, 13 Aug 2005 23:10:29 -0500, "Brian Hill"
wrote: "Bierbarrel" wrote in message POS...entry level radio. Most boatanchor collectors don't want them. They really aren't boatanchors anyway. It's a single conversion hybrid. Might have been worth 20 bucks to rob it for parts but I doubt it. You should have offered 5. Gee Tracy. There not that bad of a radio :) $20-40 in good shape is very good. Go for it Honus. You are probably right on the price range. I see quite a few on Ebay around 20 bucks but they aren't that great of a performer. I guess for 20 dollars what can you expect. |
I happenstance to own a table model Hallicrafters model S-38EB Radio.I
bought it at the Goodwill store that used to be on Palmyra Street in beautifull downtown Jackson,Mississippi.I paid $4.00 (that's four dollars) for the Radio.It is in like new (or almost like new) physical and cosmetic condition and it works great too.Before you even ask,it is NOT for sale or trade.It is sitting on top of a great big old antique trunk I own,in my dining room,next to my living room,next to the doorway between my Velocity Micro ProMagix tower computer www.velocitymicro.com (I don't buy that sissy greasy kidstuff computers) that is sitting on the end table (picture it) next to my end of doggys (she owns the couch) couch. www.devilfinder.com Hallicrafters S-38EB Radio cuhulin |
Apparentlingly,(accordingly to that devilfinder.com search thingy) my
Hallicraftes S-38EB Radio is "rare",it's a blonde.Gee,the gals will be happy to knowingly know that. cuhulin |
"Honus" wrote in message news:e0zLe.4788$1b5.2694@trnddc05... Actually, I don't have any...but I'm looking for some. [snip] I have a SW-500, which is the same radio as the S-120, in different colors. I'm not particularly fond of that radio. These radios are reputed to perform similiarly to the S-38s, but I like my S-38s better. My SW-500 is a bit more noisy and a bit less sensitive than my S-38s. The SW-500 has a little more tuning drag and backlash than the S-38s, although either tunes quite a bit better than nearly any of the inexpensive solid state radios. Like any radio, it's a good radio as long as you don't try to force it into doing something it doesn't do well. The selectivity is wide, and it can't split a powerhouse broadcaster from a DX catch 20 kHz away. However, it works just fine if you want to hear that powerhouse broadcaster. Listening to SSB is an excercise in frustration on these radios. It's possible to demodulate bits of SSB once in a while, but it's not worth the trouble. There's plenty of images, especially on the top two bands, which is typical of single conversion radios in which the antenna stage is connected right to the converter. Needless to say, single conversion radios with a tuned RF amp, such as the S-40, have far fewer images. On the plus side, the S-120 is a general coverage receiver, 540 kHz to 30 MHz, which tunes nicely, especially once you get used to the bandspread. The audio is OK. It's good for listening to local broadcasts, SW broadcasters beamed to your area, or some of the clear channel stations at night. But this radio is a lousy DX radio. It's no good for listening to hams. It doesn't have much sensitivity, selectivity or image rejection. The tuning is smooth enough, but the dial indications are imprecise. Frank Dresser |
"Frank Dresser" wrote in message ... "Honus" wrote in message news:e0zLe.4788$1b5.2694@trnddc05... Actually, I don't have any...but I'm looking for some. [snip] I have a SW-500, which is the same radio as the S-120, in different colors. I'm not particularly fond of that radio. These radios are reputed to perform similiarly to the S-38s, but I like my S-38s better. My SW-500 is a bit more noisy and a bit less sensitive than my S-38s. The SW-500 has a little more tuning drag and backlash than the S-38s, although either tunes quite a bit better than nearly any of the inexpensive solid state radios. Like any radio, it's a good radio as long as you don't try to force it into doing something it doesn't do well. The selectivity is wide, and it can't split a powerhouse broadcaster from a DX catch 20 kHz away. However, it works just fine if you want to hear that powerhouse broadcaster. Listening to SSB is an excercise in frustration on these radios. It's possible to demodulate bits of SSB once in a while, but it's not worth the trouble. There's plenty of images, especially on the top two bands, which is typical of single conversion radios in which the antenna stage is connected right to the converter. Needless to say, single conversion radios with a tuned RF amp, such as the S-40, have far fewer images. On the plus side, the S-120 is a general coverage receiver, 540 kHz to 30 MHz, which tunes nicely, especially once you get used to the bandspread. The audio is OK. It's good for listening to local broadcasts, SW broadcasters beamed to your area, or some of the clear channel stations at night. But this radio is a lousy DX radio. It's no good for listening to hams. It doesn't have much sensitivity, selectivity or image rejection. The tuning is smooth enough, but the dial indications are imprecise. Just what I was looking for. Thanks, Frank...and everyone else as well. |
"Bierbarrel" wrote in message ... On Sat, 13 Aug 2005 23:10:29 -0500, "Brian Hill" wrote: "Bierbarrel" wrote in message POS...entry level radio. Most boatanchor collectors don't want them. They really aren't boatanchors anyway. It's a single conversion hybrid. Might have been worth 20 bucks to rob it for parts but I doubt it. You should have offered 5. Gee Tracy. There not that bad of a radio :) $20-40 in good shape is very good. Go for it Honus. You are probably right on the price range. I see quite a few on Ebay around 20 bucks but they aren't that great of a performer. I guess for 20 dollars what can you expect. Yea there just a entry level radio but they do suprisingly sound good and a good radio for program listening. -- 73 and good DX. B.H. Brian's Radio Universe http://webpages.charter.net/brianhill/500.htm |
"Honus" wrote in message Just what I was looking for. Thanks, Frank...and everyone else as well. Good! Now lets get back to arguing about politics and other crap. :) LOL Just kiddin! B.H. |
Seeeee,at the big old Goodwill store that used to be on Palmyra Street
in beautifull downtown Jacksom (www.wapt.com Downtown Skycam,if that downtown Skycam is working?.I haven checked it in a month of Sundays) they used to bring out big cardboard boxes all day long (the thick cardboard boxes measure about four feet square and about five feet tall and us customers used to run like heck getting to those boxes of junk,it was lots of fun digging around in those big junk boxes,I miss them good old days,I used to get there when the store opened and stay there untill about three or four o'clock in the afternoon) of junk on pallets all day long and I have found many old radios in those junk boxes before.I found my Hallicrafters radio one day in one of those big junk boxes and many other old radios too.What was I suppose to do,just leave it sitting there? I paid four dollars for the radio.Maybe the radio can't compare to a new super duper Drake or Ten-Tec or whatever radio nowdays,but the price was right. cuhulin |
"Greg" wrote in message ... From: "Brian Hill" Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2005 08:00:33 -0500 Subject: Thoughts on the Hallicrafters S-120 "Honus" wrote in message Just what I was looking for. Thanks, Frank...and everyone else as well. Good! Now lets get back to arguing about politics and other crap. :) LOL Just kiddin! B.H. Your Momma! Hey, I'm just trying to keep the thread going. Greg Thank you. |
"-=jd=-" wrote in message 8... Twenty bucks for a functional tube set, how can you go wrong? As long as your expectations are realistic on what it should be able to do, it could be something fun to experiment with. Or, just use it for local BCB. If it blows up or quits, you're only out $20. That's what I was getting at. I don't have any expectations, since I don't know anything about them. ;) |
It would make a nice paperweight.
cuhulin |
wrote in message ... It would make a nice paperweight. Not as nice as your bleached skull. |
On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 05:32:14 UTC, "Frank Dresser"
wrote: "Honus" wrote in message news:e0zLe.4788$1b5.2694@trnddc05... Actually, I don't have any...but I'm looking for some. [snip] I have a SW-500, which is the same radio as the S-120, in different colors. I'm not particularly fond of that radio. These radios are reputed to perform similiarly to the S-38s, but I like my S-38s better. My SW-500 is a bit more noisy and a bit less sensitive than my S-38s. The SW-500 has a little more tuning drag and backlash than the S-38s, although either tunes quite a bit better than nearly any of the inexpensive solid state radios. Like any radio, it's a good radio as long as you don't try to force it into doing something it doesn't do well. The selectivity is wide, and it can't split a powerhouse broadcaster from a DX catch 20 kHz away. However, it works just fine if you want to hear that powerhouse broadcaster. Listening to SSB is an excercise in frustration on these radios. It's possible to demodulate bits of SSB once in a while, but it's not worth the trouble. There's plenty of images, especially on the top two bands, which is typical of single conversion radios in which the antenna stage is connected right to the converter. Needless to say, single conversion radios with a tuned RF amp, such as the S-40, have far fewer images. On the plus side, the S-120 is a general coverage receiver, 540 kHz to 30 MHz, which tunes nicely, especially once you get used to the bandspread. The audio is OK. It's good for listening to local broadcasts, SW broadcasters beamed to your area, or some of the clear channel stations at night. But this radio is a lousy DX radio. It's no good for listening to hams. It doesn't have much sensitivity, selectivity or image rejection. The tuning is smooth enough, but the dial indications are imprecise. That was my first radio that I received when I was in elementary school in the early '60's. The dial spread was WAY off and everything you said is correct. However, I would like to have one just for old time's sake! -- "What do you mean there's no movie?" |
I have one that I found left out for the trash. I got it for free. $20
is too much. As the others have said, it's a boatanchor. |
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Honus wrote:
"-=jd=-" wrote in message 8... Twenty bucks for a functional tube set, how can you go wrong? As long as your expectations are realistic on what it should be able to do, it could be something fun to experiment with. Or, just use it for local BCB. If it blows up or quits, you're only out $20. That's what I was getting at. I don't have any expectations, since I don't know anything about them. ;) S-120 is a decent, but not exemplary, entry level set. Functionally indentical to SW-500, it's a nice looking radio, with adequate sensitivity for the super power stations and local MW, and adequate selectivity to receive a television channel. It will pass a square wave. On the crowded bands at night, S-120 will give let you hear all the stations that are out there. Many of them at once. The good news is, if you get a station on one of the high bands all alone, the audio fidelity through a 4 inch speaker can actually be quite good. Things do tend to rattle, though, so you're going to want to keep the screws tight. IIRC, it's an AC/DC set, so make sure you're polarized correctly. Or your morning coffee won't be the only thing waking your happy ass up. There's always a low level hum on these sets. You'll learn to ignore it. It's not dominant. And after awhile hardly noticeable. All the caps will need to be replaced, if they haven't been. And this can actually make a quantum improvement in performance over the architect's specifications. If you're looking for a serious radio, this ain't it. If you're looking for a decent radio to decorate a shelf and occasionally listen to a ball game (before it all moves to subscription services) this is a nice place to start. I've had two of them. And have enjoyed them both. |
David wrote:
On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 14:25:10 -0500, Count wrote: I think Hallicrafters wants you to park the Bandspread on 100 to get the Main calibrated correctly. True of nearly all the Hallicrafters products. |
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