QRP Club
QRP Station => Transceivers => Topic started by: PA1FJ on January 13, 2015, 20:36:29 UTC
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Does anyone have experience with the modifications of the Heathkit HW-7.
Specially the Better ears for HW-7.
72 Fred PA1FJ
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I had an HW-7 once and it was the worst receiver I have ever heard. Looked at some of the mods but looked like more trouble than it was worth so I sold it. Have had 2 HW-8's and they are a great little rig but still not up to todays standards. My little elcheapo MFJ 40 meter Cub will work circles around either of the Heathkit rigs ! Do yourself a favor and save the HW-7 as a collector only, and get something better to put on the air that you can enjoy !
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The HW-7 is for me more a hobby project than a Transceiver where I join make QSO's, since I have better sets for such as the FT-817.
72 Fred PA1FJ
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It would definitely make a good hobby project ! Lots of room for improvement, but from what I've read, its basically a major rebuild to make it useable. I'm sure if you do some google searching, you would find lots of info ! Good luck my friend.
73,
KC8AON
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HW-7 modified SBL-1 Mixer, 40673 as LO buffer.
Works great better than original, and that for 25 Euro!!
Really QRP!
72 Fred PA1FJ
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Anything would be better than original on an HW-7 - the one I had was horrible on receive!
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Anything would be better than original on an HW-7 - the one I had was horrible on receive !
It's actually no worse than any other DC receiver... The sensitivity is just fine. It's the selectivity that's a problem, as it's very wide. The easiest (and least invasive) mod is to add an outboard audio filter between the rig and your headphones. Mine has 6 steps that go from 2,500 Hz down to about 100 Hz. I usually run it around 400Hz, which is plenty narrow for all but the most crowded band conditions. The Four State QRP Group sells a kit for about $20. It has a 50dB notch at 200Hz. There are other kits that range from about the same up to just under $100. Well worth the money.
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I think the HW-7 has gotten a bad rap. Mine works fine with a few simple mods and an outboard audio filter. Rebuilding the whole receiver section is NOT necessary! Here's mine with a DSP unit, but the Four State SCAF filter does just as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpPGC2XQT4A (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpPGC2XQT4A)
A description of the mods can be found here: http://radiowb3t.homestead.com/heathkit.html (http://radiowb3t.homestead.com/heathkit.html)
Good luck!
Bob, WB3T
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Hello
I ask you a simple question regarding the bias of the diode. Is it in passing or reverse (biased) mode. If you could give me a little more information.
Best Regards
F5MPN Stéphane
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I love the hw-7 and hw-8
so if anyone here has one to get rid of let me know. I have several articles on mods for both these rigs
73
David
ac9xh
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I have an HW-8 for sale. It's in excellent condition...9.5/10. Worked as it should last year but has not been used since. I seem to have misplaced the DC cord. Why is your call sign not showing up on QRZ lookup???
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my HW- 7 works fine and my HW-8 all so, have 2 HW-8`s one needs a front panel cabinet like to buy one.