As a kid, what was your most "drooled over" communications receiver? (Include photo)
- Thread starter Omega-TI
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AB5ID
Member
Always watched a transceiver like the Kenwood TS-930 as a kid. But a little drool was spilled over the R5000.
Well not a kid as such but in 1995 some 30 years ago it was the Lowe HF-150. It broke the traditional HF desktop receiver mold.
As a receiver it was very good (confirmed by many), it could be controlled with a hand controller or via a supplied and free basic program or you could write your own as the API was documented. So possibilities were there for knob twiddlers and the new PC era people.
Also, as shown in the image, there were matching pre-selector and signal/audio processors units all sharing the same case designs and were so elegant in their custom stack/rack.
The HF-150 found a home with many sailors / yacht folk as it was compact, ran from 12V and also had internal AA battery compartment. Also 50 Ohm and high impedance inputs.
For it's time it broke the traditional HF receiver format and complexity.
I still have my HF-150.
If you have one and like to also use a PC then checkout my IF150 Arduino Interface and HF150 Control Program.
IF150 USB Interface
HF150 Control Program
The original Lowe IF-150 Serial Interface Module/Cable are now very very rare. When mine failed I decided to design and build a more modern USB interface. I've also since repaired the original Lowe interface.
As a receiver it was very good (confirmed by many), it could be controlled with a hand controller or via a supplied and free basic program or you could write your own as the API was documented. So possibilities were there for knob twiddlers and the new PC era people.
Also, as shown in the image, there were matching pre-selector and signal/audio processors units all sharing the same case designs and were so elegant in their custom stack/rack.
The HF-150 found a home with many sailors / yacht folk as it was compact, ran from 12V and also had internal AA battery compartment. Also 50 Ohm and high impedance inputs.
For it's time it broke the traditional HF receiver format and complexity.
I still have my HF-150.
If you have one and like to also use a PC then checkout my IF150 Arduino Interface and HF150 Control Program.
IF150 USB Interface
HF150 Control Program
The original Lowe IF-150 Serial Interface Module/Cable are now very very rare. When mine failed I decided to design and build a more modern USB interface. I've also since repaired the original Lowe interface.
pjxii
Member
Now that I think about it, in that same 1984 WRTVH there was an ad on one of the inside covers for the Bearcat DX-1000 that I saw before reading the Drake R7 article which always had me wanting one.
pjxii
Member
Yes, I agree with you as far as tuning the R7/A, it is inconvenient. The ICOM R-70 had strange tuning at the ends of bands which led me to foolishly selling it, what a great receiver. The oddest of all (that I've used) is the Sony CRF-1. Every 100 kHz you have to basically reset the tuning knob. I learned from my R-70, though, and will only let the Sony go when it gives up the ghost. Fantastic little rig.
Hard to believe but I never picked up a JRC receiver. I lived the next town over from the late Bill Oliver of NASWA fame and he let me tune around with his NRD-535D once. It was a nice receiver! He was really a great guy.
TAC4
Member
That rig is Epic !Well not a kid as such but in 1995 some 30 years ago it was the Lowe HF-150. It broke the traditional HF desktop receiver mold.
As a receiver it was very good (confirmed by many), it could be controlled with a hand controller or via a supplied and free basic program or you could write your own as the API was documented. So possibilities were there for knob twiddlers and the new PC era people.
Also, as shown in the image, there were matching pre-selector and signal/audio processors units all sharing the same case designs and were so elegant in their custom stack/rack.
The HF-150 found a home with many sailors / yacht folk as it was compact, ran from 12V and also had internal AA battery compartment. Also 50 Ohm and high impedance inputs.
For it's time it broke the traditional HF receiver format and complexity.
I still have my HF-150.
If you have one and like to also use a PC then checkout my IF150 Arduino Interface and HF150 Control Program.
IF150 USB Interface
HF150 Control Program
The original Lowe IF-150 Serial Interface Module/Cable are now very very rare. When mine failed I decided to design and build a more modern USB interface. I've also since repaired the original Lowe interface.
TAC4
Member
Yep that is receiver that did it for me also.
TAC4
Member
Not the most sensitive receiver at the time but what a beauty.
If you wanted to relive your youth, there was an auction a year ago for the one in this picture << HERE >> Ended at $40.00. Keep an eye on this site, it doesn't get as weird as Ebay (pricewise).
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I picked up one of those and the matching speaker at a hamfest a long time ago. Played with it for a few years and then passed it on. Was solidly in the "OK" category. Not the best, but plenty for my budget and antenna space at the time.
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