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write your own review of the Heathkit SB-301.
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WA7VTD
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Rating: 2/5
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Sep 28, 2009 20:20
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Mechanical Flaw Obscures Performance
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Please see my review of the SB-303 for an explanation of why my rating is "2" notwithstanding the generally favorable remarks in this review of the SB-301. In short, as much as I regret such a result, I am compelled to provide a "2" because of the problematic mechanical design flaws in the tuning dial and indicator mechanism and the dial calibration correction mechanism. All of the joy otherwise derived from operation of this otherwise fine receiver is vitiated by those design flaws which continued unabated for years and frustrate the Hell out of the operator when the dial slippage recurs at the most inopportune moment. Repair of this problem requires removal of all of the front panel controls and the front panel itself, as well as removal of the feet and the case. The part that slips then must be restored to proper position, which is not a simple task, and maintained in that position as the disassembly steps are performed in reverse, usually resulting in the repositioned part once again moving from the precise positioning essential to proper dial operation. Various shimming techniques can prolong the fix but inevitably it starts slipping again. Additionally, the soft edge of the clear plastic mechanical calibration correction enunciator eventually wears down, so that it no longer makes good contact with the frequency indicator index line calibration correction control knob's contact cam. The upshot of these problems is inability to know what frequency one is on and inability to QSY except by erratic, imprecise lurches up and down the band.
Why Heath did not ever fix this problem is a mystery to me.
With that off my chest, I otherwise really like this receiver! It is very sensitive and has very little internally generated noise. If it only had included a basic notch filter such as was standard in the Hallicrafters SX-115, SX-100 etc., it would have been right up there with the best of 'em.
The 301 (properly aligned) is very sensitive, easy to tune, and fun to use. It is great to use separately or slaved with the SB-400 or 401 transnmitter, and is very much like operating a 32S-X/75S-X Collins xmtr/rcvr combo in that configuration. The variable RF gain and CW & SSB filters do a respectable job of helping one pull out the weak ones from beneath the cacophany of QRM bedlam. It can be used with the SB-650 digital readout, but the 1 kHz dial resolution should make that unnecessary. Once it has warmed up for 30 minutes or so, I've found that there is little drift and that the frequency is within about 1.5 kHz of accuracy from one band edge to the other when calibrated using the 110 kHz/25 kHz crystal calibrator at one edge of the band.
As with all Heathkits, the performance will depend largely upon the skill of the person who assembled the receiver from its kit. Purchasing such rigs online therefore entails not an insignificant level of risk. Always ask for high-res photos of the point-to-point wiring buses, if you aren't able to do an in-person inspection. And be sure to procure a copy of the assembly/operation manual.
There is a mod occasionally performed on the 301 in which the RF Gain is converted to a variable-depth noise blanker. The blanker circuit used in that mod is, surprisingly, relatively effective, but I personally prefer to have the unmodified 301 with intact RF Gain control.
I'd rate the SB-301 a 3 or 4 (I wish there gradations, as most likely I would rate it slightly above a "4") but for the aforementioned tuning mechanism design flaws. Consequently, a "2" it shall be.
73 de Kevin WA7VTD
Oregon City, OR
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W6OU
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 23, 2007 16:20
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Good performer
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This receiver has a nice linear accurate PTO (VFO). It covered 500 kHz so you could manually sweep through the ham band without having to switch every 200 kHz and reverse the tuning direction like the S-line receiver. It was easy to align and its performance was first class! Some negative points are the green color (ugh), the cheap meter, and having the components on top of the chassis where dust and dirt settles.
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AH6FC
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 10, 2006 06:29
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I loved this rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I used this receiver in the early 70's, built from kit. Boy was this the best! There was no way I could afford a built rig, even a Swan transceiver, so it was Heathkit for me. This rig was nearly as good as the Collins S line receiver, except for the notch and crystal filters of course. I spent many hundreds of hours listening and sometimes working the world during a decent sunspot cycle in 1970 - 72.
My brother (KH6RY) sold this rig, my SB-401, and SB-200 to buy a Yaesu xcvr when I was away at college....I still want to slap him up side the head for this move!
Never had the opportunity to compare the SB301 next to a modern xcvr but maybe some day. I suspect it would do reasonably well, considering it's vintage and price.
73,Bill
AH6FC
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JLH63UK
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 5, 2006 04:48
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very good why do they not make sets like this any more
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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very good for a 70,s radio i love the valve sets their alive.
picks up well quite stable, signal meter lazy as hell and no way to adjust top end no am filter and you won,t get one i have tried. dial is good but stiff and dead heavy.
the thing that i like is it is very very well made not like the plastic junk nowadays this set is like new it was my friends uncle by the way he.s dead radio still alive good one...jeff
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VE3CUI
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 10, 2006 11:03
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Best Bargain In Tube Receivers To-day!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've owned an SB-300, and two SB-301's --- I'm now down to one "keeper" '301.
It is by far, and without a doubt, the BEST BUY TO-DAY in tube-type Amateur Radio band receivers. It's light-weight, sensitive, readily transportable, self-contained, sensitive...well, I could go on, but you get the picture! Oh, and did I say it's pretty darn good-looking, too?
I made mine more flexible by adding an outboard converter for 160meters, to augment the 6- and 2-meter Heath converters that I found for it. Its CW selectivity is greatly enhanced with a 250-Hz Fox-Tango IF filter, & AM is supported by virtue of my homebrewed SB-310 wide-band filter that I made, using an old SSB filter as the foundation.
It's a great set, and I absolutely love mine.
73~ Eddy (VE3CUI - VE3XZ)
gswynar@durham.net
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KG6UTS
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 8, 2005 14:45
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Very Nice Receiver
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My 301 came as a basket case freebee from a friend, someone had done a 'creative' alignment. After doing a proper alignment its proved to be a very sensitive receiver and it came with all the filters, band xtals, and both VHF converters. My only gripe is the dial vernier assy that does not stay adjusted.
EdZ
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KC4IWO
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 3, 2001 17:53
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inspiring
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Heathkits Rule.
I run a SB102 with a SB610,620,600,&hp23 supply. Sure it has it bugs here and there, mainly due to rsistors values too far out of tolerence to work well, but the fun factor is off the scale with the "hands on" approch you take with these radios. And with lots of attention they become very good preformers. I have not had a SB301 but I will speak for Heathkit in general and say there old stuff is loads of fun to use.
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K8DIT
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 3, 2001 12:17
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Illuminating!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I fell into my SB 301/401 quite by serendipity. A local non-ham had bought these 15 years ago from a ham neighbor and then intended to study for his license. It was the complete station of the time including the SB610/630/600/638mic/hd-10keyer. He had only listened to the receiver over the years and everthing was in pretty good shape. I am fortunate to have a ham freind who knows his way around both Heatkits and test gear. Inside a four hour visit he determined that everything was working and nearly in alignment, but needed cleaning/burnishing of the bandswitch contacts. A day later he gave me a call on 40meters, and was surprised to find out he was on the twins. He sounded strong and smooth. Power supply diodes and a single electrolytic in the low voltage d.c.
supply was all the reciever needed. All the tubes
and everything else was well within usable condition. I've since used the pair to good effect on all its bands on ssb and will go cw when
the Keyer is repaired. I was impressed by the quality of the audio/sensitivity/selectivity and
have had no problems with instability/intermittant
operation. The pair work faultlessly as I've had qso after qso and burned in the setup over a week.
The ANL even works well on engine noise and some
types of qrn. I use my DSP-9 w/ 3.0 firmware as an effective auto notch and agc enhancement. I set up the Ten Tec Centurion amplifier which works smoothly to drive the pair for excellant audio reports using the Electrovoice 638 mic. Vox worked flawlessly, but turned it off as PTT is preferred. I have new respect for this old gear and will have it proudly in the shack for casual use on 40/75 ragchewing. I also have a fb HW-12A
in excellant working condition as well. All my other gear is Ten Tec which looks great intermingled on the shack's rack. The 610 scope and the 630 console worked after power supply caps were replaced and patched in. What's most illuminating is to compare the Omni VI+ rcvr with the SB 301. It's no wonder that the 301 won the role as representing the mystiqe of ham radio in the film "Frequency."
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K3AN
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Rating: 2/5
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Feb 26, 2001 15:35
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Frequency Jump
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Remarkably, the SB-301 has no voltage regulator for its oscillators! I had one years ago, and using it in transceive mode with the SB-401 on 10 Meters, I got reports that my transmit frequency was off. I borrowed a frequency counter and found the crystal HFO signal on 10 Meters jumped over 700Hz between receive and transmit. This was due to the fact that on transmit, all the receiver stages are cut off, so the B+ goes up significantly, including the B+ that feeds the oscillators. I installed a zener diode regulator arrangement to feed the oscillators (required cutting PC board traces) which got the jump down to less than 50 Hz. This was a fine receiver in its day, but technology has left it in the dust.
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W5KJS
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Rating: 3/5
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Feb 26, 2001 13:16
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Good old receiver
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had the Heathkit SB-301 (receiver) and SB-401 (transmitter) since 1983. The receiver works nicely and is easy to use. After I upgraded to general, found that using the 401 transmitter with the 301 was complicated for tune-up, and subsequently incorporated a lot of variables when troubleshooting. Decided to go with a newer rig and leave these as display items in my hamshack.
I was quite amused in the movie "Frequency" that they used the SB-301 receiver as a transceiver. Kept my eyes peeled to see if they were going to show how they faked hooking the mic into the rig, but they carefully avoided showing that connection. Har!
Overall, this is a nice HF receiver. Unlike many Heathkit HF rigs (such as the HW-101), this one does not require an external power supply.
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