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write your own review of the Heathkit HW-9.
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NU4B
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 25, 2011 04:34
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Still Working After 27 Years - It Gets a 5
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Obviously comparing the HW-9 to todays rigs would be silly. But for what it is - it is one fine rig.
I built mine 27 years ago when they first came out. I also bought the WARC band pak, tuner, power meter, power supply, and speaker. It makes for one handsome station even today. I have added the audio filter and antenna selector over the years.
For many years mine suffered some of the same problems many have had - low power on 10 and 12 meters, instability, and other assorted nuances. I even sent mine into RTO and it came back essentially the same way.
At one point I discovered the AB7MY mods, printed them off, and filed them away. A few months ago I pulled them out in an effort to see if I could get the HW-9 operating as it should.
After rereading the info I decided to start with the power supply. I figured the GIGO principle would be a good place to start and it always lurked in my mind why Heath would sell a 1 amp supply for a rig that required 1 amp? Amd 1 amp was the max rating of the power supply at that.
The power supply mod guts almost everything after the transformer. The parts were $10 at Radio Shack. (By the way, if you want to have some fun ask the sales clerks at Radio Shack for anything other than a cell phone (say a voltage regulator), the blank stares are priceless.)
I did the mod and also replaced the electrolytics (1 or 2 of them remained), hooked it up, and was amazed at the difference. Just about every problem went away and many of the other mods listed to cure the suspect performance were not needed. Full rated power on 10 and 12 meters, it cured the instability, even the power/signal meter operates as it should. Its almost like I got a new radio. It never occurred to me that RTO wasn't using a PSA-9 when they tuned up my rig. They were using a good power supply and that is why mine came back and operated like it always had. If you are using a PSA-9, do the AB7MY mod - its well worth it.
Using the HW-9 is simple and easy. The receiver is really sensitive, the 250 HZ narrow filter is very effective, and the RIT (while only +/- 1) is also useful. By hooking up a good antenna to the HW-9 the world is at you finger tips. I've worked over 240 countries woth mine over the years. The rig powers the big matching speaker well - the speaker is hard to find but I really like it and I'm glad I bought mine with the rig.
The one downside to the rig is the analog dial. Its really good at the low end and the high end, but as I tune to the middle there is some variation. I could never get mine where I wanted it over the entire spectrum. After 27 years I know the variation but I have built an external digital dial to hook up to the rig. (In these days of instant DX spots and point, click, and transmit operation, it will help getting to a correct frequency quickly.)
I use the rig for DXing and contesting - things it was never meant to do. I built and own a HW-8 a very poplular rig. I don't think there is any comparison though. The HW-9 is definitely the gem of the series. With a decent power supply its a solid performer. They are hard to find in good shape. I have seen a couple unbuilt kits over the last several years. Its not fancy compared to today's radios, but its enjoyable to use and still running after almost 3 decades.
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K1FPV
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 31, 2006 07:41
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Great QRP rig for the $$ if you can find one!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought my HW-9 new some 20+ years ago with the WARC kit giving it solid coverage from 80 through 10 meters. Over the years, I get nice reports and have added a couple modifications. I've added a 25 kHz. calibrator and added a rear panel control for calibrating on each band. The finals were replaced along with a driver to cure an instability problem on 12 and 10 meters. Output is about 4 1/2 watts on 80 and drops to about 2 3/4 watts on 10 meters. For the price, you can't go wrong!
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W8BBM
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Rating: 5/5
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May 19, 2006 11:08
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Nice all the way around
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned the HW-9 with WARC bands, matching power supply, antenna tuner and SWR/Watt meter for about 10 years now and have enjoyed the time that I use the little system. I own several other QRP rigs that are newer and boast even more features yet this one will never find its way out of my shack. Yes, it performs as good as all the rest of the reviewers have stated but there is just something special about the analog look, the feel and size of this radio that makes it so enjoyable to operate. Owners of it will know EXACTLY what I am talking out.
God Bless All,
Peter W8BBM
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F5NZY
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 30, 2003 03:31
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Fun...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I paid mine €170, a second hand, to a very good technician who built the transceiver, very properly. I've got the WARC pack and the BF filter. Just a regret, 160m is missing on this transceiver.
Otherwise, what an excellent transceiver, it is!
Operate with the Heathkit HW9 is a great fun!
73's de Steph, F5NZY
http://www.qsl.net/f5nzy
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WB8YJF
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 11, 2003 16:56
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Nice lil' rig!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I picked my HW-9 up on a swap board for $100 including shipping. It had the WARC pack installed, but was in pieces when I got it. I got the manual & had it up & running in 2 days. It is by far the best of the Heathkit QRP rigs! I worked DXCC with it in 3 months! This is a great, FUN lil' rig! If you have a chance to get one, GRAB it FAST! You won't be sorry!
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K1DX
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 4, 2003 09:35
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Best bang for the buck
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Over the years, I've had three of these, plus several other QRP radios (TT 505, 509, Arg II; Heath, 38sp, several Dave Benson, etc.). Clearly, at about $200 used, the HW-9 is the solid winner for a CW radio. It is reasonably stable, sensitive, full output, all band (80-10, incl. WARC (optional kit))... If you're looking for a great value in QRP CW radios, this is it.
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WB4TJH
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 26, 2003 22:01
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nice little rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought a mint Hw-9 matching power supply and watt meter from a friend handling a silent key's estate for an amount that borders on theft...I did not know at the time if it worked. Well, it did, and with a little realignment, it has turned out to be a marvelous little rig. I have worked the world with it, especially on 17 mtrs. (sure glad it has the WARC pack).I am thinking about a k-1 or k2, but the Hw-9 is all you really need for cw qrp. I missed getting one when Heath was in business. Now I have one at last.I have been shocked to see what some hams are paying on ebay for THE hw-9, and it only underscores my good fortune in getting one myself. Iuse a DSP-9 outboard with it and it makes for a fine little qrp rig. If you can get your hands on a good one, GRAB It!
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AA1BW
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 23, 2003 05:25
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A must
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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A own this radio for 11 years now. It has the WARC band module installed. I also put in the 8044 Curtis keyer panel from FAR circuits.
This radio is just fantastic. A very quiet receiver. Have not heard a quiet receiver like this. Sensitivity is great, selectivitiy is good. Even during contests I could operate fairly well.
Output power is around 4 Watts average (5.5-3.7 Watts, decreasing towards upper freqs.)
The only thing I miss is 1.8 Mhz, to have all SW bands in one radio.
If you can find one, and like QRP, and not concerned too much about the size, get it. You will love this rig.
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KA3POY
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 6, 2002 20:27
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great rig
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Compared to other older rigs in its price range, the HW-9 has the features, bands and overall effectiveness to be more than a curio.
I've been using mine as my main station rig, and routinely working domestic and dx traffic with it. Get great signal reports (much stronger, on same antenna, than HW-8) and the filter and RIT make it possible to work traffic in crowded bands. The WARC bands also are a huge plus since they are ideal hunting grounds for qrp operations.
I love mine - may loan it to my brother but will never sell it. Can't think of any other way to spend @ $200 + dollars and get 8 bands, the same range and ability.
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N4QA
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 23, 2000 10:20
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corrected review
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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In my previous review, I erroneously stated that the stock HW-9 employs lower transmit frequency offset. Truth is, it has HIGHER transmit frequency offset ( of about 700 Hz, by the way ).
This fact actually made it EASIER to transmit "up" for working DX.
I still hold that, for "normal" operations, transmit frequency offset is not "necessary" since the rig has decent RIT capability for tuning in those stations which are transmitting within +/- 1 kHz or so of the HW-9's transmit frequency. I realized my error while thumbing through the manual and reading my notes of several years ago... sorry.
By the way, I used the HW-9 ( at 2 watts output )in the mobile parked in the driveway this past weekend and worked from Europe to Alaska and Hawaii on ten meters. It truly is a fun rig.
73-1,
Bill, N4QA
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