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Author Topic: HQ 129 up to snuff?  (Read 3897 times)

928GTS

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HQ 129 up to snuff?
« on: March 03, 2008, 02:05:28 PM »

 
 I've had my good old HQ-129X for some 8 years and I love her half to death but is it time for an IF realign/tune up? I have to crank the RF gain all the way up and it only begins to "hear something" during the last 1/5th of the pot's travel. With a 40ft longwire its a smidgen more sensitive than my Eton E5 off the whip so I'm wondering if its time to make sure the IF stages are aligned and the tubes are still in good nick.

 Shouldn't she be a bit sharper than this?
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928GTS

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HQ 129 up to snuff?
« Reply #1 on: March 03, 2008, 02:08:59 PM »

Oh and I forgot,how much of a pain is it to realign the dials since mine are reading a bit off.
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K3HVG

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HQ 129 up to snuff?
« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2008, 12:19:59 AM »

Has your receiver been re-capped?  If not, this may well contribute to overall poor performance and eventual failure.  Overall alignment may also help a lot.  Regarding the dial calibration, is the dial off more or less the same amount of rotation on each band (indicating mechanical adjustment) or is it simply off base throughout its range?  If the latter is the issue, then alignment of the local oscillator sections of each band is indicated.  The book describes this alignment and it is not difficult if you have some sort of a signal generator.  If you don't have a generator, one can use known receivable stations at each end of each band as markers of sorts.  Not the best way to do it but better than nothing.
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928GTS

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HQ 129 up to snuff?
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2008, 01:23:45 AM »

It was recapped by a local radio tech about 5 years ago and its always been like this. I'm *pretty* sure he aligned the stages at that time though I can ask. I really doubt that they'd go out of alignment that quickly. Actually,now that I use the radio the dial seems to be pretty spot on though I'll keep checking.
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W5RKL

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HQ 129 up to snuff?
« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2008, 07:45:32 AM »

I'm going to assume the tubes have been checked and
are good.

The receiver's over all gain and dial accuracy
of the SX-129 is based on the 6K8 converter stage.

Also, if the IF is not aligned correctly, the
receiver will also be affected.

73
Mike
W5RKL
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