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Reviews For: Heathkit SS9000

Category: Transceivers: HF Amateur HF+6M+VHF+UHF models - non QRP <5W

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Review Summary For : Heathkit SS9000
Reviews: 8MSRP: approx $2800
Description:
solid state 100 watt transceiver built in about 1983-4. Was answer to Collins KWM380. 2 VFOs with separate R/O displayed, memory, speech processor, WARC bands, PBT, 3 CW filters, RIT , NB etc. PS has 2 clock readouts and speaker built in.. NOT a kit, all assembled. Computer interface, etc.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0084.8
K8SQL Rating: 2022-06-24
great audio and cw. 0wned 15 years Time Owned: more than 12 months.
40 years old and works perfect. audio and cw the best. also use my drake tr7 and tentec omni 5. these rigs are 30 to 40 years old with no issues. also have a collins kwm-380. no menues no issues.
K5MO Rating: 2012-12-18
Wonderful solid rig, without bling Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I love this radio...I have one fully working one, and one that sat in damp storage for years and doesn't work. It's a very intuitive rig, with everything you need to know clearly laid out on the front panel. CW performance is excellent, but hampered by the 100hz granularity of the VFO. The receiver is one of the most listenable ones I've ever used.

I looked a long time before finding one that was affordable. It's a very nice rig and one that I'm very proud to own and use.
K8AC Rating: 2009-12-22
Very interesting! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It would be nice if modern transceivers offered the simplicity of front panel design found in the SS-9000. Every knob and button actually gets used and you don't have to struggle with miniature knobs. I'm rating the rig in terms of what else was in the marketplace at the time, notably the Kenwood TS-930 and Yaesu FT-980. At the original offered price, the SS-9000 was grossly overpriced compared to those two transceivers, while lacking the antenna tuner built into the 930. Most of the early synthesizer rigs had some rough edges and the SS-9000 has them in spades. To begin with, when you turn the tuning knob, the rig tunes in 100 Hz steps which may be tolerable for SSB operation, but it's inexcusable for CW operation. To offset that problem, there's a decent sized RIT knob just to the right of the tuning knob and that can be used for fine tuning. I was surprised to find that the rig put out a solid 100W on all bands, and the RF gain control is actually controlling a PIN diode attenuator so S meter operation is maintained when you reduce the RF gain. Narrow CW filters came standard, with 400 and 200 Hz bandwidths. Oddly, the passband tuning works only on SSB, but it does work very well indeed and is much more usable than the "Twin PBT" that the Japanese manufacturers seem obsessed with. The tuning rate of the main tuning knob is just 5 KHz per revolution and that's a big plus. The PS-9000 power supply includes a speaker and two clocks that operate with the supply turned off. If you're a Heathkit fan, don't pass up a chance to buy a nice SS-9000 and supply. If you're expecting a rig that might compete with today's best, you may be disappointed. But - it you appreciate good stuff from the past, it doesn't get much better than this! I judge the rig to be serviceable by anyone with advanced technical ability and the Heathkit service manual superbly describes how things work and how to troubleshoot problems. If you're into AM, you'll want to give this one a pass as there is NO AM mode! On the other hand, it has rear panel connections to handle the modern digital soundcard modes.
KT9O Rating: 2009-10-22
Extraordinary !! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After a long and arduous search, I finally have this radio and its matching power supply in my station. It is all I expected and more. The receiver is amazing. The transmit quality is superb. Most of all, the radio has rock solid stability. The SS 9000 is not like anything you've ever seen or imagined from the Heath Company. Heath left a fine ham radio legacy with this radio.
W8IDL Rating: 2009-02-06
Simply a GREAT Radio! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have owned a Heath SS-9000 and matching PS-9000 since the mid-1980s. This transceiver compares favorably with other expensive radios of the time: the Rockwell Collins KWM-380 and the Signal/One MilSpec 1030. The receiver on the SS-9000 has the edge because of greatly reduced phase noise and a better front end. It has a very sensitive receiver on all bands 160 through 10 including WARC, and is very easy to listen to for hours on end. The transmitter has one of the best speech processors: it always receives excellent audio reports. This radio is just packed with features, but is very easy to use. Servicing the radio is easy as well. The front panel is hinged and flips down, and the other sub-chassis do the same. The only real service mine has needed is replacing the meter bulbs, but that should be solved with the recent installation of white LEDs. In short, this is one GREAT radio, and even though it is quite rare, it is well worth the hunt to find one! It is unique and high performance, a rare combination...
K5NU Rating: 2007-10-15
very interesting Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have read the other reviews with interest and recently found a nice 9000. I have been using it in the shack and I must say that I am impressed. This last week the noise on 80m has been very bad - a line noise so strong to make the band useless along with the normal S9 QRN. Noise blankers on the PRO, 775DSP, etc. were all ineffective. However, to my surprise, the NB on the 9000 made the band usable again. Very good. The dual vfo readouts are very cool and very easy to use. Audio reports of punchy audio with a HC-5. It is quickly becoming one of my favorite radios. Very competitive with the "newer" rigs. CW is quite good also. Very interesting.
WB0UGO Rating: 2005-04-01
Great Rig Time Owned: N.A.
With the exception of the Orion, this rig holds its own to all other radios in the shack. That includes a 1000MP w/Inrad mod, TS 2000, Corsair 2, TS 940, FT 897 and others. I still use it almost every week on the Heathkit net sunday at 2100 GMT, 14.292. It a very well built radio and extremly sensitive. I understand this was orginally the SS8000 in kit form, but since it was extremly hard to assemble was brought out as a completed rig. It just could not compete with the lower priced japanese rigs at the time and was blown out for about half the original price. there is a debate on how many were made that ranges from 250 - 2000. If you can get one at a good price, go for it. A very good radio that holds its own with most of todays rigs. 73's Steve
K5YY Rating: 2002-08-31
Rare , wonderful solid state rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If you get a chance to buy one of these, DO IT! They run about $1000 on used market. Written up in QST in 1984. Will compare to any SS current rig I have , great sensitivity and transmit audio. Enough filters and PBT to do a good job on crowded bands. Powerhouse Power Supply with speaker and TWO LED clocks! Has memory stacking frequency recall system and 2 VFO displays. You can switch RX and TX between either VFO with push of button. This is NOT a kit but was built I think in contract with Silvania. If you operate one, you will buy it! Would ask others to comment on their experiences with the radio.