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Reviews For: Heathkit HW-100

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

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Review Summary For : Heathkit HW-100
Reviews: 17MSRP:
Description:
Heath HF radio
Product is not in production
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# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00173.8
AD4DQ Rating: 2022-11-10
Fun old rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Update from my old review :) Well I have used and owned just about every name brand of tube radio in the last 30 years. Other than Collins this is the only tube radio that I find is stable with no drifting issues. I just recently repaired a lot of 3 parts radios, 2 were 100's and 1 HW-101. I sent the first one back the guy who gave me these 3 as a gift. Im keeping the other 2 ha! I started with a HW-100 in 1990. Worked a ton of DX on that radio back then with 2 wire dipoles. Still operate these as I cycle through tube radios. By far my one of my favorites of the all the others. Great receive and 100+ watts. Easy to repair if needed and a very enjoyable radio to operate.
N6MO Rating: 2020-01-08
Great radio for this era 1970 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought rig about 1970 from my paper route money. Bought it on special for about $200. This rig was very inexpensive for an HF all band transceiver during this era. There were lots of mods and upgrades published. I did incorporate several mods and upgrades to include Swan style VFO tuning upgrade and receiver sensitivity upgrade. The rig performed well on both transmit and receive. Eventually when I was 16 I worked for Heathkit and serviced all their products for at least 5 years. Overall their products were well designed, build quality would vary depending on the persons experience and/or ability to carefully follow instructions. I used it as my primary rig for over 9 years. I still have it and occasionally use it.
N3AFS Rating: 2018-04-09
A Classic Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought an HW-100 for $50 at a recent hamfest. It's taken me about 3 weeks to get it in good condition. I'd rate it at 98%. I replaced the finals, aligned the transmitter & receiver. I've replaced all electrolytic caps. I already have a reconditioned HP-23D so the p/s is 100%.
The output of my HW-100 is about 95 watts on 40 meters (CW/SSB) and about 100 watts on CW/SSB on 20 meters.
I also own an HW-101 and there is a big difference. I love my HW-101 and would not part with it. The HW-100 on the other hand is a fair radio and probably would rate a "5" back in the day. It is a fun radio to work on & operate. Mine doesn't drift or chirp.
WB2JOB Rating: 2016-05-01
Digital Display Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Just added a Digital display to my HW100 that I built many years ago.
Used the tube interface, just let the radio warm up and after a few minutes that display is very solid.
Worked few station and all said I was right on.
Used to use a cooling fan but found that upset the digital display.
Checked it against my Kenwood 830 and it was right on.
ZL4XYZ Rating: 2013-12-31
Great Fun Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I brought a old HW 100 about a year ago. I have great fun with it. I'm a mechanical engineer so have had to do a lot of reading and research to find out how to calibrate and repair this old girl.
I have fitted a new set of finals and have replaced 4 other tubes and a few caps. I did get help from a kind local ham/electrical engineer with the set up.
As a learning tool it is worth its weight in gold.
Mine goes great now, not as good as the 897 but have good qso's with hams on the other side of the world.
K5LG Rating: 2008-06-03
good rig back then Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I used this rig during college in mid 60s, someone in physics lab had built it and not done a real good job. One thing I remember is the main tuning knob slipping. Had fun using it in physics lab with a hb multiband bamboo gp on top of the building.
KE5KXU Rating: 2007-11-26
A great old rig Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I received my HW 101 in 1968 as a kit for Christmas when I was 11 years old. It took me about a month to build, and I spent hundreds if not thousands of hours listening and talking to folks around the country and world. My activity in HAM radio died off in the early 70's as cars and girls came along. The radio was stored away. I ran into it about 2 years ago, and was shocked when I powered it up and after 40 years of sitting in a closet it powered up and is working like a champ. It has taken a space next to my modern rigs and is still working as well as it did 40+ years ago.

If you want an old classic, I can not recommend a Heath Kit HW 101 strong enough.
W5HI Rating: 2007-07-05
Old Faithful Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned two of these rigs during my time as a ham over the past 23 years. The first one was used as a receiver alongside my HT-32 transmitter. It did a great job. I ended up selling it when I received a Kenwood TS-520S for Christmas.

Fast forward about ten years later and I ended up paying $80 for another one at a hamfest. It was all I had for HF so there was nothing to compare it to at the time. All I know is I made plenty of CW and SSB QSO's without fail for a few years before finally coming into the "semiconductor age" with an Icom 718. Of course, the 718 blew it away but I will never forget the reliable old tube rig that gave me countless hours of enjoyment.

I'll buy another one if I can find a decent one at a hamfest.

73,

Korey--W3TUA
W3GW0NNB Rating: 2006-08-07
A lot of fun! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently picked up an HW-100 at the BRATS Hamfest and have spent the past 2 weeks playing with it. A few "dry" solder joints, and a couple of easy-to-replace capacitors later, it's up and running with plenty of power into the dummy load.

The tuning mechanism leaves something to be desired though, but the rest of the controls are well placed and easy to tweak, unlike the output stages of my old Yesu 901DM, which seemed to take forever to tune up.

These things apparently need constant tweaking, but the audio is great, and with the SSB and CW filter installed (apparently a rare Heatkit mod),
received signals are just as good. No noticeable drift after 5 mins warmup, which is a testament to the Heatkit design and tube choices.

All in all, I would reccomend it to someone new who wants to learn what real radio is about, or someone tired of all the bells and whistles of the YaeKenIcom grey boxes that if something goes wrong with you have to ship back.

Complexity isn't all its cracked up to be...
WA0ZZG Rating: 2006-01-01
Inexpensive starter radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The HW-100 was the one I drooled over in Highschool. When a neighboring ham had one available, I couldn't pass up the restore. After a good cleaning, some filter caps, a tube,some alignment, it was back on the air. The receiver has lots of gain and the transmitter does a little more than 100W. It came with a HP-23A power supply that came up nicely with a variac. Added a 3-wire cord to it. Runs cool. No hum.
Complaints: Terrible tuning system. VFO doesn't drift that much, but the dial hookup is poorly designed. The carrier osc crystals are a little off frequency and no way to bring them back. Makes
LSB sound pinched and USB sound muddy. The SSB crystal filer has a very poor shape factor. Lets a lot of high frequency QRM/QRN leak through. Distorted audio. It appears this is because the carrier osc doesn't provide enough signal to the product detector. Still a fine old standard and glad to FINALLY have one on my operating table.
Now I can move on.
Dave....