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Reviews For: Hammarlund SP-600

Category: Receivers: Amateur Radio

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Review Summary For : Hammarlund SP-600
Reviews: 21MSRP: 1,000 in 1952
Description:
HF receiver covering 55 Khz to 54 Mhz.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00214.5
K5APL Rating: 2020-07-29
It still works Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I rebuilt my SP600JX21 in 2013 and for many years it has seen no use. I turned it on yesterday, hooked up the speaker and antenna, and beautiful audio came forth. All this time in an unheated/uncooled out-building did not faze it. A truly great radio. And it was easy to scan each band for signals!
N4NLG Rating: 2020-07-29
Heavy, capacitor issues but a great way to scan the band! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This was a fantastic upgrade for a teenager in the 1970's who only had an old Hallicrafters S-38 to listen to the world. I had to have a WWII signal corp veteran rebuild the capacitors, align it, etc.; but, when he was done, it was a real honey of a radio. My parents just about had a fit when my friends and I carried a 19" rack frame up to my bedroom to hold that heavy Hammarlund beast. But, it was worth it, and I think they may have even saved money on the heating bill each winter, thanks to this Hammarlund! LOL Great radio; but, I think I heard an R-390 Collins call my name and made a trade. I liked the extra room; but, I think the Hammarlund may have been the better receiver?
IZ2EAS Rating: 2017-04-27
My second "real" SW radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I received my SP600-JX-7 as a present from my father when I was 17 years old… it was 1982, looong time ago. At that time I was an avid SWL, and in particular I was interested in the Tropical Bands (i.e. 60 and 90 metres); the SP600 – that cost a small fortune in 1982 - was a great performer on those bands, since it would not overload even with long antennas (at one time I connected a 100 meters long wire to it). When I got it, the infamous “black beauties of death” (BBDO) had already been replaced in a very professional way; by looking at the “new” capacitors, the work was probably done in the 60s.

Recently, for the first time since 1982, I overhauled it; I replaced the “new” capacitors from the 60s (they did not look too healthy), all the electrolytic capacitors (that were all original from 1951, so 65 years old !) and few resistors whose value had drifted over time. I aligned it as per the service manual, and now it is back to its full, original potential.

The main difference with those years now is my back, that is hardly able to handle the SP600 heavy weight ! And – regrettably – the tropical bands, that are now empty.
N8FVJ Rating: 2017-04-09
2nd Review Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I forgot to mention my SP-600 has the ceramic capacitors, thus do not have to replace the 40+ black beauty capacitors. Dial accuracy is less than a needle width or accurate every where on the dial. Drift from start up to fully warm is an astounding 50Hz or so.

As mentioned a great receiver. I paid $200 for the radio- 2017 purchase date in good condition.
KB2NAT Rating: 2017-03-31
As Good As It Gets Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I owned the SP-600 for many years and used one overseas when I was in the military. This is also my second review of this, because reading a few others, I wonder if they really ever used one. I can also compare this with the superb Collins R-390A. The SP-600 is a triple conversion receiver with exceptional sensitivity and selectivity that can be adjusted from .2kc to 13kc. It weighs a ton and 22 tubes produce a lot of heat...but the unit does it all with a dedicated knob for everything. We considered it slightly more sensitive than the R-390A, but dial accuracy was not its best quality. It was built to be worked on and everything was top of the line, including a huge tuning drum used to change bands which had silver tipped contacts. What a wonderful and one-of-a-kind rig!

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KB2NAT on 2007-12-09

I used one of these overseas in the Air Force and then owned one myself for many years. It will always be THE radio of all time for me. Most of us in the military preferred the Hammarlund over the Collins R390 (slight edge). There were very few signals that the SP600 couldn't squeeze out of the murk. 22 tubes helped keep the shack warm, too. It was everything one could want in a receiver. To find any fault with it would be petty on my part, just don't ask me to carry it up or down stairs anymore.
KK6IYM Rating: 2016-06-26
Just finished the restoration Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have the JX 17 and after my restoration, I am very impressed. I like the selectivity adjustments, the sensitivity is very good--better than other radios I have, and it is quiet with a low noise level. It does an excellent job on SSB for a receiver of its type. My only wish is that it had a bandspread like the HQ 140 XA, but it doesn't and I find that I can still find the right adjustment. It is a heavy beast--with the case over 80 lbs., but it will anchor a boat--that is for sure.

Norm
KK6IYM
FPX77 Rating: 2012-10-11
Nice receiver Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had a SP600JX21 from 1985 to 2002.Very good receiver,at this time it put on shame my Yaesu FRG7700! A station readable on the SP600 was only noise on the Yaesu!I have quickly sold the Yaesu!Only my ICR70 was able to compete with the SP600.Unfortunatly I sold this RX on 2002. Happily I got another one 3 weeks ago,a JX21 from a radio ham.It has been entirely recapped by the former owner,however suddenly the ranges 4 to 6 were dead.After washing the 3,5Mc crystal with alcohol all became OK.The sensitivity is great (I have put a 6BZ6 as 1st RF stage without any modification,for better signal noise ratio,and a 6AU6 for the BFO driver for higher injection level) this allow good SSB reception in AVC mode. The stability is good after warming up.It is a pleasure to sweep the bands as the tuning control is precise and soft.If I listen to hams I use a LS3 speaker,if I listen to broadcast I use a full range Philips speaker with an impedance transformer .I have others rigs (FRG7;ICR70;JRC NRD 525;D2999;Sat700) but my pleasure is to listen to the Hammarlund,the hams,pirates on 49m band etc..
KG8LB Rating: 2011-08-03
Super ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Fine performance , easily maintained but GET THE BLACK BEAUTIES OUT ! I have owned quite a few of these gems and always impressed by them. Yes, the tuning layout is a bit different but familarizing yourself with the logging scale will help if you operate in specific areas . A digital display is easily fitted but I kind of like using the analog dial.
I used to tempt fate regarding the Black Beauty plastic caps ..not any more. We had just resurected a real nice SP-600. While sitting back enjoying some armchair copy , the signals suddenly began to fade and almost instantly there was a sizzle and pop. Before I could shut the radio down the RF went away. Turns out a shorted Black Beauty took out an IF can . It took very little time for this to happen. The bad Black Beauty was real easy to spot , it had split open like an over cooked hot dog.
Another heads up, the SP-600 needs an extra depth cabinet. Hammond make a real nice cabinet the works well and looks great filled with SP-600 !
K1VVT Rating: 2010-11-21
Used SP600 54yrs ago Time Owned: more than 12 months.
1956 & 1957 used the SP-600 for Morse Intercept replaced by R390's in '57, In the highlands of Ethiopia, after discharge and many years later, found two from Army Mars and rebuilt one, replacing all the caps, still using it for listening and copying Morse in 2010.
IW5CI Rating: 2010-03-03
Wonderful receiver Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is a real receiver. My sp-600 is the CIA version. It is completely original and still with the black beauties onboard but it works flawlessy.
The audio quality is incredible. Hooked to a Pioneer HI-FI speaker the BC stations sounds really good.
Even on SSB the reception is clear.
I hooked a digital frequency meter and now i know exactly the frequency where i AM.
The only problem of this radio is the weight... in it's box is like a battleship.