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Reviews For: Heathkit RX-1 Mohawk

Category: Receivers: Amateur Radio

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Review Summary For : Heathkit RX-1 Mohawk
Reviews: 4MSRP: 279/kit (1961)
Description:
The matching receiver for the Heathkit Apache transmitter. Covers 160 - 10 meters receive of AM/SSB/CW modes. Vintage late 50's to mid 60's.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0044.3
NB9M Rating: 2018-06-28
A Unique Keeper Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had several Mohawks in the past, and currently have two. It seems some folks love them as they are, and others point out its obvious design problems. I'm one that loves them, and here's why.

1. When the RX-1 is working, it's suitable for both vintage AM and SSB operation. It's stability is comparable with other receivers of its vintage. Though the AGC is a bit quirky, it works. Audio is fine. Sensitivity and selectivity are fine for their intended use half a over century ago. No, this is not as good a receiver an an NC-300/NC-303, or a Collins, or even an RME-6900, but it still is good. It's big and heavy, but so is a 1957 Chevy (yet nobody complains).

2. The RX-1 is a looker. Next to its Apache transmitter mate it's in its element.

The biggest downside I have experienced are parts availability and failure of the potentiometers. The pots have longer bushings to clear both the panel and the eustachian, and - believe me - they cannot be found unless you buy a parts Mohawk. The IF and RF gain pots, and the pot switches (like the Notch) ARE prone to failure. Worse, these receivers are getting hard to find an any condition.

An excellent recap kit from hayseedhamfest.com is available for a reasonable price, and a recap job is not hard. As in all Heathkits, look closely at all the solder connections and component placement. There are several mods in Electric Radio magazine (ermag.com) which address the design and performance problems which concern some.

Roll up your sleeves, fix one up and enjoy a Mohawk while you can.
KE5AKG Rating: 2011-10-11
Awesome Receiver Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I got this to add an AM boatanchor receiver to my station, but was not expecting much in the way of SSB reception. Well, I was surprised to say the least. The receiver is sensitve, selective and has great audio. When I add my MFJ-784B outboard DSP
processor, it outperforms my Kenwood TS-2000 easily.
I can pull in all the DX I can with the TS-2000,
but with better audio. It shows me that HF receivers have gotten smaller and easier to use over the last 50 years, but only marginally better except for DSP.
Now I know why people love their Collins receivers with all those mechanical filters...
To top off the great performance, it is also the best looking piece of radio gear I have, even my wife likes it. Awesome late 50s styling...looks like it will sprout tail fins any moment now... I love this receiver!
WB8DBF Rating: 2007-10-23
Good Radio, not Great. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
For the era, this was a very nice rig. The front end came assembled and aligned. It has enough controls to handle many operating situations. Audio Gain, RF Gain, IF Gain, Notch tuning and selectivity. It would have been nice to have a crystal filter.
WB1AEX Rating: 2004-11-14
Substantial receiver Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This receiver is the obvious match to the Heathkit Apache TX1 transmitter. It features a 50kc IF stage which offers extreme selectivity in the SSB and CW modes. Bandwidth for AM use is somewhat restricted, and also not symmetrical in its bandpass slope. Generally, reception is pleasant to listen to and quite natural sounding. Mechanically, this receiver is a bit of a curiousity. It almost seems like there were three design teams working on this device when it was on the drawing board: one for the chassis, one for the front panel, and one to devise all the cams, levers, pulleys, steel straps and other devices used to interconnect the knobs to the actual controls on the chassis. It is quite a designing feat that this thing works at all!