Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Lafayette HA-600A

Category: Receivers: General Coverage

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Lafayette HA-600A
Reviews: 4MSRP: 100-$170
Description:
150 - 30000 KHz Solid State, Single Conversion receiver
1970-1975
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0043.5
KAPT4560 Rating: 2015-07-08
Better than I thought. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this solid state 'boatanchor' on the eHam classifieds about a month ago. It was in very good cosmetic and electrical condition. It had been stored for awhile untouched and came in the original box with the original manual. The inner packing medium was the WSJ from 1984. I believe that the radio itself is from ~1973.
The original manual was a little different than the one shown on the internet as it gives E-C voltages and test notes on the schematic and has an addenda on the 12 volt plug at the rear panel behind the serial number plate for mobile/outdoor camping use. I wouldn't have looked for the connector there.
Dad and I went to Lafayette store back when I was a kid and I remember this radio on the demo shelf when I was around 13 yo (1971). Lafayette sold this model from 1969-1976.
I liked the tall business-like front panel and attractive styling. It had that new radio smell! All it picked up inside the store was the fluorescent lights though.
Some minor cleaning was in order and the only real adjustment that I made was RV4, the regulated 9 volt supply off Tr11. It was initially around 12.7 volts. After setting the regulator, switch the function between Send (standby) and a receive function to test the regulator. The 9 volts should sit rock-steady with or without load changes.
While it has no xtal selectivity, the 2 ceramic, single mechanical filters, product detector and transmitter control accessory plug at the rear panel make this radio somewhat suitable for amateur radio use as well as good SWL.
I listen to it nightly.

http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz289/wmccryst/Lafayette%20HA-600A%201200%20dpi_zpsxo7dyewl.jpg
http://i836.photobucket.com/albums/zz289/wmccryst/Lafayette%20HA-600A%20battery%20operation._zpsmm631sjm.jpg
N5FPO Rating: 2011-05-28
A good old, solid radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I was given my HA-600 in 1995 by Keith, KB5APB, for helping him move some furniture in his house. The radio had sat for years in a dry Albuquerque garage without being used. The controls were stiff and very noisy, but after a few shots of Deoxit the thing played surprisingly well, however the ant. trimmer is still a bit scratchy. The radio had been kept clean by a fitted vinyl cover and the paint and overall condition are very good. It's still used periodically. It tends to be a bit hard of hearing on the upper frequencies above about 21.0 MHz, but the low & midband performance is remarkable for a single conversion unit that has never been tampered with. It sits in a place of distinction in my shack along with my FT-101E, and my HTX-100. 73 Michael
W6QT Rating: 2010-06-02
Poor Imagine Rejection Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Nice looking set, but is single conversion and prone to frequency drift. No internal speaker, so I hooked up a speaker through the earphone jack and was able to tune in stations, but reception was very poor. The set I tested needed alignment and recapping, so I'll reserve any further judgment until that is completed.
N4UE Rating: 2008-08-15
Not bad ay all! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
OK, OK, I like Lafayette receivers. I have a couple of dozen. Recently, I have been watching ePay, er. eBay for some 'deals' on Lafayette receivers I don't have.

Most of mine are tube - type from back in the 60's. However, recently, I picked up a nice HA-600A for the sum of $9.99. For that price, I didn't expect much, but when it arrived today, I was pleasently surprised.
Although it worked out of the box, the controls were noisy, the paint was 'fair', etc.
First thing to do was a new 3 prong line cord (which EVERY radio, test equipment, etc, I redo receives)...

I did a disassemply of the front panel to polish the plastic face plate. Washed the knobs, sanded and resprayed the cover, etc. The chassis was mint and you could tell by looking at the slugs, no one had 'golden screwdrivered' it!!! After cleaning and lubing everything that moved, I was VERY surprised at how the old girl played.
I have a 15 Meter dipole up about 30 feet leading into my shop. WWV at 10 MHz was LOUD and clear. Even the s-meter was generous!!

The radio looks brand new and I had a great time redoing her. I was going to check the alignment, but it works so good the way it is, I'll leave it alone for now...

tnx

ron

N4UE