Finds: Heathkit Shortwave, RadioPhone, and Timex Sinclair 1500

Jake von Slatt — Wed, 08/06/2008 - 11:28

More from the same house I found the radios a couple of weeks ago! Here we have a classic Heathkit Shortwave Receiver, A Heathkit SWR meter (used for measuring antenna efficiency on transmitters) an RCA RadioPhone transmitter and a Timex Sinclair 1500. My first computer was a TS-1000, the 1500 is basically the same machine with a chiklet style keyboard.

I wonder what the story is here? Likely its a little sad, someone is finally getting around to clearing out 'Dad's' old hobby junk.

i think the CB band is no longer regulated, FCC gave up on that 20 years ago. the rca i think puts out 3-5 watts,. If i remember correctly you can transmit on a choice of 6 or 7 frequencies although the receiver will tune the entire band. you need to open up the case and look for any small silver colored chicklet or after dinner mint sized cans that are the crystals for the transmitter. on the top of these might be stamped things like T7, T19 T23 etc, or they might have the frequency listed on them like 27.795, 26.845 etc. most of these early radios weren't sold with crystals.You would purchase them separately depending on which channel you wanted to use. It might have 6 of the sockets filled or only 1 depending how many crystals the owner purchased, some farmers or ranch owners may have only used 1 frequency so the they could talk between the ranch house and their truck out on the back 100 acres.

It's only illegal if someone

Marrock — Fri, 08/08/2008 - 06:38

It's only illegal if someone catches you.

One thing I've learn hanging

Jake von Slatt — Fri, 08/08/2008 - 08:57

One thing I've learn hanging out with Hams, you DO NOT mess with their airwaves. They WILL find you and you'll be lucky if they only pull down your antenna! ;-)

I'm not usually one to post

rolandw — Thu, 08/07/2008 - 18:54

I'm not usually one to post comments, but that Heathkit SWR just really brought back some memories. My dad, who passed away a few months ago, was an avid ham radio operator for over 50 years, and that same meter was a fixture throughout my childhood. I actually got my license years ago, mostly because I knew Pop would get a kick out of it. I still have a lot of his old gear and am hoping to upgrade my ticket so I can take over his old call sign. My compliments on salvaging some classic equipment and thanks for posting the picture.

I just now plugged it in an

Jake von Slatt — Thu, 08/07/2008 - 21:04

I just now plugged it in an it seems to work fine! The pots and switches are a little dirty but some contact cleaner will take care of that. Thanks for your comment and my condolences for the loss of your father, I think its wonderful that you are planning to take over his call sign.

I still have mine! :)

tanacsdavid — Thu, 08/07/2008 - 06:59

It's always sad to see these things in a junkyard. If I see them, I always try to save for myself, for my (future) children. I hope, they won't be stucked into the monitors.

Internet killed a part of this wonderful hobby. But we still don't have broadband on hilltops, ruins of old castles...

david
HG7WGD