The AM Forum

Well, I had finished up the NC-303 receiver and someone offered me a pretty good price for it so I decided to let it go and focus on my HRO60 and HRO50T receivers instead.

I had always wanted a 303, but after I got it and used it for a while I discovered that it really wasn’t that great of a receiver. About the only thing I liked was the ability to change bands quickly and the fairly stable SSB reception, but that was about it. It had a broad-as-a-barn front end, which let all of the noise come thru so it was a real P.O.S. in that regard.

Its funny how you can have a great impression of something for years and then if and when you finally get it someday it lets you down.

Yeah, the thrill is often in the quest; once you own something the warts come out.  I was always amazed that National used ceramic, high Q coils in the oscillator, and then used POS inductors for the RF stages.

Pete

I like S-38's and just knowing they are a POS, I don't get disappointed with them.

I can't really say that out of any of the receivers I've had so far would make me want to climb to the top of a mountain and shout for joy, but I have had several that I enjoy for one reason or another; whether it be for only exceptional stability, great sounding stock audio, good volume, or even asthetics. I have several cool looking older Nationals, but performance wise, they're not much better than my HQ-129X, a model which most people can't even give away.
 
I think we've all been a little watered down with newer technology also. After you've played around on a well calibrated digital SS rx., who really wants to futz around on a bandspread dial Halli or Hammarlund?

If you didn't enjoy the 303, you did the right thing by passing it on to someone who may adore it instead of just hanging it on a shelf just to have bragging rights to say you have one. Once I get to a good point to determine which of mine I will actually use, I will be offering the rest for sale or trade. Everyone wins and everyone is happy.


Phil

Brian, is that your antenna there in the middle picture?  The three parallel wires going across the "valley"?  Or maybe that's just electrical feed.  Either way that's some beautiful country there.

Those pictures look like Tulsa to me Brian.   ;D

No need to if the available sensitivity exceeded atmospheric noise. Now 70+ years later some of the real oldies such as the SX-28 might need new coil forms.

Carl

The HRO uses large diameter forms with no tuning slugs and no bandswitch and wiring losses. Any deterioration would probably not even be noticed. In stock shape the 10dB 10M SNR was .85uv, not too shabby for 1952. A 6GM6 brought it to .25uv.

That 6BE6 free runner is a PITA, a crystal would help considerably but toss a counter on it first or listen on an accurate radio. The last ever 1968 run of 25 for Tropical Radio included the crystal and a PD plus a mechanical filter; they wanted them to replace the HRO-500's.

Carl