The AM Forum

Hi to all:
I have not used the Hammarlund HQ-180AC. 

Does 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 20.0 and 25.0 MHz line up on the dial.  That is, when changing frequencies for WWV/WWVH (Changing Band Sellection) can the dial stay put/in one place or will I have to tune the dial to find all the WWV/WWVH frequenies?  If there is tuning to find the above frequencies how much tuining?

Thank you.
Chuck - AA5WG

Hi Chuck!

Assuming that your radio has at least a decent alignment, you should only have to turn the band switch and then tune a little left or right of the marks.

- Be sure that the Bandspread dial is set to Zero otherwise the main dial settings will be shifted and useless.

- Note that WWV no longer transmits on 25Mhz (as of 1977).

- Reception varies tremendously, so it may or may not be possible to receive ANY of the transmissions at any given time.   5Mhz and 10Mhz are probably the most reliable at present.   (Your mileage may vary!).

You can check the dial settings against other known radio stations.  A little work on the web you can find some.  Off the top of my head there are commercial broadcasters in Maine and Louisiana just above the 40m band that have big signals.

We are so used to looking at digital displays that it bears saying that these old BA's had remarkably good tuning when peaked and tweeked.

Good luck!   Bill

Hi Bill:
How much tuning left or right of the marks?

Before I go on the air I do a quick check of the propagation of all the WWV/WWVH frequencies ( 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 and 20 MHz).  With the Hammarlund HQ-180AX I can flick the crystal sellector swithch and bam I am on frequency now, no tuning of the dial.  I like this.

With the HQ-180A (not the HQ-180AX) I could change bands to do this check of all above frequecies.  I did not want to have to spin the dial from one end of the band to the other end of the band to get to the desired WWV/WWVH frequency.

I am not familiar with the HQ-180A and don't know how much dial spinning I have to do to find all the above frequencies.

Can anyone tell me how much dial tuning is required for the HQ-180A to get on frequency for WWV/WWVH?
Could someone take some closeup pictures of the HQ-180A dials for me showing the WWV/WWVH frequencies?

Thank you for your consideration.
73, Chuck - AA5WG

All the "X" gives you is a crystal controlled HF osc.  You still have to change bands to get the RF section on the correct band for the HFO freq.  But with accurate crystals you would not have to spin the Main Tuning.

On an HQ-180 I don't believe the 2.5 / 5 / 10 Mhz points line up on the Main Tuning dial.. been ages since I had one.  But the band ranges (end-to-end) are:

2.05 to 4.04
4.0 to 7.85
7.85 to 15.35   - obviously 10 and 15 MHz are not lined up!

I used to have an inexpensive Rat Shack digitally tuned RX, quite accurate.  Something like that would enable vy quick band hopping for what you want to do. 

I misunderstood your original question.    No, I don't think that the wwv marks line up.  Looking at the HQ-180 series manual I see that it requires switching to four bands and the third band has two of the frequencies on it. 

I cannot find a photo of the main dial.  Here is a link to the manual:  http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/hammarlu/hq180/series

Good luck!

Does anyone know how close the WWV marks or points on the dial line up for the different bands (2.5, 5, 10 and 15 MHz)?

Can someone take a closeup photo the these WWV marks on the dials.

Thank you help gentleman.
Chuck - AA5WG

KB4QAA and N2BC thank you.
Chuck - AA5WG

Hi to all:
I found the answer on a YOUTUBE video of the HQ-180.  There is a nice slope from 2.5 -20.0 MHz.  W6OU pointe me to this video.
73,
Chuck - AA5WG