HT-32A
The first HT-32A exciter/transmitter
was acquired on E-bay recently (April 2001) from Pittsburg,PA. I bid on
it
was the highest bidder but it didn't make the reserve. I then bid on the HT-33 amplifier and won it, the same
seller had both items, and offered me the exciter at the last bid price since I was taking the amplifier, and he
really wanted to get rid of both units. When I first saw the units up close in Pittsburg (We drove down) I was
amazed that I even bid on them they were saturated with years of dust, and I figured I would be getting them
in shape for the next six months. Boy was I wrong!
was the highest bidder but it didn't make the reserve. I then bid on the HT-33 amplifier and won it, the same
seller had both items, and offered me the exciter at the last bid price since I was taking the amplifier, and he
really wanted to get rid of both units. When I first saw the units up close in Pittsburg (We drove down) I was
amazed that I even bid on them they were saturated with years of dust, and I figured I would be getting them
in shape for the next six months. Boy was I wrong!
I carefully removed
the exciter from its case "Hefted" it to the work bench and started cleaning out the dust, it
took an HOUR to get all of it off the exciter I then gave it the eye-ball treatment I looked things over carefully
no obvious changes, Hum lets warm it up. I put the exciter on the variac set the voltage at 60 volts, went for
coffee, when I came back down everything was on and the fan was running, I decided to bring it up to full A.C.
input volts turned on the calibrate position and on the spectrum analyzer saw the output on 7290. Yeah, quick
check of the bands showed output on all 80 through 10 meters.
took an HOUR to get all of it off the exciter I then gave it the eye-ball treatment I looked things over carefully
no obvious changes, Hum lets warm it up. I put the exciter on the variac set the voltage at 60 volts, went for
coffee, when I came back down everything was on and the fan was running, I decided to bring it up to full A.C.
input volts turned on the calibrate position and on the spectrum analyzer saw the output on 7290. Yeah, quick
check of the bands showed output on all 80 through 10 meters.
Inserted a wattmeter in the line to the dummy load and checked for power
output, oh well can't have everything,
the power out was a whopping 15 watts on all bands, Humm I checked the voltages on the various stages, and
monitored the drive levels all the way from the sideband generator to the 6146 output tubes all correct, ok I
changed the 6146s (a pair) and started again. This time in CW mode I got 55 watts out on all bands, I put cleaner
on the bandswitch sections all the way to the output tubes, and checked again, checked my manual reprint from
"BAMA" and decided to peak the driver coils up as I had changed the output tubes. A good tweaking and the
output was right at 70 watts for all bands and I was HAPPY, not bad at all total time on the bench was about
4 hours and the exciter was working. I got on 7290 and got a few signal reports, and with the band being very
unpredictable I still got good signal reports from the guys on 40 meters, went to 10 AM and worked a station
in Texas and decided to tackle my next job!
the power out was a whopping 15 watts on all bands, Humm I checked the voltages on the various stages, and
monitored the drive levels all the way from the sideband generator to the 6146 output tubes all correct, ok I
changed the 6146s (a pair) and started again. This time in CW mode I got 55 watts out on all bands, I put cleaner
on the bandswitch sections all the way to the output tubes, and checked again, checked my manual reprint from
"BAMA" and decided to peak the driver coils up as I had changed the output tubes. A good tweaking and the
output was right at 70 watts for all bands and I was HAPPY, not bad at all total time on the bench was about
4 hours and the exciter was working. I got on 7290 and got a few signal reports, and with the band being very
unpredictable I still got good signal reports from the guys on 40 meters, went to 10 AM and worked a station
in Texas and decided to tackle my next job!
A few pictures of the rig as I got it.
The inside was dusty and dirty, and I thought, this is REALLY going to be a challenge.
I removed the cabinet, and the fan and set them aside for repainting. My trusty light weight paint brush was
used to clean as much of the loose dirt/dust from the top-side of the rig.
used to clean as much of the loose dirt/dust from the top-side of the rig.
As an aside, I have to say two things. First the BAMA site at K4XL was very helpful in getting the right tubes
in the right places. The manual there helped an awful lot. I wanted a real Hallicrafters repro so I contacted AL
NI4Q, and ordered the original manual repro for the HT-32, which I will add here is different from the HT-32A
and the HT-32B manuals and radios. If you end up with an HT-32, be sure to get the right manual. Alvins E-mail
address is ni4q@juno.com and a VERY good guy to work with, with high quality reproductions on most ham
equipment.
in the right places. The manual there helped an awful lot. I wanted a real Hallicrafters repro so I contacted AL
NI4Q, and ordered the original manual repro for the HT-32, which I will add here is different from the HT-32A
and the HT-32B manuals and radios. If you end up with an HT-32, be sure to get the right manual. Alvins E-mail
address is ni4q@juno.com and a VERY good guy to work with, with high quality reproductions on most ham
equipment.
I checked all the voltages and also the operation at the aux connector on the back for full operation of the TR-relay
indise the unit. Also that the bias output for an amplifier was available, and operating correctly. There are provisions
for operation with the Hallicrafters receivers, and patching receive audio to the front of the transmitter for headphone
use. Also provisions for V.O.X. operation, which is the "Berrys"! There is a 115 VAC at 2 amp connector on the
rear for my TO-1 keyer, which comes in handy, (saves and outlet) and also a jack for "FSK" keying of the rig,
at the 850 cps shift rate, "No really" and it works!
indise the unit. Also that the bias output for an amplifier was available, and operating correctly. There are provisions
for operation with the Hallicrafters receivers, and patching receive audio to the front of the transmitter for headphone
use. Also provisions for V.O.X. operation, which is the "Berrys"! There is a 115 VAC at 2 amp connector on the
rear for my TO-1 keyer, which comes in handy, (saves and outlet) and also a jack for "FSK" keying of the rig,
at the 850 cps shift rate, "No really" and it works!
All I can say is they did some real neat planning in this unit, and the functionality is first rate. I have to see how it
matches up with the HT-33 from the same auction. So the fact that all the aux stuff works is REAL important. I
Was very happy with the output power from the unit, as I figure it will surely drive the amplifier just fine, and I
stopped to wire up the cable to the amplifier bias switching, and also a (9) DB attenuator to match it up to the
drive levels needed for the amplifier. Understand this, if you have one of these units matched up to the HT-33,
the exciter must be tuned for the correct power output (into 50 ohms) per the manual. Any excess drive has
to be taken care of in the in-line attenuator (very important).
matches up with the HT-33 from the same auction. So the fact that all the aux stuff works is REAL important. I
Was very happy with the output power from the unit, as I figure it will surely drive the amplifier just fine, and I
stopped to wire up the cable to the amplifier bias switching, and also a (9) DB attenuator to match it up to the
drive levels needed for the amplifier. Understand this, if you have one of these units matched up to the HT-33,
the exciter must be tuned for the correct power output (into 50 ohms) per the manual. Any excess drive has
to be taken care of in the in-line attenuator (very important).
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