09-15-2019, 04:53 PM
Alignment was not an easy job. And without a sweep generator, I know I did not align the IF chain properly but I did the best that I could do with my limited alignment gear (Clough-Brengle signal gen, Hantek scope, and some hand tools). It did make a difference. The 5.7 - 10 mc band was way off track and it took several repeated attempts before I finally had it more or less correct.
While the set is more sensitive now, I still have to crank the volume control to get a good listening level. At least now, I do have to turn it down a bit on very strong stations such as local WITZ (990) and WHAS in Louisville (840). This is with the outdoor longwire.
I tried some tube rolling with a few 6H6, 6SN7 and 6V6 tubes but there was no improvement in loudness. Maybe this is the best that the HQ-129-X can do?
In any event, it appears to be ready for reinstallation into its cabinet. I may wait and touch up the RF alignment once more before I do that, however.
One of these days I will need to pull the chassis from the cabinet again and repaint the cabinet the proper color of dark gray. Not this year, though.
While the set is more sensitive now, I still have to crank the volume control to get a good listening level. At least now, I do have to turn it down a bit on very strong stations such as local WITZ (990) and WHAS in Louisville (840). This is with the outdoor longwire.
I tried some tube rolling with a few 6H6, 6SN7 and 6V6 tubes but there was no improvement in loudness. Maybe this is the best that the HQ-129-X can do?
In any event, it appears to be ready for reinstallation into its cabinet. I may wait and touch up the RF alignment once more before I do that, however.
One of these days I will need to pull the chassis from the cabinet again and repaint the cabinet the proper color of dark gray. Not this year, though.
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
