W8USR - United States Radio

Hallicrafters SX-110 Receiver

Technical Specifications

The Hallicrafters SX-110 is a vintage, single-conversion general coverage communications receiver manufactured from 1959 to 1963. Originally retailing for about $160, it utilizes an 8-tube lineup to tune frequencies from 538 kHz to 34 MHz across four bands, and includes an amateur band spread. Here is a breakdown of the core specifications for the SX-110:

• Frequency Coverage: 0.538 to 34 MHz across four bands (Band 1: 0.538–1.6 MHz, Band 2: 1.55–4.6 MHz, Band 3: 4.6–13.0 MHz, Band 4: 12.0–34.0 MHz).
• Amateur Bandspread: 3.5–4, 7–7.3, 14–14.4, 20.1–21.5, and 26–30 MHz.
• Modes: AM, CW.
• Vacuum Tube Lineup (8 total): 6SG7 (RF Amp), 6SA7 (Converter), 6SG7 (1st IF Amp), 6SK7 (2nd IF Amp), 6SC7 (Audio Amp/BFO), 6K6GT (Audio Output), 6H6 (Detector/ANL/AVC), and 5Y3GT (Rectifier).
• Features: Built-in S-meter, crystal filter, RF gain, Automatic Noise Limiter (ANL), muting line, antenna trimmer, headphone jack, and tone control.
• Power Requirements: 105 – 125 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz (75 W).

Radio History

A friend sold me this Hallicrafters SX-110 Receiver when I earned my ham radio license (WN8VBK) at just 15 years old in 1975. I used it at the radio desk alongside the Heathkit DX-60B transmitter.

Antenna Routing

I used 100 foot wire circling along the walls where they meet the ceiling in the attic of the second floor. That placed it equivalent to about 30 feet off the ground outside (never actually measured). With that simple antenna system, I was able to hear signals from all parts of the globe depending on the time of day, the frequency, and of course propagation.

Station Role

The Hallicrafters SX-110 served as the first receiver in the radio shack. I had just entered into this new hobby by passing my exam for a Novice license. Today it sits next to the Heathkit on my repair bench in the workshop/exercise room across the hall from the radio station. I occasionally fire it up for SWL (instead of watching TV) while using my elliptical or doing something at the repair bench.