Note
Although it offered a number of improvements and additional features, the HW-9 was never quite as popular as the HW-8 and was the last of the line. Still, it is a great little rig and is a complete redesign of its predecessors.
Basic frequency coverage includes the 80, 40, 20, and 15 meter bands. The optional HWA-9 “Band Pack" expands frequency coverage to include the 30, 17, 12 and 10 meter bands. The Band Pack was often included at no charge in special offerings. The VFO provides coverage of the lower 250 kHz of each band.
The HW-9 is built on two large circuit boards, and employs a broadband design using a double-balanced mixer and a 4-pole crystal filter—there is no RF amp in the front end. The receiver is a single conversion type and features plus or minus 1 kHz receiver incremental tuning (RIT), automatic AGC, and active audio processing. There is no internal speaker.
Transmitter output power is rated at 4 watts on all bands (but is often found to be as high as 7 watts) except 10 meters, which is 3 watts. In addition, RF output is continuously variable.
Receiver sensitivity is 0.2 µV. Selectivity is 1 kHz (wide setting) at 6 dB down and 250 Hz (narrow setting) at 6 dB down. Any problems with the HW-9 you may hear about will probably have to do with the VFO drive mechanics. There were reports of slippage and backlash and a general feeling that the whole dial assembly was too complicated and too small to work on.
The HW-9 features full QSK break-in keying but is fairly sluggish above 20 WPM because the receiver takes about 30 ms to turn on after transmit. Keying is a little on the heavy side. Above 35 or 40 WPM, code elements begin to run together.
The HW-9 requires a VTVM or VOM, a frequency counter, and a dummy load for alignment. The HW-9 was released just after Heath abandoned the famous green color scheme and takes the two-tone brown and gray of the new order. Also see matching PSA-9 power supply.
VERIFICATION OF BAND PACK
The optional Band Pack amounts to a few dozen parts that need to be added to the HW-9's two circuit boards. Probably the easiest way to check for the presence of the optional Band Pack is to remove the top cover of the transceiver and check for the presence of four coils. Refer to Pictorial A for the location of these coils. If L126, L128, L131, and L132 are present, the Band Pack has been installed.
References:
Review. QST. Jul 1985, p. 37.
Review. 73 Amateur Radio. Aug 1987, p. 22
Improvements. QST. Apr 1988, p. 26.
Tips. QST. Oct 1988, p. 43.
Tips. QST. Dec 1988, p. 32.
AGC threshold controller. QST. Mar 1990, p. 43.
Narrow IF filter for. QST. Jun 1990, p. 40.
Receiver
Frequency coverage:
3.5 to 3.75
7.0 to 7.25
10.0 to 10.25 (optional)
14.0 to 14.25
18.0 to 18.25 (optional)
21.0 to 21.25
24.75 yo 25.0 (optional)
28.00 to 28.25 (optional)
Stability: less than 150 Hz per hour after 30 minutes warmup
Sensitivity:
better than 0.5 µV for 10 db (S+N/N)
better than 0.2 µV for readable signal
Selectivity:
narrow: 250 Hz maximum @ 6 db
wide: 1 kHz maximum @ 6 db
Passband center frequency: about 700 Hz
Audio output: 1 watt into 8Ω an speaker
Dynamic range: 85 db, measured in narrow filter mode
Image rejection: 60 db minimum
IF rejection: 60 db minimum
In-band spurious signals: typically below 2 µV except at 3.695, 7.166, 10.050, 14.041, 14.083, 21.195, 21.249, 28.089 and 28.093
Audio hum and noise: at lest 60 db below maximum output
RIT range: ±1 kHz
Transmitter
RF output power: 4 watts on all bands, except 3 watts on 10 meters
Transmitter frequency offset: about 700 Hz
Output impedance: 50Ω nominal; protected against high SWR
Harmonic radiation: –35 db minimum at rated output
Spurious radiation: –40 db at rated output
T/R operation: full QSK
Sidetone: about 700 Hz
Mode: CW only
General
Operating temperature range: 15F to 120F
Power requirements: 11 to 16 VDC @ 1 amp maximum
Solid State:
diodes: (4) 1N295A, (1) 1N458, (2) 1M191, (1) 1N4753A, (13) 1N4149, (19) BA-244, (1) 1N2071, (1) 1N4002
transistors: (5) MPF105, (2) MPS6521, (2) X29A829, (1) 2N3638A, (4) 2N5770, (7) MPSA20, (2) MJE171, (1) MFE131, (1) 2N3866, (2) MRF237
integrated circuits: (1) MC1496G, (1) LM324N, (1) 78L08, (1) MC1349P, (1) CA3130, (1) heath part #442-763 type not specified
Photos, general information and specifications from "Heathkit: A Guide to the Amateur Radio Products," by Chuck Penson, WA7ZZE. Used with permission.
