Note
The HW-16, a complete novice station in one box, was a very successful product for Heath. The unit uses a total of nine tubes, covers the lower 250 kHz of the 80, 40, and 15-meter bands, and has an adjustable input power of 50 to 90 watts.
Strictly speaking, the HW-16 is not a true transceiver. It is a separate transmitter and receiver sharing a common solid state power supply. The word “transceiver” also is commonly interpreted to mean that the unit transmits and receives on the same frequency, and this is not necessarily the case with the HW-16.
The transmitter section is a 3-tube crystal-controlled design using a modified Pierce oscillator, grid block keying, and a 6GE5 final amp. No attempt is made to shape the keyed waveform. As a result, the keying is a little hard but generally, it is free of clicks, although some minor chirping may be noted, especially on 15 meters. The output circuit is a pi-network type designed for 50-75Ω loads.
The VFO-tunable receiver is a double conversion type with a crystal-controlled first oscillator. A two-crystal half-lattice filter provides selectivity of 500 Hz. Sensitivity is 1.0 µV.
Other features of the HW-16 include single-knob transmitter tuning, illuminated dial, a built-in sidetone oscillator, two crystal sockets (one for FT-243 and one for HC-6/U), and a built-in fully electronic antenna switching system providing true break-in keying (QSK)—a nice touch. There are also provisions for control of the transmitter with the HG-10(B) VFO.
An edgewise front panel meter reads relative power and plate current. The meter has a mark indicating maximum permissible plate current for Novice operation. Front panel controls include AF gain and power switch, final tune, band switch, RF gain, power level, meter function switch, and receiver tune.
Rear panel connections include RCA jacks for an 8Ω speaker (there is no built-in speaker), VFO, and 50Ω antenna and quarter-inch jacks for key and headphones, a ground post, and an octal socket for powering the HG-10(B) VFO. Many units will be found with an SO-239 added to replace the RCA jack antenna connector.
The HW-16 wears the familiar two-tone green wrinkle paint and uses light gray DX-60 style knobs, as well as two small dark green knobs. The main tuning knob is light gray with a metal inset.
The HW-16 uses 80-meter crystals on 80 and 40 and 40-meter crystals on 40 and 15. The HG-10(B) VFO makes a fine companion. Add an HD-10 or HD-1410 keyer and you have a complete classic station. All things considered, the HW-16 is a great rig. Beware modifications.
References:
Review. CQ. Dec 1967, p. 18.
Review. QST. Jan 1968, p. 53.
Use with SB-200. CQ. Feb 1969, p. 84.
Use on 20 meters. CQ. Nov 1968, p. 117.
Use on 20 meters (brief). CQ. Oct 1971, p. 96.
Use on 20 meters (more). CQ. Dec 1971, p. 72.
Use on 20 meters. QST. Aug 1972, p. 51.
Use on 20 meters. QST. Nov 1975, p. 35.
Use on 20 meters. CQ. May 1976, p. 35.
Conv 40 m to 20 m / undoing other mods. QST. May 1978, p. 29.
VFO operation. Ham Radio. Mar 1973, p. 54.
Improvements, Ham Radio. Dec 1973, p. 57.
Adapting VFOs for. QST. Nov 1974, p. 20.
Calibration control for. CQ. Feb 1976, p. 43.
Sidetone level adjust. QST. May 1977, p. 48.
Use with low impedance headphones. Ham Radio. Jul 1977, p. 88.
Help for. QST. Aug 1979, p. 50.
Modifications part 1. Electric Radio. May 2012
Modifications part 2. Electric Radio. Jun 2012
Improved tuning. 73 Amateur Radio. Feb 1972, p. 101.
Receiver section
Frequency coverage: 3.5 to 3.75, 7.0 to 7.25, 21.0 to 21.25 MHz
Sensitivity: better than 1.0 µV for 10 db signal-plus-noise to noise ratio
Selectivity: 500 Hz @ 6 db
Image rejection: 70 db or better
IF rejection: 35 db or better
IF: 3396 kHz
Antenna impedance: 50Ω nominal, unbalanced
External speaker impedance: 8Ω
Transmitter section
Frequency coverage: 3.5 to 3.75, 7.0 to 7.25, 21.0 to 21.25 MHz
RF power input: 50 to 90 watts, adjustable
Keying: grid-block break-in (full QSK) with automatic switching and muting
Output impedance: 50Ω nominal, unbalanced
Sidetone: neon relaxation oscillator
Power requirements: 120 VAC, 50/60 Hz
Tubes: (1) 12AX7, (2) 6CL6, (2) 6EA8, (2) 6EW6, (1) 6HF8, (1) 6GE5
Photos, general information and specifications from "Heathkit: A Guide to the Amateur Radio Products," by Chuck Penson, WA7ZZE. Used with permission.
