Note
QST, Sep 1969, p. 121.
QST, Feb 1971, p. 5. ("transceiver of the 70s")
QST, Nov 1976, p. 131. (Hamtronics ad: "National is back.")
National's kilowatt transceiver sold for just less than a dollar per watt. The NCX-1000 was all solid-state except for its driver and final. It was rated at 1000 watts PEP on SSB, 1000 watts DC on CW, and 500 watts on AM or RTTY. A pair of RCA 8122 tubes was used in the final. It covered 80-10 meters and the operator could use either sideband anywhere in this spectrum. It combines the receiver, transmitter (including a high-power final linear amplifier), power supply, and monitor speaker into a single 59-pound desktop unit.
In 1977, long after the NCX-1000 had been discontinued, Hamtronics somehow acquired a number of NXC-1000s as new-old-stock, and ran an ad stating "National is Back." QST, Nov 1976, p. 131. The ad also listed the NCX-1000 and NCL-2000, and ran until May 1977.
Specifications and Features
– Power Ratings: 1000 W PEP input on SSB, 1000 W on CW, and 500 W on AM and FSK.
– Speech Processor: Features an IF speech processor (clipper) designed to double average SSB power output with minimal distortion.
– Sensitivity: 0.5 microvolt for a 10 dB (S+N)/N ratio.
– Design: Double-conversion solid-state receiver.
– Front End: Double-tuned preselector rightarrow RF amplifier stage rightarrow preselector rightarrow first mixer.
– IF Chain: First IF uses passband filters and an amplifier stage before converting to a second IF. The second IF employs a 6-pole crystal-lattice filter and four IF stages, followed by four audio amplification stages.
– Signal Generation: Three speech amplification stages rightarrow balanced modulator rightarrow crystal-lattice filter rightarrow filter amplifier rightarrow IF speech processor.
– Mixing & Driver Stages: Converted via two IF mixing stages and two IF amplifiers, followed by five RF amplification stages feeding the grid of a 6BM6 driver tube.
– Final Power Amplifier: Uses a forced-air-cooled 8122 ceramic tetrode feeding a pi-network output.
– Grid-block keying for CW.
– Amplified Automatic Level Control (AALC).
Tube Lineup
– (1) 6BM8 Driver
– (1) 8122 Power Amplifier
References
Review. 73, Apr 1971, p. 58.
