SB 104 vs SB 104A

[Lawrence P Knapp]

     Paul & others - Paul is hinting at some real problems Heath had in
     it's later years.  Chuck Penson's book on Heath describes this
     situation very well.  I was there and lived through it.  As Heath got
     into the age of "micro" it became very apparent that the
     "point-to-point" and the educational (or "smarts") of the kit builder
     and consequent servicer had to be raised several notches.  The
     SB-104/HW-104/HW-2036....etc. certainly tells the end story of kit
     building.  This "end" was but a beginning to the modern age........If
     one takes a look at the operation manual or service manual(s) on say a
     Kenwood 940 (certainly not as sophisticated as some more modern DSP
     rigs) you can see the level of intelligence needed to just find or
     figure out a problem.  If you want to read some insight in this
     situation, read Chuck's book.  For one who was not a Heath employee,
     he wrote the story well.

     Larry (KC8JX)
     St. Joseph, Mi.
     "One of the X-Hams at Heath"


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: SB 104 vs SB 104A
Author:  "Paul K. Dean" <wb9hgz at CHARLOTTESVILLE.NET> at Internet
Date:    10/28/98 8:07 AM


I understand that Heath had some significant problems with various kits
during that era.  The talk in my local club at the time was, "Never buy a
Heathkit that does not sport an 'A' suffix".  I'd heard that there were
significant problems with the HW-2036 as well. (Stories of intermod, spurs,
interference with police communications, etc.)   I own a 2036A and it's a
fairly decent rig, but if you compare the insides to the non-A, you'll find
a whole lot more copper (shielding) in the "A"!  I had even heard a rumor
of a recall on the 2036.  Anyone else aware of that or is it simply folklore?

At 09:04 AM 10/28/98 -0500, you wrote:
>     Dave - Keith Rowland wrote a very good reply to the reflector about
>     the SB-104 vs SB-104A.  I was one of the few who built the first
>     SB-104's.  I was working at Heath at the time and was one of the proof
>     builders who built the first radios (I also proof built the SB-230).
>     There were probably greater than 40 modifications to my original
>     SB-104 and to the accessories (power supply and remote vfo); the only
>     item unchanged was the speaker.  No question - the A model was the
>     best of the lot.  I used this radio for many many years.  That radio
>     had so many modifications one would have a hard time figuring out
>     what's what.  It was always brought in when one of the engineers
>     wanted to "tweak" something.  I never had near the problems Keith has
>     had...but I did have a source of repair and expert fixing.  I really
>     did like the SB-104....I worked WAS twice and DXCC (250)+ countries
>     all with 100 watts...some with 1 watt.  So the A, plus the power
>     supply mods, plus the remote vfo mods....now you got a good one.
>
>     Larry  (KC8JX)
>
>
>______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
>Subject: SB 104 vs SB 104A
>Author:  David Humbertson <daveh at HEREINTOWN.NET> at Internet
>Date:    10/27/98 6:05 PM
>
>
>Hi guys,
>Can someone tell me the difference(s) between the
>straight 104 and the A version. They were popular
>at a time when I was not following Heath gear too
>closely. Is a plain 104 to be avoided if possible?
>
>Thanks
>
>73,  Dave - W3NP
>Ft. Ashby, WV
>
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