Heathkit insanity - the SS-9000

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09-30-2015, 01:10 PM
N8YX

1 Attachment(s)

Heathkit insanity - the SS-9000

Watched a couple recent auction for these rigs. One (including the PS-9000) went for $5000; the other fetched slightly over $4k.

They were built to compete with the likes of the Collins KWM-380 and Yaesu's FT-One, each of which had their individual idiosyncrasies.

No notch filter, no modes other than CW/SSB/FSK. Filters - if installed - were mode-dependent, were not individually selectable - and weren't available for SSB AFAIK.

No general-coverage receiver, and priced at or above the cost of an FT-One when originally offered. Pre-built only; kit form not an option.

Arguably one of the final nails in the Heathkit coffin. Not sure what makes this rig so desirable that it fetches almost 2x its retail price.

Attachment 14313
09-30-2015, 03:03 PM
WØTKX

Looks a bit like a Signal One rig, IMHO. :mrgreen:
09-30-2015, 10:51 PM
K4PIH

Just another Heavekit!
10-01-2015, 09:14 AM
wa6mhz

wish I could get $5K for my SS-9000!!!
Mine will go for $20 in my estate sale!
10-01-2015, 09:57 AM
N8YX

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa6mhz

wish I could get $5K for my SS-9000!!!
Mine will go for $20 in my estate sale!

And promptly be flipped for $4k on eBay.

There. I've just given you the Secret To It All...
10-01-2015, 06:31 PM
K4PIH

Now all the magic smoke is gone!
10-02-2015, 03:48 AM
w2amr

It would have looked better in green.
10-02-2015, 02:34 PM
W3WN

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa6mhz

wish I could get $5K for my SS-9000!!!
Mine will go for $20 in my estate sale!

Well Pat, you yourself said there were only a relative handful (circa 350, wasn't it?) of these rigs ever made, did you not? Didn't you also say it was actually rarer that the SX-88 you've drooled for? And, didn't you once say you got yours (with the PS) at an estate sale for a fraction of what they're worth?

I know how you feel about selling the rigs off. I am not asking or telling you to do so. I'm just going to say... if you wanted to, you could post yours somewhere for a minimum of $2K, probably more, and make a handsome profit in the process.

Sounds like there are only a handful of Heathkit rigs that are rarer than this one... such as the famous SB-240 prototype...
10-02-2015, 02:42 PM
N8YX

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by W3WN

...Sounds like there are only a handful of Heathkit rigs that are rarer than this one... such as the famous SB-240 prototype...

And the synthesized digital VFO for the SB-104 (got one).

And the SB-671 tuner, predecessor to the SA-2040 (ditto).

And the proof-built version of the HR-1680 shown below. That's sitting in my collection as well...

Attachment 14320
10-02-2015, 02:52 PM
W3WN

Quote:

Originally Posted by N8YX

And the synthesized digital VFO for the SB-104 (got one).

And the SB-671 tuner, predecessor to the SA-2040 (ditto).

And the proof-built version of the HR-1680 shown below. That's sitting in my collection as well...

Attachment 14320

Now, that is impressive.

I think I'll stick with what I have, though... at least for now. Although one of these days, I am going to pick up an SB-301 just for nostalgia's sake (I used one with an HT-37 when I first became very active on HF. My mistake was loaning the receiver to someone... who returned it to me via a 3rd party, and said 3rd party literally tossed it into his trunk and forgot about it for a couple of weeks... lesson learned the hard way on that one... )