Heathkit insanity - the SS-9000

[N8YX]

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.

front2.jpg

[WØTKX]

Looks a bit like a Signal One rig, IMHO.

[K4PIH]

Just another Heavekit!

[wa6mhz]

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

[N8YX]

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...

[K4PIH]

Now all the magic smoke is gone!

[w2amr]

It would have looked better in green.

[W3WN]

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...

[N8YX]

...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...

HR-1680.jpg

[W3WN]

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...

HR-1680.jpg

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... )