The Hallicrafters SX-28 "Super Skyrider" is an American shortwavecommunications receiver that was produced between 1940 and 1946 that saw wide use by amateur radio, government and military services.
Hallicrafters founder Bill Halligan and his personal SX-28 depicted in a 1944 magazine ad
In July 1940, the Hallicrafters Company announced the SX-28 "Super Skyrider", the result of a development effort by 12 staff engineers and analysis of more than 600 reports that included input from U.S. government engineers, commercial users, and amateur radio operators. The SX-28's distinctive art deco styling was considered sleek and strikingly modern in 1940. The radio frequency coverage was 550 kHz (0.55 MHz) to 43 MHz in six bands. The SX-28 included an Amplified AVC, a Lamb Noise Silencer, Calibrated bandspread, and Push-Pull audio output. The SX-28 was known for its high fidelity audio together with high sensitivity, stability and selectivity, and good purchase value.[1][2]
The SX-28 saw use by various branches of U.S. and allied military and intelligence agencies during World War II. SX-28 and Hallicrafters S-27 and S-36 receivers were often rack mounted in British government listening posts and secret listening stations for monitoring German radar and communications during the war such as Beaumanor Hall in the English Midlands where German and Italian encrypted radio messages were sent to Bletchley Park for decoding.[4] A number of the receivers were sent to the Soviet Union as a part of the Lend Lease Act, subsequently modified to accommodate Russian tubes.[5][6]
Hallicrafters published that 50,000 SX-28 and SX-28A's had been built by the end of its production run in 1946, however the serial numbers appear to indicate a production figure of half, approximately 27,500 receivers.[7] Many of the SX-28/28A's that exist today are in the hands of vintage amateur radio collectors and amateur radio operators.
The "Skyrider" nameedit
SX-28 "Super Skyrider" logo on front panel
The name "Skyrider" was intended to bestow an aura of exotic adventure to Hallicrafters products and had a long history with the company. The first Hallicrafters set to be dubbed with the name was the 1932 S-1.[8]
Variationsedit
SX-28 tuning dialUS Government data sheet
Variations and special versions of the SX-28 were produced over the years. During World War II, Hallicrafters continued to redesign portions of the SX-28.[2]
Western Historic Radio Museum, The Hallicrafters SX-28, A pre-war masterpiece
April 12, 2024
hallicrafters, super, skyrider, american, shortwave, communications, receiver, that, produced, between, 1940, 1946, that, wide, amateur, radio, government, military, services, super, skyrider, receiver, contents, history, skyrider, name, variations, specialty,. The Hallicrafters SX 28 Super Skyrider is an American shortwave communications receiver that was produced between 1940 and 1946 that saw wide use by amateur radio government and military services SX 28 Super Skyrider receiver Contents 1 History 2 The Skyrider name 3 Variations 3 1 Specialty versions 4 See also 5 References 6 General references 7 External linksHistory edit nbsp Hallicrafters founder Bill Halligan and his personal SX 28 depicted in a 1944 magazine adIn July 1940 the Hallicrafters Company announced the SX 28 Super Skyrider the result of a development effort by 12 staff engineers and analysis of more than 600 reports that included input from U S government engineers commercial users and amateur radio operators The SX 28 s distinctive art deco styling was considered sleek and strikingly modern in 1940 The radio frequency coverage was 550 kHz 0 55 MHz to 43 MHz in six bands The SX 28 included an Amplified AVC a Lamb Noise Silencer Calibrated bandspread and Push Pull audio output The SX 28 was known for its high fidelity audio together with high sensitivity stability and selectivity and good purchase value 1 2 nbsp U S President Harry S Truman kept an SX 28 behind his desk in the Oval Office 3 The SX 28 saw use by various branches of U S and allied military and intelligence agencies during World War II SX 28 and Hallicrafters S 27 and S 36 receivers were often rack mounted in British government listening posts and secret listening stations for monitoring German radar and communications during the war such as Beaumanor Hall in the English Midlands where German and Italian encrypted radio messages were sent to Bletchley Park for decoding 4 A number of the receivers were sent to the Soviet Union as a part of the Lend Lease Act subsequently modified to accommodate Russian tubes 5 6 Hallicrafters published that 50 000 SX 28 and SX 28A s had been built by the end of its production run in 1946 however the serial numbers appear to indicate a production figure of half approximately 27 500 receivers 7 Many of the SX 28 28A s that exist today are in the hands of vintage amateur radio collectors and amateur radio operators The Skyrider name edit nbsp SX 28 Super Skyrider logo on front panelThe name Skyrider was intended to bestow an aura of exotic adventure to Hallicrafters products and had a long history with the company The first Hallicrafters set to be dubbed with the name was the 1932 S 1 8 Variations edit nbsp SX 28 tuning dial nbsp US Government data sheetVariations and special versions of the SX 28 were produced over the years During World War II Hallicrafters continued to redesign portions of the SX 28 2 Specialty versions edit AN GRR 2 introduced in February 1944 became the U S Navy SX 28A a ruggedized unit built for U S Army Signal Corps and U S Navy use 9 10 nbsp The U S Navy RBY 1 Panoramic Radio Adaptor shared a cabinet with the SX 28 11 See also editBC 348 Hammarlund Super Pro National HRO R 390AReferences edit http www antiqueradio org halli12 htm Phil Nelson s Old Radios a b http www radioblvd com SX28Notes html Western Historic Radio Museum The Hallicrafters SX 28 A pre war masterpiece http www trumanlibrary org whistlestop qq dsradio htm Truman Library President Truman s desk http www leics gov uk beaumanor park y station Beaumanor Park Education Centre http www dxing com rx sx25 htm DXing com http oak cats ohiou edu postr bapix SX28 html Boatanchor Pix http www radioblvd com Pre WWII 20Ham 20Gear htm Western Historic Radio Museum Pre WWII Ham Gear http oak cats ohiou edu postr bapix SX17 htm Boatanchor Pix The SX 17 http www radioblvd com WWII PostWar 20Hamgear htm Western Historic Radio Museum Post WWII Ham Gear http jproc ca army index html Canadian Army Communications 1944 RBY 1US Navy Panoramic Radio Adaptor RBY 1 Military TM preliminary manual 1943 General references editde Hensler Max The Hallicrafters Story Charleston West Virginia ARCA Press 1988 Moore Raymond Communications Receivers Fourth Edition La Belle Florida RSM Communications 1997 Osterman Fred Shortwave Receivers Past and Present Reynoldsburg Ohio Universal Radio Research 1998 Dachis Chuck Radios by Hallicrafters Atglen Pennsylvania Schiffer Books for Collectors 1999 SX 28 and SX 28A Manuals VOLs XII and XVI Riders Perpetual Troubleshooting Manual AN GRR 2 Manual Army TM 11 874 military SX 28A QST July 1940 to 1946 ARRL Handbook 1946External links editWestern Historic Radio Museum The Hallicrafters SX 28 A pre war masterpiece Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hallicrafters SX 28 amp oldid 1112364059, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
