HOM rev.

new Heathkit of the Month #30 - The Amateur Radio SB-Line Overview
Heathkit of the Month: #30 sold, as was a 51B-4 station console. The S-Line
by Bob Eckweiler, AF6C was the deluxe station of its time. And even to-
day it commands a high price and is highly
sought after. The Collins S-Line didn’t go unno-
ticed by the hams at Heath and appears to have
had a major influence on the design of the
Heathkit SB-300 and SB-400.
Heathkit Amateur Radio SB-Line - Overview
There were some significant differences be-
Introduction: tween the Collins and Heathkit lines as well as
By the mid sixties single sideband had all but many similarities. Two major differences in-
replaced AM as the preferred voice mode on volve the transmitter power supply and the
the HF bands. The Heathkit RX-1 Mohawk re- type of filters used. Heathkit managed to fit the
ceiver (See HOM #14, March 2009 RF) was a transmitter power supply into the transmitter
capable SSB receiver for the day, but the case, while the Collins transmitter has an ex-
matching AM/CW Apache TX-1 (See HOM #17, ternal power supply that fits inside the external
July 2009 RF) required the SB-10 adapter to speaker case. Heathkit also uses the less expen-
operate on SSB. Thus in 1963 Heathkit started sive crystal filters instead of the sharper me-
introducing the SB-line. This line continued chanical filters, a Collins product of renown.
into the mid 1980s and even longer if you in-
clude some later amplifiers and non-kit radios The early Heathkit SB-line is styled in a two-
that have the SB designation. tone paint scheme of grey and green. The case
is grey and the front panel is green with white
The SB-line can be split into three groups; the lettering. The knobs are dark green with silver
early SB-line, which contains the bulk of the inserts and a silver skirt. When used, meters
products; the late SB-line which is the SB-104, are black faced with white lettering, and the
and SB-104A transceivers and their matching meter trim is dark green. The meters are often
accessories; and some miscellaneous equip- backlit.
ment that is not related to either of these lines,
but has the SB designation (For example the
SB-10 mentioned above.)

Unlike other Heathkit of the Month columns,

this month’s column will be an overview of the
line and not an in-depth discussion of a par-
ticular piece of equipment. Some of these items
will be discussed individually in future articles.

The Heathkit Early SB-Line:

In the early sixties Collins Radio was selling a Figure 1: The SB-101 HF Transceiver
high performance amateur station that consists
Frequency stability of the SB-line is compara-
of a separate receiver and transmitter that can
ble with quality radios of the same era. This is
operate on one frequency using the receiver
due to the use of a pre-built and pre-calibrated
VFO or on split frequencies with each unit us-
LMO (Linear Master Oscillator) in the tube ra-
ing its own VFO. This Collins “S-Line”, as the
dios and its solid-state equivalent in the tran-
set is known, evolved through several updates
sistor receivers. The LMO tunes from 5,500
to become the 75S-3B receiver and the 32S-3
down to 5,000 KHz as the radio is tuned from
transmitter. A 30L-1 linear amplifier was also
Copyright 2011 R. Eckweiler & OCARC, Inc. Page 1 of 7
Heathkit of the Month #30 - The Amateur Radio SB-Line Overview HOM rev. new
the low to high end of any of the eight or nine Figure 2 shows the old, but still operational SB-
bands. Each band is 500 KHz wide so ten- 301 and SB-401 built by the author in 1969.
meters requires four bands to cover 28.0 - 29.7 Note that the SB-301 receiver is on the right
MHz. All oscillators except the LMO are crystal since the author is left-handed and tunes with
controlled making them very stable. the right hand.

All the radios feature the same tuning dial. The

frequency is indicated by a slide rule and dial.
The slide rule is marked 0 - 5, and the cursor
moves one slide rule division for each turn of
the dial, which is marked 0 - 100. A 4+ : 1 ver-
nier drive between the tuning knob and the dial
allows easy tuning. The frequency is read by
adding the MHz from the band switch, the Figure 2: SB-401 Transmitter (left) and
proper 100 KHz from the slide rule and the SB-301 Receiver (right).
proper KHz from the dial. This is very straight-
forward except on the two segments in the 10 Heathkit Early SB-Line Transmitters, Re-
meter band (28.5 to 29.0 and 29.5 to 30.0) ceivers and Transceivers:
where you must interpret the slide rule marks Heathkit manufactured twelve different receiv-
as 5 - 10. ers, transmitters and transceivers over the life
of the series. They are:
The receivers include a 100 KHz crystal oscilla-
SB-100 HF Transceiver
tor, and the dial cursor is adjustable so you can
SB-101 HF Transceiver
zero beat the calibration signal at the closest of SB-102 HF Transceiver
the 100 KHz spots on the dial and then set the SB-110 VHF (6-Meter) Transceiver
cursor mark right over the zero. The solid-state SB-110A VHF (6-Meter) Transceiver
receivers also include 25 KHz spots for addi- SB-300 HF Ham Receiver
tional calibration points. This might seem SB-301 HF Ham Receiver
SB-303 HF Ham Receiver (solid-state)
primitive today, but you can read out accu-
SB-310 HF SWL Receiver
rately down to less than 200 Hz which was out- SB-313 HF SWL Receiver (solid-state)
standing in the days before digital readouts SB-400 HF Ham Transmitter
were common. SB-401 HF Ham Transmitter
The SB-300 receiver was the initial SB kit of-
Assembling the dial mechanism requires a lot
fered, followed closely by the SB-400 transmit-
of patience when building the kit to get it to
ter. These appeared in late 1963 and early 1964
work smoothly. If done right, the dial feels like
respectively. They covered 80 through 10 me-
velvet. I’ve come across a lot of SB Heathkits
ters SSB and CW (no WARC bands back then).
where this is not the case. Fortunately you can
The SB-400 runs 180 watts input. The SB-300
still go in there and do a readjustment. Align-
and SB-400 got to be known as the “Heathkit
ment of the LMO to the chassis needs to be
Twins” and also as “the poor man’s Collins” not
perfect and the position of the dial parts with
long after they were introduced.
respect to each other also needs to be perfect.
The manual tells you how to do it. If you are In 1966 the SB-300 receiver was replaced by
buying a used Heathkit, be sure to check the the SB-301, and the SB-400 transmitter was
dial. If it isn’t physically broken you should be replaced by the SB-401. The SB-401 continued
able to get it working smoothly with a little in production throughout the remainder of the
care. early SB-line until 1976, but the SB-301 was
replaced in late 1970 by the SB-303, a solid-
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HOM rev. new Heathkit of the Month #30 - The Amateur Radio SB-Line Overview
state receiver. The SB-303 case is a different tubes and runs 2,000 watts PEP on SSB and
width than the other radios, measuring 14-7/8” 1,000 watts on CW. Both amplifiers have their
W x 6-5/8” H x 13-3/8” D. power supply built-in and both can run off of
120 VAC or 240 VAC with a wiring change.
In 1965, after the SB-300/SB-400 twins be-
came popular, the SB-100 transceiver was re- The SB-200 started production in 1964, while
leased. It is styled and performs similarly to the the SB-220 started production in 1970. Both
twins but is in one package with just one VFO were down-graded in 1978 because the FCC,
and requires an external power supply, either observing that amateur radio amplifiers were
the HP-23 AC power supply (See HOM #26, finding their way onto the CB band, required
February 2011 RF) or the HP-13 mobile DC that 10 meter capability be removed from new
power supply. production amplifiers. Heathkit responded
with the SB-201 and SB-221 which removed the
The SB-100 was updated to the SB-101 in 1967, ten meter capability. These amplifiers contin-
and to the SB-102 in 1970. Like the SB-401 the ued in production until 1983. They work with
SB-102 remained in production until around most HF radios and are still popular amplifiers.
1976.
Heathkit Early SB-Line Transverter:
The SB-110 also came on the scene in 1965. It is Between 1969 and 1971 Heathkit offered a two-
a 180 watt SSB, 150 watt CW six-meter trans- meter transverter kit.
ceiver that looks similar to the SB-100. In 1969 SB-500 Two-meter Transverter
it was upgraded to the SB-110A and was dis-
The SB-500 allows the SB series radios to op-
continued in the early seventies. This VHF
erate on 2-meter SSB and CW. It is designed
SSB/CW transceiver covered the lower 2 MHz
for an IF of 50 - 52 MHz for use with the 6 me-
of the six-meter band.
ter SB-110 series or 28 - 30 MHz for use with
The SB-301 and SB-303 ham radio receivers the HF SB series of twins and transceivers.
also had SWL (shortwave listener) counter- Modifications are required to operate on the
parts designated the SB-310 and the SB-313. upper two MHz of two meters.
These were spitting images of their sisters ex-
Heathkit Early SB-Line Accessory Devices:
cept they covered the major SWL bands instead
Heathkit made numerous supporting items for
of the ham bands. They also came with a wider
the early SB-line that come in their own cabinet
AM crystal filter instead of the SSB filter sup-
and add to the functionality of the line. They
plied with the SB-301 and SB-303.
appear in the same green - gray style as the rest
All the SB-3xx receivers came with one filter of the family. They are:
and space for two additional optional filters. SB-600 Matching Speaker
SB-610 Monitor Scope
Heathkit Early SB-Line Amplifiers: SB-620 Panadapter (Spectrum Analyzer)
Heathkit made two RF linear amplifiers, each SB-630 Station Console
SB-640 Remote VFO
with a derivative, to meet FCC rule changes:
SB-650 Digital Frequency Display
SB-200 HF 80-10M 1,200W PEP Amplifier
SB-201 HF 80-15M 1,200W PEP Amplifier These accessories, with the exception of the SB-
SB-220 HF 80-10M 2,000W PEP Amplifier 650, each fit in the same size accessory cabinet
SB-221 HF 80-15M 2,000W PEP Amplifier (10” W x 10-1/2” D x 6-5/8” H) The dimensions
These linear amplifiers matched the early SB- exclude knobs and feet.
line. The SB-200 uses a pair of 572B triodes
The SB-600 is a matching speaker. It is a sim-
and runs 1,200 watts PEP on SSB and 1000
ple kit and has room and mounting holes to in-
watts on CW; the SB-220 uses a pair of 3-500Z
Copyright 2011 R. Eckweiler & OCARC, Inc. Page 3 of 7
Heathkit of the Month #30 - The Amateur Radio SB-Line Overview HOM rev. new
stall an HP-23 series AC power supply inside it Both converters mount simultaneously on the
when using the speaker with one of the SB-100 rear of the SB-301 and may be selected by a
series transceivers. front panel control that switches the antenna
and turns on power to the selected converter.
The SB-610 is a monitor oscilloscope that al-
lows you to look at your transmitted signal, the The SB-310-3 is a modification kit that con-
received signal and the linearity of your power verts the SWL receiver’s 26.9 – 27.4 citizen’s
amplifier. band to the 21.3 – 21.8 SWL band (and part of
the 15 meter ham band). Evidently a lot of peo-
The SB-620 is a spectrum analyzer that lets you ple were turned off listening to eleven meters.
view a segment of the band you are on for
nearby signals. It can also be used as a stand- The SBA-401-1 is a package of crystals that al-
alone spectrum analyzer. lows the SB-401 to operate independently of
the Heathkit SB-301 receiver. Normally the
The SB-630 is a station console that includes a BFO and heterodyne frequencies are generated
(mechanical) 24-hour digital clock, a 1o minute in the receiver and used by the transmitter.
timer, an SWR bridge and a hybrid phone
patch, all housed in one cabinet. The SBM-102-1 is a modification kit for the SB-
100, SB-101 and early SB-102 (SN below 5446).
The SB-640 is a remote VFO housing a Heath- It modifies the driver stage to cancel the Miller
kit LMO with power supply for use with the SB- effect that causes the driver tuning to be differ-
100, SB-101 and SB-102 transceivers to allow ent between receive and transmit. All owners of
split frequency operation. these radios should install this kit to improve
receiver sensitivity and transmitter drive.
The SB-650 is a digital readout that displays While the kit is no longer available from
the operating frequency on six Nixie tube dis- Heathkit, the parts are common and easily
plays. It is housed in a smaller case (10” W x available, and the seven page Heathkit instruc-
10-1/4” D x 4” H) tion manual can be found on the web.
Heathkit Early SB-Line Accessories: Heathkit Early SB-Line Crystal Filters:
Heathkit also made various accessories for the Heathkit made numerous crystal filters for the
early SB-line. Some were modification kits for early SB-line. The filters for the SB-100, SB-
certain pieces of equipment. They are: 300 and SB-400 are physically larger than the
SBA-100-1 Mobile Mount later units. The later filters are narrower, but
SBA-300-3 6-meter converter the mounting and terminals are reported to be
SBA-300-4 2-meter converter the same so you should be able to use the
SBA-310-3 Mod Kit for the SB-310 smaller filter in an older radio but not the other
SBA-401-1 Crystal Pack for SB-401
SBM-102-1 Mod Kit for SB-100/101/ early 102 way around without modification. Watch out
for the later CW filter that is used in the late
The SBA-100-1 is an inexpensive mobile mount SB-line as it has a slightly different center fre-
for the SB-100 through SB-102 transceivers. quency. Here is a list of known early SB-line
filters and the equipment they work in.
The SBA-300-3 is a six-meter converter that
covers 50-52 MHz as supplied. Part #(s) Bandwidth @ 6dB/60dB
Kit(s) using filter
The SBA-300-4 is a two-meter converter that 404-200 SSB 2.1/5 KHz
covers 144- 146 MHz as supplied. SB-100/300/400 (Supplied)
404-201 AM 3.5/14 KHz
SB-100/300 (Optional)

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HOM rev. new Heathkit of the Month #30 - The Amateur Radio SB-Line Overview
404-202 CW 0.4/2.5 KHz Heath continued production on the early SB-
SB-100/300 (Optional) line’s SB-303 and SB-401, as well as the SB-201
SBA-310-2 SSB 2.1/5 KHz and SB-221 for a time after the late SB series
(404-283) SB-101/102/301/303/401 (Supplied) introduction. The new series is based on a new
SB-310/313 (Optional) transceiver, the SB-104. In 1977, as the older
SBA-301-2 CW 0.4/5 KHz series continued being phased out the SB-104
(404-284) SB-101/102/301/303 (Optional) got an update to the SB-104A and remained in
SB-310/313 (Optional)
production until around 1982. The new SB se-
SBA-301-1 AM 3.75/10 KHz ries continues the green and gray color scheme.
(404-285) SB-301 (Narrow band Optional)
Added are two black stripes on the green front
404-314 AM 5/15 KHz panel, thick along the top and thin on the bot-
SB-310/313 (Supplied)
SB-301/303 (Wide-band Optional) tom. A meter and a digital readout are in the
top strip. The meter labeling and digital readout
SBA-310-1 SSB 2.1/7 KHz
(404-328) SB-310 Optional are lit red and stand out sharply in contrast.

Heathkit Late SB-Line: The SB-104 & the SB-401A “solid-state, no-
tune” transceivers run 100 watts out on the 80
In 1974 Heathkit added a later series to the SB- - 10 meter bands (no WARC bands) and are the
line. With this series Heathkit left vacuum first SB series radios to have a digital readout
tubes behind and went all solid state except for built in. They requires 13.8 VDC power.
the a CRT and a linear final tube.
SB-104 HF Solid-state Transceiver Heathkit Late SB-Line Linear Amplifier:
SB-104A HF Solid-state Transceiver Heathkit manufactured a linear in the late SB-
line style from 1974 to 1978:

Figure 3: The Later SB-Line

Clockwise from the top: SB-104 HF Transceiver; SB-230 Linear; SB-614 Station Monitor;
SB-634 Station Console; SB-644 Remote VFO; SB-604 with HP-1144 AC Power Supply.
Copyright 2011 R. Eckweiler & OCARC, Inc. Page 5 of 7
Heathkit of the Month #30 - The Amateur Radio SB-Line Overview HOM rev. new
SB-230 1,200 W PEP Linear Amplifier Heathkit Late SB-Line Crystal Filters:
The SB-230 linear amplifier runs 1KW on CW Only one optional filter was manufactured.
and 1,200 watts PEP on SSB. It uses an Eimac Part #(s) Bandwidth @ 6dB/60dB
8873 ceramic tetrode tube that uses conduction Kit(s) using filter
cooling instead of a fan. 404-283 SSB 2.1/5 KHz
SB-104/104A (Supplied)
Heathkit Late SB-Line Accessory Devices: SBA-104-3 CW 0.4/ 2 KHz
Like the earlier SB series, the later SB series (404-548) SB-104/104A (Optional)
has a host of supporting accessory devices: The SBA-104-3 is the optional CW crystal filter
SB-604 Matching Speaker for the SB-104/SB-401A. Note that while the
SB-614 Monitor Scope SSB filter supplied with the SB-104 and SB-
SB-634 Station Console 104A are the same part used in the early SB-line,
SB-644 Remote VFO
SB-644A Remote VFO this CW filter cannot be used in the earlier SB-
line since the late SB-line uses a different CW
The SB-104 is the matching speaker for the SB- BFO crystal and a different filter center fre-
104/A. The AC power supply for the transceiver quency.
(HP-1144/PS-1144) is designed to fit internally
to the speaker. Miscellaneous Non-SB-Line Products:

The SB-614 is a solid-state signal monitor for Heathkit made a few kits with the SB prefix
viewing the quality of your signal and the line- that do not fit into the two lines. They are the:
arity of your amplifier.
SB-10 (1959 - 1964): The SB-10 is a phasing
The SB-634 is a station console that includes HF SSB adapter for the TX-1 Apache. It also
an SWR/power meter, a hybrid phone patch, works with a modified DX-100 and DX-100B.
an electronic digital clock and a ten-minute
timer. SB-1000 (1987 - 1992): Heathkit made a linear
amplifier that uses a single 3-500Z tube and
The SB-644/644A are remote VFO’s that allow runs 1,200 watts PEP. This amplifier uses the
the SB-104/104A to operate split frequency. later dark and light brown paint scheme that
matches the later SS-9000 transceiver.
Late SB-Line Accessories:
Heathkit manufactured a couple of accessories SB-1400 (1988 - 1991): This transceiver in not
for their SB-104/SB-401A line: even a kit; it is a Yaesu FT-747GX in Heathkit
livery.
SBA-104-1 Noise Blanker 73, from AF6C
SBA-104-2 Mobile Mount

The SBA-104-1 is an internal noise blanker. It

is a step up from the earlier noise remedies A special thanks to reader Art Coates (call?) for
provided on the SB-line. The SB-300 and SB- a manual that will help me with updating the
303 have no noise control circuitry. The SB-301 Heath GH-17A article.
includes a simple diode noise limiter of little
value. The SBA-104-1 is an effective noise
blanker for pulse type noise. Many were bought
for use in other receivers including the Collins
75S series receivers.

The SBA-104-2 is a mobile mount for the SB-

104/A transceiver.
Page 6 of 7 Copyright 2011, R. Eckweiler & OCARC, Inc.
HOM rev. new Heathkit of the Month #30 - The Amateur Radio SB-Line Overview

Remember if you come across any old

Heathkit Manuals or Catalogs that you do
not need, please pass them along to me.
Iʼm especially looking for mid-to-late 1960ʼs
catalogs or readable pdfs of those catalogs.

Thanks - AF6C

This article originally appeared in the June

2011 issue of RF, the newsletter of the
Orange County Amateur Radio Club - W6ZE.

Copyright 2011 R. Eckweiler & OCARC, Inc. Page 7 of 7