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.
History
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.http://www.antiqueradio.org/halli12.htm, Phil Nelson's Old Radioshttp://www.radioblvd.com/SX28Notes.html Western Historic Radio Museum, The Hallicrafters SX-28, A pre-war masterpiece
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.http://www.leics.gov.uk/beaumanor_park_y_station Beaumanor Park Education Centre 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.http://www.dxing.com/rx/sx25.htm DXing.comhttp://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~postr/bapix/SX28.html Boatanchor Pix
Hallicrafters published that 50,000 SX-28 and SX-28As 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.http://www.radioblvd.com/Pre-WWII%20Ham%20Gear.htm Western Historic Radio Museum, Pre-WWII Ham Gear Many of the SX-28/28As that exist today are in the hands of vintage amateur radio collectors and amateur radio operators.
The "Skyrider" name
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.http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~postr/bapix/SX17.htm Boatanchor Pix, The SX-17
Variations
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.
Specialty versions 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.http://www.radioblvd.com/WWII-PostWar%20Hamgear.htm Western Historic Radio Museum, Post WWII Ham Gearhttp://jproc.ca/army/index.html Canadian Army Communications - 1944
See also BC-348 Hammarlund Super Pro National HRO R-390A
References
General references de 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 1946
External links Western Historic Radio Museum, The Hallicrafters SX-28, A pre-war masterpiece