Hacker Hunter RP38A

[Tedzed1]

A strange acquisition for me, usually transistor radios do not float my boat,
but seeing as it was a freebie, who can argue.

so got it home, and today I purchased the required 2 pp9 batteries,
and upon fitting them, all the radio would emit, was a loud pop as it was switched on and off, but after a couple of attempts, sprang into life, VHF was pulling in really strong, so pressed MW, and the radio died again.

so on/off switch operated again, and I had medium wave, likewise same problem with LW, so it works fine on all wavebands, but everytime the waveband switch is operated to change wavelength, I have to turn it off and on, then it works, so having a browse at what others have said, could this be a transistor problem?

I must say the sound quality is superb, much better than expected, it might grow on me yet collecting these TR******OR thingeys

[Steve_P]

Possible, but the first thing to try is to give the wavechange switches a good clean. Also the plugs and sockets to the various boards are worth a clean as well.

Cheers,

Steve P.

[Mark Hennessy]

What's the serial number? I'll pop it in the database...

Service manual available FOC on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hackerradiogroup/

Lovely sets - one arrived here yesterday, but a much later one. The wavechange switches are troublesome, but as Steve says, give them a squirt. You might need to adjust the FM alignment, which is pretty easy on those.

Many people consider them to be the best sounding Hacker set, but you won't know until you've bough a Sovereign and a VHF Herald to compare it to. But then, you'll probably want to try some of the AM only sets, which are generally superb.

You have been warned :-)

[Tedzed1]

OK, so out with the switch cleaner, on further investigation, the on/off switch seems rather weak, you can only just notice a very slight click when the knob is turned, and if I turn it on, and take the the volume switch quickly up to full, you hear a short burst of sound, looks like the switch needs to come out for cleaning, will try this next.

I can only find one number on the set Dr Mark, it is on the base on a paper label, says 27916, is that the one you want?

[Mark Hennessy]

Hi Paul,

It should be stamped on the chassis. Usual place is near the volume control - easily visible with the back off. It should be the same as the paper sticker, assuming no-one has swapped the chassis.

On the Hacker group linked to above, there is a guide to replacing volume controls if necessary. I haven't needed to do a Hunter yet, but most of the other sets are covered. Basically, there are two modern pots that fit nearly all of the Hacker sets made...

Cheers,

Mark

[Tedzed1]

Got it, it is 27916.

[Mark Hennessy]

Thanks - all done. Forgot to ask - is there a DC input jack on the side? Probably not, based on the serial number, but you never know...

[Tedzed1]

Hi Mark, no DC imput jack on this one, it also seems that the volume switch pot is at fault, as when it is turned off, The speaker pops when the battery is connected/disconnected.

[Mark Hennessy]

I always power these from a bench power supply so I can easily watch the current - checking it falls to zero when off is a good move. I've come across a few sets with faulty "always-on" switches, not just Hackers either...