LOWE HF150 vs. HF225 - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ORAWA01 · 4th Oct 2020, 4:22 pm

Here is a video comparing LOWE HF150 and Yaesu FRG7700.
I think HF150 is the winner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hviaHUdIdy8

dave walsh · 4th Oct 2020, 8:11 pm

There are previous threads about Lowe and it's Derbyshire location. A very helpfu, l personalised outfit that very much traded on it's reputation back then.
I spoke to them once when trying to help with a Silent Key situation [in the mid nineties] and they were very impressive.

Dave W

John KC0G · 5th Oct 2020, 12:59 am

Re. posts #18-20, there were several versions of the HF3 and HF4 receiver. At various times they have been sold under the AKD, Target, Nav-Fax, Si-Tex and Garex labels. Today they are sold by Nasa Marine. See: https://www.nasamarine.com/product/hf3w-ssb-receiver/
One version was badged by Lowe Electronics as the SRX-100. I have seen one reference to a Lowe SRX-200, but do not know if it actually existed. I have never seen a service manual for any of these radios. There are some rudimentary and incomplete schematics on the web.

Aub · 5th Oct 2020, 9:48 am

Interesting Jon,

I didn't realise the HF3 was still being sold. I bought one new in 1998. It cost, if I recall correctly, about £150. I sold it to another forum member a few years ago. It was a good little radio, but lacked a backlight for the display. I wonder if they ever fitted one?

Cheers

Aub

Julesomega · 5th Oct 2020, 11:58 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aub

I didn't realise the HF3 was still being sold

Nor me, that Target HF3 looks promising. A couple of differences show immediately: there's no mention of different AM detectors - maybe it is always synchronous, no need not to be if it works well. Then there's a rotary 'Clarify' which suggests to me that the tuning steps are 1kHz and it may also serve to offset the passband in the way described for the AOR and the Sony AMS mode

ORAWA01 · 5th Oct 2020, 1:33 pm

I saw a few HF3s for sale. In the beginning I wanted one of the HF3 because they were going for lower price, but I was overbid by other buyers every time. In the end, I gave up.
Is HF3 similar spec. radio to HF150? How would it compare in performance and general?

g4aaw pete · 5th Oct 2020, 7:01 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ORAWA01

I saw a few HF3s for sale. In the beginning I wanted one of the HF3 because they were going for lower price, but I was overbid by other buyers every time. In the end, I gave up.
Is HF3 similar spec. radio to HF150? How would it compare in performance and general?

The short answer is no. The HF3 is far from a 'serious' receiver. I've had two in the past. The bandwidth is too wide for listening to SSB on a crowded band.

ORAWA01 · 6th Oct 2020, 11:50 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by g4aaw pete

Quote:

Originally Posted by ORAWA01

I saw a few HF3s for sale. In the beginning I wanted one of the HF3 because they were going for lower price, but I was overbid by other buyers every time. In the end, I gave up.
Is HF3 similar spec. radio to HF150? How would it compare in performance and general?

The short answer is no. The HF3 is far from a 'serious' receiver. I've had two in the past. The bandwidth is too wide for listening to SSB on a crowded band.

I am glad then, I had been outbid on the HF3s

Thanks for your info.

The HF150 is working great. I was listening to usb signal on 4Mhz a few days ago, and it was communication between the Spanish fishermen on the fishing ships on the sea seemingly. The HF150 was receiving it very nicely with good classic usb audio.

It seems working great on MW and LW too. I am planning to look out for a good deal on a used / unwanted HF225 to add into my radio shack in near future.

SiriusHardware · 8th Oct 2020, 5:02 pm

You could always try a 'wanted' ad here - you never know what folks might have here, but no longer use (that's not a veiled hint, I don't have an HF225 going spare myself).

newlite4 · 8th Oct 2020, 5:31 pm

I had an HF-125 (mechanically similar to the 225) some years back. It was being disposed of at work so I took it under my wing. It performed very well for around six months until the LCD readout started to fail. The only way to remove the LCD module was to peel back the front panel film to access the mounting screws so I left well alone and sold it on. Quite a disappointment at the time since it was a good performer otherwise.
Neil

4th Oct 2020, 4:22 pm	#21
ORAWA01 Hexode Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Stirlingshire, UK. Posts: 407	Re: LOWE HF150 vs. HF225 Here is a video comparing LOWE HF150 and Yaesu FRG7700. I think HF150 is the winner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hviaHUdIdy8 __________________ ORAWA = Old Radios And Wire Antennas

4th Oct 2020, 8:11 pm	#22
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: LOWE HF150 vs. HF225 There are previous threads about Lowe and it's Derbyshire location. A very helpfu, l personalised outfit that very much traded on it's reputation back then. I spoke to them once when trying to help with a Silent Key situation [in the mid nineties] and they were very impressive. Dave W

5th Oct 2020, 12:59 am	#23
John KC0G Hexode Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Posts: 278	Re: LOWE HF150 vs. HF225 Re. posts #18-20, there were several versions of the HF3 and HF4 receiver. At various times they have been sold under the AKD, Target, Nav-Fax, Si-Tex and Garex labels. Today they are sold by Nasa Marine. See: https://www.nasamarine.com/product/hf3w-ssb-receiver/ One version was badged by Lowe Electronics as the SRX-100. I have seen one reference to a Lowe SRX-200, but do not know if it actually existed. I have never seen a service manual for any of these radios. There are some rudimentary and incomplete schematics on the web.

5th Oct 2020, 9:48 am	#24
Aub Nonode Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 2,039	Re: LOWE HF150 vs. HF225 Interesting Jon, I didn't realise the HF3 was still being sold. I bought one new in 1998. It cost, if I recall correctly, about £150. I sold it to another forum member a few years ago. It was a good little radio, but lacked a backlight for the display. I wonder if they ever fitted one? Cheers Aub __________________ Life's a long song, but the tune ends too soon for us all.

5th Oct 2020, 1:33 pm	#26
ORAWA01 Hexode Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Stirlingshire, UK. Posts: 407	Re: LOWE HF150 vs. HF225 I saw a few HF3s for sale. In the beginning I wanted one of the HF3 because they were going for lower price, but I was overbid by other buyers every time. In the end, I gave up. Is HF3 similar spec. radio to HF150? How would it compare in performance and general? __________________ ORAWA = Old Radios And Wire Antennas

8th Oct 2020, 5:02 pm	#29
SiriusHardware Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 11,556	Re: LOWE HF150 vs. HF225 You could always try a 'wanted' ad here - you never know what folks might have here, but no longer use (that's not a veiled hint, I don't have an HF225 going spare myself).

8th Oct 2020, 5:31 pm	#30
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Re: LOWE HF150 vs. HF225 I had an HF-125 (mechanically similar to the 225) some years back. It was being disposed of at work so I took it under my wing. It performed very well for around six months until the LCD readout started to fail. The only way to remove the LCD module was to peel back the front panel film to access the mounting screws so I left well alone and sold it on. Quite a disappointment at the time since it was a good performer otherwise. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.