Uploaded July 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The VFO in the HW-99 is notoriously unstable and the dial calibration is not good either .This rig was produced as Heathkit was going out of business and not many were sold . Installing the Capacitors from an old SB-104 VFO circuit board purchased at a ham fest installed in the HW-99 helped a lot along with some other modifications as listed in the video . The HW-99 VFO is now very stable and warms up in 10 to 15 minutes same as the SB-104 did . The dial is still out of calibration at some points as it was originally with original capacitors supplied and it was set up so the bottom edge of the bands are right on the zero mark so I know for sure it is in the band . The Hw-99 is now a JOY to use just tune in a station and start sending no tuning no bells and whistles just a simple good operating rig . 73 BOB
The VFO in the HW-99 is notoriously unstable and the dial calibration is not good either .This rig was produced as Heathkit was going out of business and not many were sold . Installing the Capacitors from an old SB-104 VFO circuit board purchased at a ham fest installed in the HW-99 helped a lot along with some other modifications as listed in the video . The HW-99 VFO is now very stable and warms up in 10 to 15 minutes same as the SB-104 did . The dial is still out of calibration at some points as it was originally with original capacitors supplied and it was set up so the bottom edge of the bands are right on the zero mark so I know for sure it is in the band . The Hw-99 is now a JOY to use just tune in a station and start sending no tuning no bells and whistles just a simple good operating rig . 73 BOB
