The Lowe HF225

The Lowe HF-225 is a double conversion superhetrodyne receiver that provides AM, SSB and CW reception from 30 KHz to 29.999 MHz in 7.8 hertz steps. Selectivity is supplied by ceramic filters in bandwidths if 10,8.8 and 2.2 KHz. There's a 200 Hz audio fil ter, centred to 800 Hz, for CW reception. Frequency readout is only to the nearest kilohertz. There are two VFOs and 30 memories in the receiver to store favourite frequencies. Modes are not stored. A noise blanker is included which does a decent job of removing ignition noise. It's always on and it's not adjustable.

Lowe offers two options for the HF-225 which I feel are essential : external keypad for easy tuning and a PLL synchronous detector for AM. The "AMS" detector has drawbacks, but its benefits far outweigh its shortcomings. The same board is used for narrow band FM reception. When the AMS mode is in use the 10 KHz bandwidth becomes 12 KHz suitable only for local broadcasts or the clearest shortwave signals.

The HF-225 is housed in an aluminium box measuring 10 x 7 x 4.25 inches and it's built like a tank. The radio can stand a lot of handling, especially when fitted with the optional leather carrying case. It can be fitted with an optional NiCd battery pack and a whip antenna and impedance-matching amplifier for portable operations. The radio is powered from an external 12 volt power pack.

The HF-225 has a bank of 30 memories for storing any frequency within the tuning range of the receiver. The contents of any memory can be reviewed at any time without stopping the receiver working on the existing frequency in use. If you wish to transfer the memory contents to the main display and listen to the memorised frequency, a single press of the "Recall" button will do just that.

A second way of using the memories is the "Channel" mode in which the memories can be scanned using the main tuning knob, with the receiver tuning to each memorised frequency as it appears on the display. This is just like having a band of 30 HF single channel receivers at your fingertips, and is perfect for monitoring a series of, say, HF airband channels, or a series of RTTY news channels. Extremely versatile in use, and an example of the thought which has gone into the HF-225.

All frequency information, together with the filter status, attenuator status, memory channel contents, and "in lock" indication for the synchronous AM detector is shown on the main display. This is a high contrast back illuminated liquid crystal type, which gives totally unambiguous readout to the user. Placing of the decimal point is done automatically by the receiver, so there can be no mistake when reading the frequencies.

Tuning the receiver is by the well placed main tuning knob, together with the Up/Down buttons which step the HF-225 up or down in 1MHz increments. An optional keypad (KPAD-1) simply plugs into a jack on the rear of the panel and allows direct entry of any frequency from a telephone keypad layout. This is a listeners dream, and really enhances the use of the HF-225.

The HF-225 operates from 12VDC, and a mains power unit is included in the basic price. You can equally well run it from a vehicle battery, or using the optional internally fitted B-225 battery pack you can carry the receiver around. Charging of the batteries is carried out automatically when the receiver is connected to its power supply. For carrying around, there is also a tough well made carrying case with a shoulder strap. Specially designed for the HF-225 by Topper Cases Ltd., the C-225 allows you to operate the HF-225 without removal from the case whilst giving all round protection against damage.

If portable operation appeals, a further option available is an active whip aerial, the W-225; the pre-amplifier fitting inside the receiver, and the telescopic whip connecting to the coaxial aerial socket on the rear panel. The whip amplifier can also be used as a pre-amplifier for short wire aerials in difficult locations.

The HF-225's front panel is simple and uncluttered, with only four knobs (volume, tone, mode and tuning) and five pushbuttons which serve multiple purposes. The frequency display is in the centere and there's a small S-meter are illuminated by three green LEDs which are on whenever the radio's on. The light they give is adequate while not being intrusive in a dark room. There's also a 1/4 inch jack for monaural or stereo headphones.

The set's rear panel contains an SO239 coax connector for a 50 ohm antenna, compression type connectors for a high impedance antenna, a three position antenna selection switch (Lo-Z, Hi-Z/Whip) a squelch control for NBFM, a centre positive concentric soc ket for the power supply and 1/8 inch recorder. There's also a mysterious hole marked "AUX" which appears to serve no purpose.

My HF-225 sits on my bedside table and gets more use than all my other receivers combined. The radio is fed by a 35 foot indoor antenna on the ground floor of a frame house that has aluminium siding. There's a 50 kW medium wave transmitter (WZXR-1560 KHz ) less than a quarter mile from my home. Those are the facts of DX life at my home and I must live with them. I can switch in a Palomar P-408 preselector or a Palomar BCB loop antenna if need be. The preselector is very rarely used but it comes in handy for extremely weak stations like VNG on 16 MHz or AIR, Aligarh on 7412 KHz. These stations can be received "barefoot" but the preamp gives a little better signal to noise ratio. It also gives better front end selectivity for rejection of my high powered neighbour.

SIDEBAR- The Lowe Listeners' Guide

Packed along with each Lowe receiver is a little gem of a book called The Lowe Listeners' Guide, which serves as an introduction to DX-ing without attemping to provide one of those frequency lists that's invariably outdated. This little book covers an aw ful lot in its 60 odd pages, and does it with a dry, refreshing wit. I' ve been DXing for more than 40 years, yet I found things in the little Lowe book that I' d never tried.

It begins with some pointers on antennas, then moves on to a guide tour of the spectrum from ELF through 30 MHz. Here's a sample of what you'll find "off the beaten track" "If you really want to frighten yourself, a couple of transistors and a few large coils can be cobbled into an ELF receiver. Around 10 KHz or so the action of static discharges anywhere in the atmosphere, coupled with changes in the earth's magnetic field, create "Whistlers", not unlike the cry of a rough whale. Very eerie all this. All worthy of John Carpenter..."

While it's written from a European perspective, with a distinctly British accent, the information contained in Lowe's wonderful little Listeners' Guide is perfectly valid anywhere on earth. Like the receivers it accompanies, The Lowe Listeners' Guide is for shortwave connoisseurs. Priced at only 1.95 (about 3.50) it would make an ideal stocking stuffer for any short wave aficionado.