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The Hallicrafters SX-28 "Super Skyrider" was an American shortwave communications receiver produced between 1940 and 1946 that saw wide use by amateur radio, government and military services.
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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.
The SX-28 saw use by various branches of U.S. and allied military and signals 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. A number of the receivers were sent to Russia as a part of the Lend Lease Act, subsequently modified to accommodate Russian tubes.
Hallicrafters published that 50,000 SX-28 and SX-28A's 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. Many of the SX-28/28A's 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.
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.