Hallicrafters · Receiver · 1959–1962

Hallicrafters SX-101A

Name: Hallicrafters SX-101A
Brand: Hallicrafters
Availability: InStock

Hallicrafters called the SX-101A a Selectable Sideband Receiver, and it's a ham-bands-only set built for the move to SSB. Wikipedia credits the earlier SX-101 of 1956 as the first ham-band-only receiver Hallicrafters built, and rigpix dates the SX-101A from 1959 to 1962. It's dual conversion on every band, with a 1,650 kHz first IF and a 50.75 kHz second IF using four permeability-tuned circuits, which give five selectivity steps from 500 Hz to 5 kHz. A 100 kHz crystal calibrator, notch filter, product detector and flywheel gear drive round it out. Band 1 tunes 30.5 to 34.5 MHz and is marked for 6 and 2 m converters. It's a heavy set, about 70 pounds with 15 tubes. The HT-37's own manual shows it wired to an SX-101A, so the pair turns up together.

SX-101AEarlier SX-101 and later SX-101 Mark III, listed separately

Spec at a glance

Maker: Hallicrafters
Type: Receiver
Launched: 1959
Made: 1959–1962
Covers: 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 m, WWV at 10 MHz, and a 30.5–34.5 MHz converter band
Modes: AM, CW, SSB (selectable sideband)
Receiver: Dual conversion, 1,650 kHz and 50.75 kHz IFs; 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 5 kHz selectivity
Sensitivity: Under 1 µV for 10 dB S/N (4 µV on the converter band)
Tubes: 15, including rectifier and regulator
Power supply: Built in, 105–125 V AC, 115 W
Weight: About 70 lb
Also listed as: SX101A, SX-101A, SX 101A, SX-101-A
Typical eBay ask (Oct 15, 2026): $420–$550

Bench check

Receive, tubes and supply

Receiver: Hallicrafters rates it at under 1 µV for 10 dB S/N, and 4 µV on the converter band. Ask for a video of it hearing signals on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 m, plus WWV on band 7. A band that's silent while the others work points at the band switch or that band's oscillator.
Tubes and circuit: Fifteen tubes, including 6DC6 RF and 50.75 kHz IF amplifiers, a 6BY6 mixer and SSB-CW detector, a 12BY7A first oscillator, a 6K6GT audio output, an OA2 regulator and a 5Y3GT rectifier. Ask whether any have been replaced and whether spares come with it.
Power supply: The supply is built in and runs on 105 to 125 V AC at 115 W, with a 5Y3GT rectifier tube. The manual says a moisture heater and the oscillator filament transformer are wired across the line, so they stay on whenever it's plugged in, even switched off. The parts list shows a 60-20-20 µF, 450 V electrolytic, so ask whether it's been replaced.
Dial and display: It tunes on a 10.5-inch slide-rule dial with a gear drive and flywheel, and only the band in use lights up. The manual includes a dial cord stringing diagram and uses #47 pilot lamps. Ask whether the pointer moves smoothly and lands on the calibrator's 100 kHz markers.
Filters and options: Selectivity comes from the 50.75 kHz IF in five steps from 0.5 to 5 kHz, with no plug-in filters. The notch filter, 100 kHz calibrator, product detector and noise limiter are all built in. Rigpix lists the R-46B and R-47 speakers as accessories, and the converter band needs a separate 6 m or 2 m converter.

Should come with it

An external speaker such as the R-46B or R-47
The operating and service manual
The 8-pin accessory socket plug Hallicrafters supplied

Check the listing photos against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing piece should come off the price.

What to check

Its multi-section electrolytic can is the kind of part Phil's Old Radios says fails most, and should be replaced before a long power-up. The manual also notes a moisture heater and the oscillator filament transformer stay live whenever it's plugged in, even switched off.

01Every band: Ask for a video tuning signals on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 m and on WWV. Each band should have stations or band noise.
02Selectivity: Ask the seller to step the selectivity from 5 kHz down to 0.5 kHz on a signal. The audio should narrow at each step.
03Calibrator: Ask them to switch on the 100 kHz calibrator. Its markers should land on the dial's 100 kHz points.
04Dial: Check the photos for a lit dial and a straight pointer. Ask whether the dial cord turns the pointer without slipping.
05Capacitors: Ask whether the electrolytic capacitors have been replaced. A recap with photos is what you want on a set this old.
06Line cord: Look at the power cord in the photos. Part of the set stays live whenever it's plugged in, so the cord should be sound.
07Speaker and manual: Ask whether a speaker and the manual come with it. It drives an external speaker from rear terminals.
08Model number: Read the badge in the photos for SX-101A. The SX-101 and SX-101 Mark III are listed under similar names.

New to used rigs? How to check a used ham radio covers receive, the tubes and the dial, and buying vintage tube gear covers old capacitors, tubes and first power-up.

Buying guide

Which one to buy

§ Oct 15, 2026

Only two SX-101As are for sale, so the $420 to $550 band isn't a market read. shoomanshoes' at $368 delivered is the one we'd ask about first, since it's titled powers on and costs $239 less than sfatreasurestore's $607 with the same claim. Powering on isn't receiving, so ask for a video of signals on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 m and WWV, and whether the multi-section filter capacitor has been replaced. It weighs about 70 lb, so ask how it'll be packed.

Listed now: 2
For parts: 0
Typical ask: $420–$550
Full range: $250–$400

Cheapest
$368.10est. delivered
The cheaper of the only two, at $368 delivered, titled powers on. That isn't a receive claim, so ask for a video on every band and of the 100 kHz calibrator markers before you pay.
💥Powers On💥 Hallicrafters SX-101A Vintage Tube Ham Receiver SSB CW AM
View on eBay ↗: 💥Powers On💥 Hallicrafters SX-101A Vintage Tube Ham Receiver SSB CW AM$368.10 est. delivered

Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.

Snapshot

For sale on eBay

2 of 2 listed

Checked Oct 15, 2026. Some may have sold.

Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 15, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.

Used
- Cheapest
💥Powers On💥 Hallicrafters SX-101A Vintage Tube Ham Receiver SSB CW AM
$368.10est. delivered
$250.00 + $118.10 shipping
Buy It Now$250.00
Good buy
Titled powers on. No receive claim.
Seller: shoomanshoes
99.7% positive
View on eBay ↗: 💥Powers On💥 Hallicrafters SX-101A Vintage Tube Ham Receiver SSB CW AM
Used
Hallicrafters SX-101A Communications Radio Receiver ■JF■ POWER ON ■JF■
$607.14est. delivered
$399.99 + $207.15 shipping
Buy It Now$399.99
Offers accepted
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled power on. $207 shipping on a 70 lb set.
Seller: sfatreasurestore
99.1% positive
View on eBay ↗: Hallicrafters SX-101A Communications Radio Receiver ■JF■ POWER ON ■JF■

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Brand

Type

Launched

Read

Hallicrafters SX-101A

SX-101AEarlier SX-101 and later SX-101 Mark III, listed separately

Spec at a glance

Maker

Hallicrafters

Type

Receiver

Launched

1959

Made

1959–1962

Covers

80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 m, WWV at 10 MHz, and a 30.5–34.5 MHz converter band

Modes

AM, CW, SSB (selectable sideband)

Receiver

Dual conversion, 1,650 kHz and 50.75 kHz IFs; 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 5 kHz selectivity

Sensitivity

Under 1 µV for 10 dB S/N (4 µV on the converter band)

Tubes

15, including rectifier and regulator

Power supply

Built in, 105–125 V AC, 115 W

Weight

About 70 lb

Also listed as

SX101A, SX-101A, SX 101A, SX-101-A

Typical eBay ask (Oct 15, 2026)

$420–$550

Receive, tubes and supply

Receiver

Hallicrafters rates it at under 1 µV for 10 dB S/N, and 4 µV on the converter band. Ask for a video of it hearing signals on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 m, plus WWV on band 7. A band that's silent while the others work points at the band switch or that band's oscillator.

Tubes and circuit

Fifteen tubes, including 6DC6 RF and 50.75 kHz IF amplifiers, a 6BY6 mixer and SSB-CW detector, a 12BY7A first oscillator, a 6K6GT audio output, an OA2 regulator and a 5Y3GT rectifier. Ask whether any have been replaced and whether spares come with it.

Power supply

The supply is built in and runs on 105 to 125 V AC at 115 W, with a 5Y3GT rectifier tube. The manual says a moisture heater and the oscillator filament transformer are wired across the line, so they stay on whenever it's plugged in, even switched off. The parts list shows a 60-20-20 µF, 450 V electrolytic, so ask whether it's been replaced.

Dial and display

It tunes on a 10.5-inch slide-rule dial with a gear drive and flywheel, and only the band in use lights up. The manual includes a dial cord stringing diagram and uses #47 pilot lamps. Ask whether the pointer moves smoothly and lands on the calibrator's 100 kHz markers.

Filters and options

Selectivity comes from the 50.75 kHz IF in five steps from 0.5 to 5 kHz, with no plug-in filters. The notch filter, 100 kHz calibrator, product detector and noise limiter are all built in. Rigpix lists the R-46B and R-47 speakers as accessories, and the converter band needs a separate 6 m or 2 m converter.

Should come with it

An external speaker such as the R-46B or R-47

The operating and service manual

The 8-pin accessory socket plug Hallicrafters supplied

Check the listing photos against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing piece should come off the price.

What to check

01Every band: Ask for a video tuning signals on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 m and on WWV. Each band should have stations or band noise.

02Selectivity: Ask the seller to step the selectivity from 5 kHz down to 0.5 kHz on a signal. The audio should narrow at each step.

03Calibrator: Ask them to switch on the 100 kHz calibrator. Its markers should land on the dial's 100 kHz points.

04Dial: Check the photos for a lit dial and a straight pointer. Ask whether the dial cord turns the pointer without slipping.

05Capacitors: Ask whether the electrolytic capacitors have been replaced. A recap with photos is what you want on a set this old.

06Line cord: Look at the power cord in the photos. Part of the set stays live whenever it's plugged in, so the cord should be sound.

07Speaker and manual: Ask whether a speaker and the manual come with it. It drives an external speaker from rear terminals.

08Model number: Read the badge in the photos for SX-101A. The SX-101 and SX-101 Mark III are listed under similar names.

New to used rigs? How to check a used ham radio covers receive, the tubes and the dial, and buying vintage tube gear covers old capacitors, tubes and first power-up.

Hallicrafters SX-101A

Spec at a glance

Receive, tubes and supply

What to check

Which one to buy

For sale on eBay

💥Powers On💥 Hallicrafters SX-101A Vintage Tube Ham Receiver SSB CW AM