Heathkit · HF transceiver · 1970–1983
Heath's HW-101 came out in 1970, and it sold so widely that Wikipedia says you can still find the "Hot Water One-Oh-One" in use and at hamfests decades later. It's an 80 to 10 m SSB and CW transceiver with a pair of 6146 tubes in the final, good for 100 W on most bands and 80 W on 10 m. It has no power supply inside. It runs from the HP-23 family on AC or the HP-13 on 12 V DC, through an 11-pin plug. Rigpix has it on sale until 1983. Every one was a kit, so you're buying the builder as much as the radio. Heath's manuals were famously clear, but neat work still varies. Collectors look for the SBA-301-2 CW filter, the matching supply and a tidy chassis underneath.
Bench check
Should come with it
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.
Every HW-101 was built by its first owner, and Heath told 73 Magazine in 1967 that 90% of kit trouble traced to poor soldering, so look hard at the joints. WB8JKR documents the first CW dot getting lost above about 20 wpm, sidetone leaking into receive, and an S-meter zero that wanders as resistor R106 heats up.
New to used rigs? How to check a used ham radio covers power out, receive, the finals and the display, and buying vintage tube gear covers old capacitors, tubes and first power-up.
Buying guide
We'd buy ticntoc1's HW-101, titled tested and working with its manuals, at $300 delivered, under the $348 median. It has no supply, and an HW-101 needs Heath's HP-23 series (or the HP-13 on 12 V DC) to run, so budget for one or compare the two stations, myepicshop's with an HP-23B and an HM-102 SWR meter at $541 and wink052012's one-owner set with an HP-23A and a Shure mic at $640, $215 of it shipping. There are at least 7 for sale, and the untested radios alone run $155 to $188 delivered. Every one was a kit, so ask for photos underneath to judge the soldering, a wattmeter reading into a dummy load on 80, 20 and 10 m, and whether it hears signals on every band.
$300.00est. delivered
The cheapest HW-101 titled tested and working, at $300 delivered with its manuals. There's no supply, so budget for an HP-23 series supply with its 11-pin cable, and ask for a wattmeter reading on 80, 20 and 10 m.
HEATHKIT HW-101 SSB/CW Ham Radio Transceiver. With manuals Tested, works
$300.00est. delivered
About $48 under the $348 median from a 100% seller, with the only test claim on the page. Ask for photos underneath, since every HW-101 was a kit and the soldering is the first owner's.
HEATHKIT HW-101 SSB/CW Ham Radio Transceiver. With manuals Tested, works
$154.98est. delivered
Titled untested at $155 delivered, about $190 under the median, with a Drake low pass filter. There's no supply, so you'll need an HP-23 just to power it up.
Vintage Heathkit HW-101 Ham Radio SSB Transceiver W/ Drake Low Pass Filter Untes
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
Checked . 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$300.00est. delivered
$255.00 + $45.00 shipping
Buy It Now$255.00
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.
Good buy
Titled tested and works, with manuals. No supply.
Seller: ticntoc1
100% positive
For parts$154.98est. delivered
$104.99 + $49.99 shipping
Buy It Now$104.99
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.
Project piece
Titled untested, with a Drake low pass filter. No supply.
Seller: littlehiddentreasuresllc
99.3% positive
For parts$188.10est. delivered
$140.00 + $48.10 shipping
Buy It Now$140.00
Our take
Titled untested. No supply.
Seller: hamandhifi
100% positive
Used$264.70est. delivered
$175.00 + $89.70 shipping
Auction · no bids yet · ends in 3d 9h
Our take
Auction at $175 with no bids, so it will climb. Titled with a power cable, but no supply.
Seller: k2cby
100% positive
Used$396.56est. delivered
$350.00 + $46.56 shipping
Buy It Now$350.00
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
Photo shows the dial lit. No supply or test claim titled.
Seller: scottackaberr0
100% positive
Used$541.20est. delivered
$400.00 + $141.20 shipping
Buy It Now$400.00
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
With an HP-23B supply and HM-102 SWR meter as titled. No test claim.
Seller: myepicshop
99.5% positive
Used$640.43est. delivered
$425.00 + $215.43 shipping
Buy It Now$425.00
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
One-owner station with an HP-23A supply, HS-1661, Shure mic and manuals as titled. Shipping is $215 of the total.
Seller: wink052012
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 15, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchHeathkit
HF transceiverSpecs and what to check →
Heathkit
Linear amplifier$1,750–$2,475 typical ask
Heathkit
QRP rig$140–$150 typical ask
Drake
HF transceiverSpecs and what to check →