Heathkit · QRP rig · 1975–1983
The HW-8 is Heath's little CW-only QRP transceiver, a 4 lb box covering the bottom 250 kHz of 80, 40, 20 and 15 m. Heath's manual is dated 1975, and its first service bulletin went out that October. Power is a few watts, rated by DC input, and the receiver is direct conversion with an RF stage and a switchable active audio filter. It sips 430 mA on transmit, so a car or lantern battery runs it, as the manual itself suggests. It built a loyal following among QRP operators, enough that one author writes of an HW-8 Handbook and the QRP Quarterly ran articles fixing its quirks. The HW-9 followed in 1984 with a superhet receiver and, with an option, more bands. Rigpix lists the HW-8 on sale until 1983.
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.
Low power on 80 or 40 m with 20 and 15 m fine is a known HW-8 fault: WA8MCQ traced it to ferrite toroid cores in the output network whose inductance had shifted. Poor receive sensitivity is usually Q1 or IC-1, per Heath's 1975 service bulletin.
New to used rigs? How to check a used ham radio covers power out, receive, the finals and the display, and what power supply a used rig needs explains the 13.8 V supply most rigs need.
Buying guide
One listing isn't a market read. backagainresale's HW-8 asks $146 delivered with no test claim and no supply, and it runs on about 13.4 V DC at 430 mA on transmit, so a small 12 V battery or bench supply will do. Ask for a wattmeter reading into a dummy load on all four bands, since WA8MCQ found HW-8s making a quarter to half a watt on 80 or 40 m while 20 and 15 m were fine, and ask whether it hears CW signals on each band. It's CW only, and you don't need a license to own or listen with one, but transmitting needs an amateur license.
$145.54est. delivered
The only HW-8 for sale, at $146 delivered from a 99.2% seller. It isn't titled tested, so ask for power readings on all four bands, since low output on 80 or 40 m is a known HW-8 fault.
Heathkit HW-8 Ham Radio Transceiver HF Mono Band 3.5-21MHz 13V DC Green Vintage
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$145.54est. delivered
$99.99 + $45.55 shipping
Buy It Now$99.99
Good buy
No test claim or supply titled. Photo shows it switched off.
Seller: backagainresale
99.2% positive
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