National Radio: NCX-1000 Giant Power Transceiver:

This is my NCX-1000 Transceiver which was purchased from Richard Galardi, W1DEJ, Saugas, MA, USA.
The amazing thing about this transceiver is that this was kept non- used in the radio room of his for the past 15 years or so. Completely New Old Stock, and the last check and calibration were carried out by Rich.
Clear and dynamic sound qualities unlike those of lots of other transceivers are the peculiar characteristics of this transceiver! Also a very strong signal produced by this transceiver needs no linear amp or booster amp for DX communications!

Since my review articles appeared at eHam.net's REVIEW COLUMN along with N3IBX's review of NCX-1000,
one email after another comes from those who are interested in this rare sort of ham radio transceiver.
eHam.net Review on NCX-1000:

The other day I received an email from W1JQC to the effect that he has got his father's NCX-1000.
And he referred to the serial number of his NCX-1000, and it was #276.
As a matter of fact, I have never thought of the serial numbers of other NCX-1000's that I have got here
at my hand, and I was totally stunned to find that the serial numbers of other NCx-1000's are also no bigger
than 300 - 400. NCX-1000's that I possess have the serial numbers, 0234, 0294, and 0368.
And even the serial number of the spare chassis is 371. So in comparison with Collins transceivers like KWM2/A, and S-line radios, whose serial numbers are usually 4000-5000, you can say that the number of the transceivers produced was only limited, at most 370 units or so,  so we can proudly say that this transceiver
NCX-1000 is in the truest sense of the word the rarest rig imaginable
in the world.

Below is a portion of my email sent to W1JQC,Gary Brefini, living in Foxboro, MA, halfway between Boston, MA and Providence,
Rhode Island).

> I believe that it increases its worth every year, and the value goes up
>double-fold every year, because there were only 26 NCX-1000's
>left at NRC when it was closed, and the number of NCX-1000's produced
>were only limited, your transceiver's serial number is 276.  Mine here are
>0234, 0294, and 0368, so the total number of transceivers produced is
>less than 350-400, and some are still  left  unassembled at the factory
>warehouse in Boston owned by its former National Radio employee Richard Galardi,
>W1DEJ, Surgas, MA.  http://www.geocities.co.jp/Technopolis/9075/Richard1.html
>I also got spare chassis's from W1DEJ, on which all the parts without PCB
>boards, VFO unit, and high voltage tranformer are installed. And this partly
>assembled unit is numbered 0371 as a serial number.

To be continued;

Wanted: Whether you are a lover of NRC rigs or a collector of vintage radios,
please add your ideas or opinions onto this page, please send your emails
to cfaax409@jtw.zaq.ne.jp/JA3KEV Philip Yoshitaka Shibuya, Western Japan

Quotations from EHam.net NCX-1000 Reviews:

JA3KEV Rating: 5/5 Sep 8, 2002 14:26 Send this review to a friend
The Number of NCX-1000's Produced  Time owned: 6 to 12 months
I have learned from a recent email sent from W1JQC, Gary , living in Foxboro,
MA, halfway between Boston, MA and Providence, Rhode Island that he has his Dad's NCX-1000,and that its serial numner is #271.

I believe that NCX-1000 will increase its worth every year, and the value goes up double-fold every year, because there were only 26 NCX-1000's left at NRC when it was closed, and the number of NCX-1000's produced is quite limited, W1JQC Gary's transceiver's serial number is 0276. Mine here are 0234, 0294, and 0368, so the total number of transceivers produced is less than 350-400, and some are still left unassembled at the factory warehouse in Boston owned by its former National Radio employee Richard Galardi,W1DEJ,Surgas,MA. http://www.geocities.co.jp/Technopolis/9075/Richard1.html
I also got spare chassis's from W1DEJ, on which all the parts without PCB boards, VFO unit, and high voltage tranformer are installed. And this partly assembled unit is numbered 0371 as a serial number. So I would like to advise those who own this rare rig NCX-1000 to preserve it with utmost care and love!
In a sense, this rig is far more precious and of higher money value than Collins KWM2 or Collins S-Line.
Philip Y. Shibuya cfaax409@jtw.zaq.ne.jp
 
 
JA3KEV Rating: 5/5 Jun 20, 2002 18:39 Send this review to a friend
One of the Greatest Transceivers of the Past  Time owned: 6 to 12 months
I learned of this transceiver late fall in the year 2000. My close friend Richard Galardi, W1DEJ, suggested that he has great rigs to sell, NOS. My friend JA3KBD and I have decided to purchase two of them from him, so we ordered two NCX-1000's in the summer of 2001. Yes, two NCX-1000's were sent to us. Very heavy, and we had to pay a lot for shipping across the ocean!
What I can say about this great transceiver is the dynamic clear sound of voice in receiving and transmitting. You are sure to get pile-ups if you go on the air with this transceiver !! In Japan we have 100V AC power, so we can't operate in full power, only reduced output power of 300-350 watts in SSB Mode.
Rich put ON/OFF toggle switch in the rear of the transceiver to stop the function of its blower when SWLing with this,and yes, I can listen without its noise! The availability of the final tube 8122 is a problem to me but its unbelievably high power and fascinatingly beautiful front panel design are the greatest merit of this ransceiver. And its demerit is that it is very heavy. This is the heaviest rig I have ever known! I purchased Rich's last NCX-1000 in January, 2002, and also in March, I obtained another NCX-1000 from Sweden and then in May, I got one more NCX-1000 from JH1WCD who also purchased it from W1DEJ during his stay in USA! Now my radio room has become a museum of NCX-1000's. The number of NCX-1000's left in the factory of National Radio Company in its bankruptcy back in late 80's was 26 sets, so how many working NCX-1000's are left in the world. I purchased 5 sets, and out of which I sold one to JA3KBD, Minoru, and another to JA4JTD in Hiroshima, Japan. I have now three sets.
My next project is to put a digital frequency display to this NRC's transceiver so that I can go on the air with an exact frequency readout. I have already purchased Neil Heckt's frequency display kits for my NCX-1000's, so it will not be long before I can go on the air with modern digital device. I would like to hear comments from other NCX-1000 lovers throughout the world!!
JA3KEV, Philip Y. Shibuya, Wakayama Japan. 
 
N3IBX Rating: 5/5 Aug 31, 2000 23:45 Send this review to a friend
Fantastic hybrid tube/solid state tranceiver  Time owned: 3 to 6 months
The National NCX-1000 is a fantastic high power HF radio. It does not include the WARC bands or 160M. It uses a 8122 ceramic tube in the PA for approx. 400 to 500 watts output. Transmit audio quality is very clean (mic used is a Shure 444).
This radio employs early solid state technology for the receiver and it's major components. The driver and final use tubes. Even though the receiver has no noise blanker, IF shift, or other bells and whistles it still has a great dynamic range and good selectivity. The power supply, speaker and transmitter are all in a self contained 60 lb. package. Transporting it from one location to another can effect a hernia!
This radio has an analog readout. If you find one with a crystal calibrator consider yourself lucky since it was a rare option.
With proper care and operation it will give you years of trouble free service. I recommend you purchase a manual if you plan to operate it everyday. When tuning use a reduced power output and tune for maximum output instead of dipping the plate.
Overall it's a great radio that's fun to operate and looks impressive in the shack.  
 


If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews, please email your Reviews Manager.