Heathkit SB-101
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| Frequency | TX/RX: 80–10 m (3.5–29.5 MHz, 8 bands) |
| Bands | 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m |
| TX power | 100 W (180W PEP input SSB, 170W input CW. ~100W output. Pair of 6146 tube finals.) |
| Modes | USB, LSB, CW |
| Weight | 7.9 kg (17.4 lb) - 17.5 lbs (~7.9 kg). Dimensions: 378×168×340 mm (14⅞×6⅝×13⅜ inches). External PSU separate. |
| Connector | SO-239 |
| Year | 1967 |
| antenna | SO-239 |
| mic | high impedance microphone |
| key | CW key jack (rear) |
| phone patch | phone patch (8/600Ω) |
| psu | power+accessory plug |
| ext spkr | 8Ω speaker output |
| acc | ALC input, spare A/B, antenna switch, RX antenna |
| power req | External PSU: HP-23 (AC) or HP-13 (DC mobile). HV supply for tube finals. |
Heathkit's Collins KWM-2 alternative at a fraction of the price, the 'Sugar Baker.' An SSB/CW transceiver with a pair of 6146 finals, a 6-pole 2.1 kHz SSB filter plus a front-panel 400 Hz CW filter, and a pre-aligned LMO (by TRW) for professional-grade stability. 100W output, with the satisfaction of having built it. Part of the SB-line accessory ecosystem.
SSB/CW only (no AM/FM). Kit-built, so quality depends on the original builder. Requires an external power supply (HP-23/HP-13). Tubes. No general coverage or WARC bands.
The 'Sugar Baker.' Patterned after the Collins KWM-2 but sold as a kit at a fraction of the price, the SB-101 was hugely popular. The pre-aligned LMO gave it strong stability, and the 400 Hz CW filter (added after the SB-100) made it a capable CW rig. A well-built SB-101 rivals factory gear; build quality is the wildcard. $100-350 used.
The Heathkit SB-101 is one of the most beloved build-it-yourself amateur transceivers ever made, a handsome SSB and CW HF radio that the owner assembled from a kit, part of Heathkit's famous 'SB-line.' It covers the amateur bands from 80 through 10 meters in eight 500-kHz segments between 3.5 and 29.5 MHz, delivering roughly 100 watts of output, using a double-conversion design with selectable crystal filters and a smooth, stable linear master oscillator that came pre-built.
Building an SB-101 was a rite of passage for thousands of hams, who learned electronics hands-on while assembling a genuinely capable station radio at a fraction of the cost of a factory-built rig. Its clean styling, good performance, and the satisfaction of having built it themselves made the SB-line hugely popular and fondly remembered. A well-built SB-101 still makes a fine vintage station, and these radios are abundant and well supported.
It is a discontinued classic. See the improved SB-102 and the matching SB-300 receiver.