Equipment / Base transceiver · National Radio Company
discontinued

National NC-109

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1957
Introduced
FrequencyRX: 0.54-40 MHz (4 bands)
Bandsbroadcast-10m (to 40 MHz)
PowerReceiver only
ModesAM, CW, SSB
Weight11.3 kg (24.9 lb)
Connectorantenna screw terminals (50/300 ohm)
Year1957
Connectors
antennaantenna screw terminals (50/300 ohm)

Estimated (unverified): Weight ~11.3 kg (about 25 lb) is approximate and not stated on the primary spec sheet. Cabinet is 412 x 254 x 276 mm.

11-tube single-conversion general-coverage superheterodyne, 0.54-40 MHz in 4 bands 455 kHz IF; crystal filter with 6 selectivity positions (200 Hz to 5.2 kHz) and a phasing control product detector for SSB; BFO, S-meter, ANL, antenna trimmer electrical bandspread calibrated for the 80-10m ham bands sensitivity better than ~1-2 uV (10 dB S/N); ~1.5 W audio; temperature-compensated for stability separate RF-gain and AF-gain controls; optional NTS-1 matching speaker introduced 1957 at $199.95 (QST review Jan 1958)
Strengths

National's mid-range receiver of the late 1950s. An 11-tube single-conversion design covering 0.54-40 MHz with a crystal filter (six selectivity positions plus a phasing control), a product detector for SSB, an S-meter, and ham-band bandspread calibrated for 80 through 10 meters. A well-specified set for its $199.95 price.

Weaknesses

Single conversion (455 kHz IF), so image rejection is limited on the higher bands. It receives AM, CW and SSB but has no FM. National was already in financial difficulty by the time it appeared.

Verdict

A capable late-1950s National. The NC-109 paired a crystal filter, a product detector for SSB, and proper ham-band bandspread (80-10m) in a moderately priced general-coverage receiver. It came from a company whose financial troubles would soon catch up with it.

The National NC-109 is a general-coverage communications receiver introduced in 1957 that packed a serious feature set into a moderately priced package. Its 11-tube, single-conversion design covers 0.54 to 40 MHz in four bands, receiving AM, CW and single sideband, with electrical bandspread calibrated for the amateur bands (80 through 10 meters), a crystal filter for sharp selectivity, a product detector for single-sideband reception, and separate RF-gain and volume controls.

That combination - crystal filter, product detector and proper ham bandspread - made the NC-109 notably capable for its $199.95 price, well suited to the single-sideband operating that was taking over the bands when it appeared. With National's smooth tuning and solid build, it offered a lot of receiver for the money and became a popular mid-range choice. A clean NC-109 remains a capable, enjoyable vintage receiver for amateur and shortwave listening.

It is a discontinued classic. See the general-coverage NC-190 and the ham-band NC-300.