NC400

But the National NC400 was a better, more expensive mid-60’s radio.  Some made it into amateur radio and short wave listener’s hands, but many were destined for military, commercial and agency service.   Given its quality and cost a few very well may have made it into spook service. 

The NC400 pictured saw service with the FBI HF radio network, a common application for this radio.  Note the dual circular dials, which, as in the SX-100, provided both a main tuning readout and“band spread” readout, where finer gradations of frequency were provided for bands of serious interest, such as the amateur bands.

The NC400 makes the case that “real radios glow in the dark”.  The view looking in the top is spectacular, with vacuum tubes and pilot lights contributing to an overall listening experience that you don’t get from a semiconductor-packed plastic box.

The AM performance of this radio can’t be beat. This NC400 shows up on the 10 meter amateur band from time to time paired with a very nice little Johnson Ranger II 60 watt transmitter.  Transcontinental contacts of near broadcast quality are possible when the sunspots cooperate.

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