Using a 70+ year old tube radio as a digital receiver on HF
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sure they can. Heck, when new they regularly pulled in digital transmission in the form of CW 
I rebuilt an NC-183D for my boss. Very well built piece of gear. Honestly comm receivers are built so much better than typical consumer equipment. Room to work, clean layout, parts that aren't all packed into every available inch of space.
I rebuilt an NC-183D for my boss. Very well built piece of gear. Honestly comm receivers are built so much better than typical consumer equipment. Room to work, clean layout, parts that aren't all packed into every available inch of space.
have you cleaned the BFO adjustment control? I want to say its an air core varicap on that thing, if the connections between the wiper and the rotor are at all imperfect it will drift a lot. I don't remember much drift with the 183D but I was mostly copying SSB phone stuff to get an idea how it was doing. It did take a bit to get fully hot and stable, but all old tube gear is that way. Once it heat soaks its not bad.
I went through the radio about 2 years ago for a complete renovation, but did not give that any emphesys becuase to the ear I did not detect any drift, it will have to be revisited next time I go through it.
