Lowe English company tabletop receivers for SWL

 

Lowe tabletop receivers

Holland and Britain seem to be the main marketplace for Lowe receivers so far. This English company started making radios to its own design and specification a couple of years back, with the launch of the HF-125 and HF-225 receivers. The approach has been to try and make a simple to operate radio with the best specifications for the price. Compared to Japanese competition the radios look quite plain, but performance wise they score well. At the end of 1991 Lowe announced it was launching a small receiver for the bottom end of the market as an alternative to Japanese push button portables… sets like the Sony ICF2001D. In March 1992 we tested an off-the-shelf example of the HF-150, putting it through a series of laboratory and practical listening tests. In June 1995 we re-tested an off-the shelf sample. The results were similar to the test in 1992.

https://mwcircle.org/legacy-receiver-reviews/receiver-review-lowe-hf-150/

The Lowe Electronics Limitedcompany was started in 1964, specializing in the supply of equipment for the radio amateur hobby market in the United Kingdom . Expansion led to the establishment in 1979 of a company headquarters and service center in Matlock, Derbyshire. Several Company owned retail branch outlets can be found throughout England. For many years Lowe was the leading importer of Japanese receivers into the U. K. It was decided that a domestically produced receiver could be built with better performance and at a lower cost. The first receiver was introduced in 1987 and was sold predominantly within the United Kingdom. Additional models were produced with the unique HF-150 being perhaps the best known and most successful. This and other Lowe models have earned high marks for exceptional performance, solid, straight forward construction and excellent durability. This reputation has transformed Lowe from a domestic producer to a respected world-wide exporter with 85% of its (1993) production being sold outside the U.K.

  

The English company Lowe Electronics initially sold amateur radio accessories and from the early 1980s offered a shortwave receiver from a Japanese manufacturer under its brand. The SRX-30 was a triple conversion receiver based on the Wadley circuit with 30 linear 1 MHz bands covering the entire shortwave range, not only optically but probably also technically related to the Drake SSR-1, the same set was later offered in Germany as Century-21. The digital version SRX-30D with a built-in frequency counter followed shortly.

In 1987 the company realised, that a shortwave receiver built with standard components could also be sold in Europe at a favourable price / performance ratio. Lowe's first receiver HF-125 developed according to this concept and tailored to the European market was immediately a great success. The HF-125 had only 9 controls and a straightforward operation concept with good filters but no unnecessary gimmicks, and above-average reception performance. In 1990, it was improveded to become the HF-225, the HF-225E - Europe version was tailored to the reception conditions in Central Europe with an even improved filter configuration and various circuit improvements aimed at a perfect large signal stability. The optional D-225 synchronous detector and the external frequency keypad KPAD-1 were included in the Europe package. A professional version of this receiver was the HF-235 in a 19„ rack format with the possibility of PC control, integrated frequency keyboard & additionally improved large signal performance; it was built in small quantities only.

The successor, the HF-250, introduced in 1995, still had ten controls. An infra-red remote control, 255 memories and an RS-232C interface were already part of the standard equipment, in addition to the still generous filter selection. The European version HF-250E was also the high end version of this model with optimised behaviour under difficult reception conditions with strong signal levels in Central Europe.

In 1992, a little brother joined the existing Lowe receivers: The HF-150 had an even more spartan front panel with only the frequency display, the large tuning knob, the volume control and three buttons that could also be operated in combinations and sequences. Numerous accessories like an external S-meter with an active loudspeaker, a preselector and an external frequency keyboard were available as options. With all these accessories in a rack, the receiver gives a lot to adjust and play with. Special versions were the white HF-150M marine version and again the technically improved European version.

Back to the old days: With the designation SRX-100, Lowe had a simple receiver identical in construction to the AKD Target / NASA HF-3 from a Far Eastern production with its own company brand in its catalogue.

http://www.shortwaveradio.ch/doku.php?id=en:stationsempfaenger_von_lowe

https://www.fenu-radio.ch/Lowe_HF-235-en.htm

https://www.fenu-radio.ch/en-index.htm

https://www.rigpix.com/lowe/lowe_srx30.htm

1980-1982

https://www.radioenthusiast.co.uk/articles/in-the-editors-shack-lowe-hf125/

A receiver respected for its clean, solid design, good performance and ample filter selection. The P-1 25 Portable option consists of: an antenna preamp on a printed circuit board, telescopic whip antenna, eight NiCad cells and two battery holders. Also reviewed in Practical Wireless March & April 1987, Electronics & Wireless World April 1987

1987-1988 

https://www.rigpix.com/lowe/lowe_hf125.htm

https://www.rigpix.com/lowe/lowe_hf225.htm

1990-1997 

https://www.rigpix.com/lowe/lowe_hf225e.htm

1993-1997

An optimized version of the HF-225, geared towards the serious DXer. Enhancements include: improved and tighter l.F. filters, improved filter chokes, filter selection diodes replaced by low capacitance switching diodes , fi lter select decoupling capacitors are bypassed by new chip capacitors. Additionally the KPAD-1 keypad and 0-225 Sync AM and FM detector are featured as standard. 

https://www.rigpix.com/lowe/lowe_hf235.htm

1992-1996 

This model was designed for the military-commercial market. When in the memory channel mode, the main tuning knob allows rapid scrolling of the 30 memories. Memories 0-9 can be recalled through the keypad. Memories are maintained by a litium cell. A DB25M jack on the back provides the line out, mute, speaker out, DC power and AGC. Keypad entry to 1 kHz. The LCD display is backlit. Optional control by computer at 300/8/N/1 or 1200/8/N/1. Variants: Model HF-235/R includes the RS-232 port. ModelHF-235/Fincludes FAX mode. Model HF-235/H includes the high stability option.

https://www.rigpix.com/lowe/lowe_hf250.htm

1995-1997

https://www.rigpix.com/lowe/lowe_hf350.htm

https://www.rigpix.com/lowe/lowe_hf150.htm

The Model HF-150M is a marine version. The main circuit board has been treated to be moisture resistant and the case is white. 

Lowe started business as a supplier for radio amateur equipment, later the company became one of the leading importers of amateur radio equipment from brands from Japan.
1979 they marketed the SRX-30 receiver imported from Japan. 1987 they took the decision, that locally produced equipment should not be more expensive then imported sets, and presented the HF-125 shortwave receiver. In the following years Lowe became famous for their shortwave receivers with the straighforward design by Jonathan Thorpe, the sets were exported worldwide.
After John Thorpe left the company for AOR UK, Lowe stopped development of new sets, some imported receivers were marketed as SRX-... under Lowe's brand name. The company is still active as a supplier for amateur radio gear.

I think now LOWE have a new name  https://savox.com/