Keep an eye out for the Drake FS-4 (I think that's the designation). That is the Drake manufactured synthesizer. It matches the rigs and comes up every once in a while on eBay. They can be somewhat pricey, but very cool. I want to get one some day, and have been watching the prices for a year or so. They tend to bring about $450 or so. I think there is one listed as we speak/type. 73 and good luck. WB9NJB
R. Hunter Ellington, Esq. Shareholder Gorrell Giles PC 1331 Seventeenth Street, Suite 1000 Denver, Colorado 80202 (303) 996-6585 Direct (303) 996-2680 Fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of EP Swynar Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10:34 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [drakelist] R-4 Series Crystal Alternatives Good Afternoon All, I'm curious about the experience of others in the matter of utilizing possible "...substitutes" for the frequency band oscillator crystals --- be they synthesizers, self-excited "analog" oscillators, whatever --- in the R-4 series of receivers, to expand the frequency coverage of same... To date, my research has come up with three different articles on the subject, i.e.: --- August 1972 HAM RADIO magazine ("Frequency Synthesizer for the Drake R-4"; --- May 1981 QST magazine ("General-Coverage Reception with the Drake R-4C", and, --- June 2004 April QST magazine ("Give that Drake Receiver a New Lease on Life"). Of all these, the May '81 QST appears to be about the simplest to construct, even though it uses a pair of the now relatively expensive ECG222 (come NTE-222) dual-gate Mosfet transistors...but how in the world does one attain (and maintain) solid, stable, & steady crystal-like oscillation in a relatively simple Colpitts circuit, as high as 40.8-MHz...?! I'm putting out feelers at this time, because in three short days from now, I shall be the proud owner of a pair of Drake Twins here...a Christmas present that I am presenting to myself, just a few days ahead of THE BIG DAY, Hi Hi. Thanks in advance, & my vy ~73~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
