Steve,
Have you ever had/used extensively a properly done Sherwood R-4C?
I have a TT Orion II right beside it.....that's a pretty good
comparison machine, as would the K3...
I had the Sherwood before the O II...now I really don't need the
Sherwood, but I love it and it's staying. Sometimes I want to run Drake
and I want the performace of the Sherwood R-4C.
My 2 cents is if you are into running Drake AND want the top performace
it's worth the Mods.
If you do the Drake for ragchew & like the easy/great audio,, forget it
and get a R-4A or B...better audio and very smooth.
One nice thing about the Sherwood modded RX, leave the Front end filter
switch at center and the regular front end isstill used...or go to 2,4
or 600 front end roofing filters as needed with heavy QRM.
You don't really need anything but a Icom 718...but all this is fun.
73,
Lee
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Wedge <w1es1...@earthlink.net>
To: Gary Poland <gpola...@cinci.rr.com>; drakelist
<drakelist@zerobeat.net>
Sent: Sat, Dec 31, 2011 9:03 pm
Subject: Re: [Drakelist] R4C Sherwood mods
One needs to look at these changes for what they are, in the context of
their original use when they were introduced over 30 years ago. Back
then, these mods did make a fairly-new radio perform much better. I
can also remember ads in QST for solid-state tube replacements. I
never saw any tests done on those.
Back around 1980, these mods were ways to get more performance out of
contemporary or recently contemporary rigs. There are folks who love
them with these mods and others who hate 'em. A chacque son gout.
For me and lots of others, we like the Drakes for what they represent
from their now-historical period and will minimize the mods. Myself, I
have an Elecraft K3 for doing contesting and heavy-duty DX'ing. It's a
fantastic rig.
I used to have a Model A Ford, as well as my modern car that I commuted
to work with. While it was fun to take the "A" out on weekends and
occasionally to work to show it off, it really was a lousy commuter car
compared to the Saab that I was driving at the time. But the "A" was
still enjoyable. That's the way I look at my Drake gear.
BTW, stock Drake gear is usually much more useable on the current bands
than 90% of the other rigs that were contemporary to any of the Drake
line.
My $0.02
Enjoy Those Drakes, but leave the DSP in your K3...
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
"I can't complain, but sometimes I still do."
- Joe Walsh
If the above message appears, it came from Steve's Son of Laptop!
----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Poland
To: drakelist@zerobeat.net
Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2011 9:43 AM
Subject: Re: [Drakelist] R4C Sherwood mods
Against my better judgment to comment on the Sherwood mods, I guess
this time I can’t help myself HI HI. This subject is just about as
opinionated as the fan sucks in, blows out debate. First I am not a
serious contester, just a tinkerer, casual SSB /AM operator and not so
serious DX chaser.
Short of first IF filter replacements, I am personally not in favor
of modifying the the R-4C. Even overlooking the fact that it is no
longer as Drake designed it, good or bad, I prefer to keep them stock,
just my opinion. I love them for what they are. The modifications were
first published in Ham Radio and 73 magazines years ago. I have tried
most of them, but later returned the R-4C back to stock. Probably the
best reason I see against the mods, unless you have money to burn, they
are very expensive. I personally would prefer the keep the Drakes stock
and purchase a newer radio. Again I realize everyone is different,
everyone has an opinion. Those that spent big bucks to “ upgrade “
their R-4C’s have a need to feel warm and fuzzy about the expense I
suppose, and maybe they see a real improvement. I will just keep my non
Blue LED lighted, spotted chassis, non $100 Hartzel paint job, non
modded C-lines as they are ...
73, Gary
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