Re: [Drakelist] Drake R-8 vs R-8b
If he's interested in shortwave broadcast listening or DXing, one big difference is that the synchronous detector on the R-8B has selectable sidebands, so if one side of the signal is suffering interference from a nearby station, he can switch to the other. The synchronous detector on the R-8 and the R-8A isn't sideband selectable. Unlike some synchronous detectors, the one on the R-8B works quite well in my experience. Hope this helps. Art, KB3FJO Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2016 00:40:37 + From: k7...@comcast.net To: drakelist@zerobeat.net Subject: [Drakelist] Drake R-8 vs R-8b A close friend who is facing some health challenges is considering a Drake R-8 or a R-8B receiver, among others including a R-1000. FRG-7000. What is the difference between the R-8 and R-8B when considering Drake? Thank you joe k7mks ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
[Drakelist] R7 Tuning Instability
I have a Drake R7 that sometimes displays an instability on the higher frequency bands when I first turn it on. On the 21 and 28 MHz bands the frequency reads as 16xxx kHz or 32xxx kHz, and continually increases, as if the radio is slowly counting something. The lower frequency ranges act normally. The same thing happens on the Aux7 frequencies that use 21 MHz band selector setting. The problem continues for about 5 minutes, and then the radio settles down and acts normally on all bands. I've tried cleaning the switch contacts on both the band selector switch and the Aux Program switch, but that didn't seem to make any difference. Any thoughts? Thanks. Art Delibert KB3FJO ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Exploding cap's ???
Be sure the electrolytics are fully discharged before you touch anything inside. They can retain a high enough charge to give you a serious jolt. In a lot of power supplies, the electrolytics have a "bleeder" resistor across them, to drain down that charge within a minute or so after the unit is turned off. But you're working in old equipment where things may have been modified and/or broken. A few years ago I bought an old transmitter with separate power supply at a hamfest. The seller assured me it was all in working condition. I think I would have been killed if I'd relied on that bit of "puffery." But W1ES is right -- they're pretty straightforward, and you shouldn't have any trouble figuring out what's what or working on it. Just be sure to respect the voltages that it's capable of. --Art Delibert, KB3FJO From: damienman...@hotmail.com To: drakelist@zerobeat.net Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:03:54 + Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Exploding cap's ??? Wow, thank you so much to all for the most useful information. Yes the AC4 is wired for 240 v. Hoped to string up some sort of temporary antenna this weekend and get on the air but I now know I will be busy doing something else! Just hope I have the technical abilty to sort it out. Years ago I built a Heathkit scope but that is about my only experience with components, soldering etc. I do not suppose any Drake enthusiast will have any doubt as to why a TR4 but in case anybody has, in the late 60's and early 70's when I was active I had three receivers in a row, the last being a R4A. I thought it was magnificent and way ahead of any receiver I had tried at the time. Wish I still had it today. It is only natural that I want to return to Drake. Thanks again everyone. Damien G3XER ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
[Drakelist] So if crystals change frequency ...
...what about crystal filters? We're all using crystal filters in our rigs that are as old as the crystals that we're talking about replacing. Do the crystals in the filters also drift over time, shifting the passband (or distorting it, if the crystals in it don't all drift at the same rate)? Is the drift just too small to worry about in the case of a filter? Thanks for any insights. Art Delibert KB3FJO ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Drake Receivers
In an earlier lifetime, I owned an SW-4A. I would not recommend it to anyone who is used to a serious DX receiver like the R-4C. --Art Delibert, KB3FJO > Date: Sun, 11 Sep 2011 17:55:58 -0400 > From: k4...@mindspring.com > To: k...@comcast.net > CC: drakelist@zerobeat.net > Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Drake Receivers > > Kevin - > > There are two in 4 Series. > > The SW-4/A is a Short Wave radio, fixed IF filter of 5 kHz, no BFO, etc. It > is roughly equivalent > to the R-4C in circuit topology, tubes in the RF and IF stages, SS elsewhere. > It covers eleven > short wave bands from the factory. Only four knobs on the panel, plus the > main tuning. > > The SPR-4 is a Communications receiver, circuit topology similar to the R-4B, > EXCEPT it's 'all solid > state'. Lots of dual and single mos-fets, bipolars, L-C Passband tuner with > 0.4, 2.4 & 4.8 kHz, > bandwidths, etc. Covers the nine shortwave bands from the factory with a > total of 23 positions. It > can be set up to transceive with the T-4XC with an adapter. Six knobs and a > main tuning knob. > > 73, Garey - K4OAH > Glen Allen, VA > > Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line > and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs > > > > Kevin Nathan wrote: > > Hi All. > > I have a quick question for the group. I have my R-4C which I love and > > which is full of SWL > > crystals and a couple of extra filters. However, I was wondering if Drake > > made a general coverage > > receiver that matched the T-4X transmitter line similar to the way Collins > > made the 51S1 which was > > the match to the S line transmitter and the general coverage partner of the > > 75S3? > > Thanks much and very 73. > > Kevin :) > > Amateur Radio: K7RX > > > > > > ___ > > Drakelist mailing list > > Drakelist@zerobeat.net > > http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist > > ___ > Drakelist mailing list > Drakelist@zerobeat.net > http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist > ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Sherwood Engineering
I dealt with him just a couple months ago. As usual, he was very responsive and helpful. Hope he's ok. Art Delibert KB3FJO From: dk...@bingo-ev.de To: drakelist@zerobeat.net Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:47:23 +0200 Subject: [Drakelist] Sherwood Engineering Hello: I have tried several times to contact Rob Sherwood to place an ordner but did get no response. Is he still in business? Any information welcome. vy 73 Wolfgang dk7cy ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] SPR-4 medium wave antenna?
Geoff -- Your situation sounds worse than mine, trying to DX the medium waves from a small suburban lot. There are enough noise sources in the house (which I can't control) that I can't use an indoor loop. I've had good luck with a pennant antenna aimed at Europe/North Africa, with a low noise amplifier and a line isolator located at the antenna. Another antenna that I had good luck with was a horizontal square, of the design written up in QST, September 1995, "A Receiving Antenna that Rejects Local Noise," by Brian Beezley. On the 90 meter shortwave BC band, I could hear audio on Indonesian domestic stations that were barely producing hetrodynes on other so-called low-noise antennas. It's important to get the antenna perfectly horizontal and as far from the house as you can. This antenna has to be resonated for the band you're using, so it could be a problem on MW, where the top frequency is 3 times the bottom frequency. You'd probably need a remote tuner, maybe using a varactor diode. Good luck! --Art Delibert, KB3FJO > From: geoffreymendel...@gmail.com > To: drakelist@zerobeat.net > Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:56:12 +0200 > Subject: [Drakelist] SPR-4 medium wave antenna? > > I live in a "sea" of electrical noise and need an antenna for the > SPR-4 for AM broadcasts. I tried to duplicate the loop that was made > for the SPR-4 using RG-6 and it simply did not work. The broadcasts > were weaker than the noise. Even using the loop (with my HF antenna > disconnected) the noise was stronger than the calibrator. > > So I need to locate antenna outside the noise, which means I need to > use about 10 meters of coax. Due to availability and price, I've > decided to use RG-6 coax. I can run an antenna at about 6 feet above > ground level (in a valley) and a maxiumum of 11 meters long. > > What should I use? A dipole? An end fed wire? If I use an end-fed wire > what do I ground? Should I make a 9:1 or other transformer? I have > several sizes of Russian made ferrite rods with a permeability spec of > 400. I only have #24 stranded plastic insulated and 1mm solid plastic > insulated wire. > > Should I connect the coax to the antenna input or the loop input? > > The receiver is on the second floor. At the far end of the antenna is > an HF vertical that goes to the first floor, and there is a ground rod > there. If I do ground the coax or use a transformer, I can either run > an extra 10 meters or so and put it near the ground rod (and other > antenna), or put it closer and run a 10 meter 1mm solid wire to the > ground rod. > > Thanks in advance for any advice. > > 73, > > Geoff. > > > -- > Geoffrey S. Mendelson, N3OWJ/4X1GM > Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to misquote it. > > > > > > > > > > ___ > Drakelist mailing list > Drakelist@zerobeat.net > http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist > ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
[Drakelist] Drake R7 Incorrect Frequency -- Fixed!
Several people have recently been discussing the problem of a TR-7 with an incorrect frequency read-out. I had a similar problem on my R7 -- the frequency display, and the actual received frequency, were exactly 2 MHz too low on all bands except 0, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 and 21.0 MHz. I wanted to let the list know that my problem has now been resolved by removing the DR-7 board, cleaning all contacts with Deoxit and a very small brush, and then replacing the board. (As usual when removing and replacing the DR-7 board, prayer helps.) Since the weather in much of the country is very cold and dry, use anti-static precautions when you're playing with the DR-7. Hope the others are as lucky as I was! --Art Delibert, KB3FJO ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
[Drakelist] R7 Incorrect Frequency
My R7 has suddenly developed the following problem: The frequency and frequency read-out on many of the bands is 2 MHz too low. So, for example, when I switch to the 80-meter band, and the receiver should be tuned to, say, 3650 kHz, it instead reads as 1650 kHz, and the received is in fact tuned to 1650 (but signals are lower, suggesting that the band-pass filter for 80 meters is being used). This problem is happening on the 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 7.0, 14.0 and 28.5 bands. (On the 160-meter band, the frequency 1850 reads as 99850.) It's not happening on the 0, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 and 21.0 bands. Switching in the Aux-7 board, the segments for 3.0-3.5, 4.5-5.0, 6.0-6.5, 9.5-10.0, 10.0-10.5, and 15.0-15.5 work normally. The segments for 11.5-12.0 and 17.5-18.0 are 2 MHz too low. This happens whether or not I'm using the RV75. Seems to be a problem in the DR-7 board. Any ideas where to begin looking? Many thanks. --Art Delibert, KB3FJO___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Drake equipment FS, tax deductable!
Unfortunately, probably not tax deductible, since the buyer will be receiving merchandise equal in value to the amount paid. So there's no donation to the scholarship fund. But if people want to take the opportunity to add another check to the envelope, above and beyond the purchase price, that would be deductible. To: drakelist@zerobeat.net Date: Sun, 17 Oct 2010 17:24:54 -0400 From: k9...@aol.com Subject: [Drakelist] Drake equipment FS, tax deductable! Fellow Drake enthusiasts, In the weeks ahead I'm going to be offering for sale some Drake equipment and possibly some accessories and parts. This equipment will be offered via the Drakelist and the Drake and Antique Tube Gear Net and, depending on your income tax situation, purchase of the items might be tax deductable. How can that be? Well, the equipment will be sold to fund the Challenge Met Scholarship that is administered by the ARRL. This scholarship is exclusively for ham students with physical and/or learning disabilities. Any items that I will be selling related to this endeavor must be paid for via check or money order made out to the scholarship, not me. Hence, it might be considered a taxable deduction depending on your tax status. I'm not an expert in this area, you'll have to contact your accountant or attorney. As a side note, you can contribute to this worthwhile scholarship directly outside the sale of the Drake gear that I will be listing. It will go to a very good cause. 73, Evan, K9SQG ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] R-7
If you're concerned about the long-term effects of the heat (and, as Garey suggests, it may not be a real concern), you might run the receiver off an external power supply. That cools it quite a bit. Art Delibert KB3FJO > Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:40:29 -0400 > From: k4...@mindspring.com > To: Drakelist@zerobeat.net > Subject: Re: [Drakelist] R-7 > > No, there is no provision for a fan on the R-7, and yes, it does get > warm! Since they're still running 30 years later, it's probably not > worth worrying about. I do like things running cooler, so a small fan > blowing on the back panel heatsink certainly wouldn't hurt anything. > > 73, Garey - K4OAH > Glen Allen, VA > > Drake 2-B, 4-B, C-Line& TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs > > > > Hunter Ellington wrote: > > I have recently acquired a very nice R-7, but am surprised at how > > warm/hot the radio gets after about 45 minutes. I know there was a > > fan for the TR-7, but will that fan fit on the R-7? If yes, does > > anyone have one they would want to part with? > > > > ___ > Drakelist mailing list > Drakelist@zerobeat.net > http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist _ The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_4___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
[Drakelist] RV75 -- Help!
I have an RV75 synthesized VFO that has suddenly stopped tuning up in frequency. No matter which way you turn the knob, the receiver tunes down in frequency. The problem appears to be in the optical switches on the encoder shaft, as voltage measurements indicate that one of the photo-transistors is not turning on when it should. Does anyone out there have replacements for these optical switches (OPB813S-10)? Searching on-line indicates that a parts source might have them, but they seem to have a very high minimum order (but still less than the price of the RV75!). Many thanks! Art Delibert KB3FJO _ The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_3___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
