Drake Mods - Making It Worthwhile
Authored by VE3EFJ
18.8 THIS MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE
Date: 19-Dec-96 16:38 EST
Wayne-
Thanks a ton for putting together your latest DRAKEMOD5 file! I have a personal reason for reading it - back in 1976 when my Dad and I first got into this hobby, THE station at the time was the Drake "C" Line...I think he went into debt but a year later he had a set while I briefly left the hobby to pursue the usual teenage interests.
Now, 20 years later, my Dad has terminal cancer. I'm trying to restore his C-Line back to original working order.....I know I'm misguided, but somehow I feel that if I can get them working again then my Dad will be 20 years younger, sitting next to me as we nervously fired up those rigs for the first time. Real radios glow blue at night.
I echo your experiences with the TR-7A, as well. I had a chance to use a Yaesu FT767Gx and a TR7A over two days of a contest weekend recently. I never had much respect for the TR-7A previously, since the Yaesu had lots more knobs and a slicker package...what a wonderful receiver that TR-7A had! It was sooooo smooth and quiet compared to that grainy intermodladen Yaesu! The only problem that I'll have to look into is that the unit shuts down when keyed at full power. Had to power cycle unit and run it at about 125 watts output to prevent this. I'll have to dig out the power supply schematic and see if there is a current sensor shutdown protection circuit. Any tips appreciated....
I found a box with four untouched Sherwood Engineering kits in it...your comments would be appreciated on these if you know anything about them:
 | Product Detector kit for R-4C - solid state
(was R-4C product detector via tube?)
| Third Mixer kit - changes it to solid state
mixer, plugs right into tube socket. | They claim that this third mixer tube fries early and causes crackling, and other noise. Audio Amp kit - per your notes looks like an
LM383 & a good mod Power supply mod - goes with above audio amp mod. | |
Just a few points that might be worth including in your next version:
| The front panels are no longer available for
the R-4C and T-4XC.
| The R-4C used a 150 ohm resistor in place of
the AM crystal filter - plugged into the crystal sockets. This can easily
fall out and make the AM mode useless.
| International Parts and RF Parts (both
advertise in QST) have great prices on tubes...most are $3 to $4 apiece
still. Got almost a full set (minus matched pair of 6JB6 finals) for the
C-Line for about $65. | |
Thanks again and keep up the good work!
73.........Craig/W8...
