[Boatanchors] Drake 2B General Coverage (Addition)

David C. Hallam dhallam at knology.net
Thu Jul 7 10:26:17 EDT 2011 


On 7/7/2011 9:10 AM, Carl wrote:
> The 390 is well above the ability (mechanical mostly) of many and was 
> even a nightmare at the tender overhaul level in the Navy and Im sure 
> in other services and quickly replaced by the 390A.
>
I'm sure everyone has their favorites.  I had a R-390 for 40 years until 
I reluctantly sold it last year as part of a downsizing due to lack of 
space.  My only objection to it was its weight if it had to go to the 
bench which was rare.  The only service problems I had with it was 
antenna rectifier which I replaced with some modern diodes, the 50 ohm 
2W resistors in the cathode of the voltage regulator, the short life and 
high cost of the 26Z5W rectifier tubes and the ballast tube.  I replaced 
the 2W resistors with 5W, put Copper Top SS rectifiers in for the 26Z5W 
tubes, replaced the 6BA6's in the PTO and BFO with 12BA6's and put in a 
piece of wire to jumper the ballast tube.  The ballast tube is 
absolutely unnecessary for fixed station use.  Not bad for 40 years of use.

I never had a mechanical problem with the admittedly complicated gear 
train.  The depot service manual was clear on how to adjust the gear 
train if needed.  I checked it out when I got the radio and that was that.

For SSB reception I had a CV -579 converter.

It was a sad day when the new owner came to pick it up.

The R-390A is not as good for a general coverage receiver due to the 
mechanical filters Collins used as part of a general cost reduction 
design of the R-390.  The filters introduced some ringing.  Due to a 
phase shift in the mechanical filters, the military had to come up with 
the R-725 which was a R-390A with the IF strip from a R-390.  At one 
point I modified a R-390A IF strip with the filters so it could be used 
in my R-390.  It didn't stay in the R-390 for long.

David
KW4DH

> The R-388 /51J3 or 51J4 would be my choice for a good SWL band cruiser 
> of the Collins military family.
>
> The HQ-180/180A is still a good radio and has been the subject of much 
> discussion. They dont require recapping and the main problem is SMD in 
> the IF cans which is a straightforward fix if/when it occurs. The 
> optional Noise Silencer is a plus.
> If SSB isnt a big interest the HQ-145 is basically a 180 without the 
> HC-10 SSB adaptor built in. It still works on SSB the old way.
>
> A real sleeper which has been showing up often recently at a low price 
> is the Hallicrafters SX-73/R-274. Superb quality unlike anything else 
> from Halli and easy to work on. Same tuning ranges as the SP-600/R-274 
> of BCB to 54 MHz but far superior quality and performance.
>
> The SX-62 was designed as an upscale homeowners AM BCB, FM BCB and SWL 
> radio. It tunes from 530 KHz to 108 MHz continuous. The downside is 
> that it shares with the SX-42 of being the hardest Halli to refurb. My 
> primary general coverage all band cruiser is a SX-62A.
>
> Carl
> KM1H
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David C. Hallam" <dhallam at knology.net>
> To: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 8:05 AM
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Drake 2B General Coverage (Addition)
>
>
>> Joe,
>>
>> You are finding the shorting comings of the 2B as a general coverage
>> receiver.  It was designed as a ham band receiver.  For that purpose it
>> is excellent.  If it's within your budget and you want to stay with a
>> tube type receiver, the R-390, not the R-390A, is the best you can get
>> for a general coverage receiver.
>>
>> David
>> KW4DH
>>
>> On 7/6/2011 8:59 PM, Joe Connor wrote:
>>> I should add that another shortcoming of the 2B is that it cannot 
>>> receive below 3.5 mhz without a special low frequency converter. 
>>> That's a shame because it seems this would be a great set for BCB 
>>> DXing.
>>>
>>> Here are some details on the converter: 
>>> http://www.dproducts.be/drake_museum/2-lf1.htm
>>>
>>> If anyone has one for sale, please let me know.
>>>
>>>
>>>                                        Joe Connor
>>>
>>> From: Joe Connor<joeconnor53 at yahoo.com>
>>>> To: Mail List - Drake Gear Drake Gear<drakelist at zerobeat.net>
>>>> Cc: "boatanchors at mailman.qth.net"<boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, July 6, 2011 8:01 PM
>>>> Subject: [Boatanchors] Drake 2B General Coverage
>>>>
>>>> OK, guys, I have been using my Drake 2B as a general-coverage 
>>>> receiver for a week now and I wanted to report back on my 
>>>> experiences. This is a receiver that you folks helped me out with 
>>>> about a month ago. To repair it, I had to install a 6BF6 tube 
>>>> (easily obtained) and replace the filter cap can.
>>>>> I made it a general-coverage receiver by using the accessory 
>>>>> crystal sockets B, C and D. A 10 mhz crystal gives me 49m, a 13.5 
>>>>> mhz crystal gives me 31m and an 8.0 mhz crystal gives me 25m. The 
>>>>> stock crystal for 40m includes the 41m band. The receiver's 
>>>>> sensitivity and selectivity are very good. The tuning is spot-on 
>>>>> accurate. While the audio does not rival that of an SX-28 or 
>>>>> NC-183d, it is more than acceptable. I am really impressed. This 
>>>>> receiver is a keeper. I have this set in my study and use it for 
>>>>> general SWLing as well as monitoring the ham bands. It's a fun set 
>>>>> to use.
>>>>>
>>>>> There are shortcomings:
>>>>>
>>>>> (1) you have to buy the crystals for each SW band;
>>>>>
>>>>> (2) it's a royal pain to change crystals. The 2B's top does not 
>>>>> open, which would make changing the crystals less of a chore. 
>>>>> Thus, I am pretty much limited to the SW bands listed above. This 
>>>>> is a significant limitation. For example, I would like to be able 
>>>>> to monitor the 19m band; and
>>>>>
>>>>> (3) I have yet to master the 2B-Q Q multiplier.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>                                        Joe Connor
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> Boatanchors mailing list
>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/boatanchors
>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>> Post: mailto:Boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
>>>>
>>>> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
>>>> ** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Boatanchors mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/boatanchors
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:Boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
>>>
>>> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
>>> ** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
>>>
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>
>>
>> -- 
>> "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the 
>> government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense 
>> of taking care of them."
>> Thomas Jefferson
>>
>>
>> "We may consider each generation as a distinct nation, with a right, 
>> by the will of its majority, to bind themselves, but none to bind the 
>> succeeding generation, more than the inhabitants of another country."
>> Thomas Jefferson
>>
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Boatanchors mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/boatanchors
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
>>
>> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
>> ** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
>>
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>>
>> -----
>> No virus found in this message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 10.0.1388 / Virus Database: 1516/3748 - Release Date: 07/06/11
>>
>
>

-- 
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
Thomas Jefferson


"We may consider each generation as a distinct nation, with a right, by the will of its majority, to bind themselves, but none to bind the succeeding generation, more than the inhabitants of another country."
Thomas Jefferson

More information about the Boatanchors mailing list