[Drake] Going price of R4-C

[fkamp@comcast.net]

ah7i@atl.org wrote:

> Assuming the purpose of ownership is a receiver that works well, rather
> than a shelf decoration, which modifications offer no improvement
> or degrade the performance? Why?

I is impossible to degrade the performance of a stock R4C with zero options.

The R4C was the first model that Drake began to market a-la-carte.  The basic
radio only got you into the running.  It had ears but was close to worthless as
a communications receiver.

It required additional expenditure on filters, noise blanker, and optional
crystals.

Most of the mods I have seen deal with upgrading the poorly designed stock low
voltage power supply and audio output stage.  Apparently the R4C may have been
used by Drake as a test bed to get them into solid state circuitry.  The
'Sherwood mods' were many but the most useful dealt with very good plug-in
filters.

There were also some modifications to the mixers.  The mixer modifications were
pretty much worthless as far as improving perfomance.  There were also some mods
to the AGC which ruined an already superbly designed AGC system.

I own an R4C and T4XC.  The T4XC is stock but the R4C has been modified with
power supply, audio amp, noise blanker and filter mods.  The mixers are still
stock but that might change since it uses a pentagrid as first mizer.

My modified R4C is still my best receiver.  By direct comparison, I consider it
better than the best ICOM currently offers.

Regards,
Frank Kamp