[Drake] Drake gear

[ed brooks]

I, too, had an R4B/T4XB back in about 1971.  Friend bought it new, then 
had major medical problems and offered it to me at a very nice price.  I 
also had the TR4C at the time, and both the R4B and the TR4C were very 
good receivers.   I sold it all when I went back overseas.  Couple of 
years ago I acquired another R4B/T4XB in fine shape.  Still delivers an 
easy 120 watts on 20 meters.  Usually around 10 AM I park the receiver 
on 14300 and four or five hours later it is still there, and I haven't 
touched the dial.  About as stable a ham receiver as I have ever run 
across. 

I also run a muffin fan just lying on top of the rigs, so that it sucks 
air from both at once.  Ran four Q-tips through the fan mounting holes 
and they prevent any vibration or noise from reaching the radio and 
prevent the fan from sliding.  Radios are cool to the touch, yet still 
maintain that top notch stability.   This is my primary radio.  I 
operate about 85 percent CW, and use it in separate mode for that 
purpose.  When I do operate sideband, I have had unsolicited comments 
such as "LOVE that audio!"  or "great sounding rig."  Sometimes I just 
find it hard to believe how stable these rigs are, for their age and the 
technology when they were made. 

I also added 10 and 18 mhz to them, and 28.0, but no modifications to 
them at all.  Used with a Heath phone patch, they are great on audio and 
folks I've tested the patch with say it is impossible to determine 
whether I'm on the patch or direct to the transmitter. 

Enjoy the Drakes!

Ed, W5HTW




telegrapher at att.net wrote:

>I bought a R4B and T4X back in the early 70's.  ALways had good audio
>reports with the T-4X.  Put a muffin fan on top of the PA cage and ran
>it at 70-80 watts output on rtty.  That's tough service when you set
>there and run 1 or more hour long picture transmissions.  Every other
>year or so i'd send it back to Drake for service.  Usually had them put
>new finals in "just cause".  Other than that, never a failure.  The
>receiver was really good for Rtty reception with the passband tuning. 
>WOrked a lot of CW DX with that pair barefoot as well.  Sold them in the
>late 80's and haven't been happy since.  
>
>Now i've picked up a T-4X but the top of the chassis is scungy and the
>VFO kinda jumps around a little.  Need to get that fixed so i can get
>this dude back into operation like it was meant to be.  
>
>Like to find me a nice clean good operating R-4B along with a Mic for
>the T-4X.  Even a mic plug would be nice.  
>
>Larry
>W0OGH
>
>They were definitely as good a radio as Collins was in the 70's as far
>as i am concerned.  Definitely an overlooked jewel.
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