[Drake] Opinion on Drake receivers

[Stephen C. Finch]

I’ve had my TR7 since I purchased it new in 1981.  On the air almost every
week since then, I have had ZERO problems.  I have a fairly good lab for a
non-professional and the TR7 has the BEST receiver numbers of anything made
today except maybe the multi-thousand dollar rigs.

 

My rigs specs –(Standard ARRL methodology)

Noise floor:  -136-138 dbm

Dynamic range:  98 dbm, have measured above 100 dbm, but am not confident of

                                    measurement

3rd order intercept:  +3dbm  (500 hz, 10 khz spacing, about +8dbm at 20
khz).

Blocking range:  (approximately)  101 dbm, but I am not so sure with this as
I get varying 
                                    measurements when I repeat the test.

 

Many of the current rigs publish “better” numbers, but I have not been able
to duplicate the dynamic range or 3rd order intercept numbers on most of
them.  Must of the noise floors measurements are phase noise limited from
about 14 mhz and up.  The wide band front ends allow too much rf energy into
the first mixer which degrades the rigs overall receiver performance.  I
suspect that if all receiver measurements were made with the antenna
connected to a dipole and the test signals fed into the receiver antenna,
most of the current rig’s numbers would be much lower than the purlished
numbers.

 

I use it for PK31, Pactor, and all HF modes (fans installed on both rig and
power supply)..  One simple modification and it will operate from 1.0 mhz to
30 mhz making it useable on all current legal bands.  (No, I don’t operate
out of amateur bands except for Navy MARS).

 

Do I love my TR7? You bet!  Station consists of TR7, RV7, SP75, Drake Mic,
PS7, and WH7.  I leave it on nearly 100% of the time with RF gain up when
not in use so it is quiet.

 

I also like my FT-100D.  (And no, I have not experienced any of the problems
allegedly experienced by many 100Ds.)  I use mobile and portable.
Everything is included in the rig necessary for mobile and portable
operation.  I’ve added the 500 hz filter for CW.  Receiver does not even
compare to the TR7 due to phase noise, yet it is very good.

 

Steve

AIØW

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: drake-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:drake-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Garey Barrell
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 2:25 PM
To: Chris Pedder
Cc: Drake at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Drake] Opinion on Drake receivers

 

 

 

Chris Pedder wrote:

> 

> Doing Drake's design work as a customer did not make me very happy and, 

> by the time the TR7 was introduced I had learned my lesson and kept my 

> pocket book firmly in its place. Just as well from what I heard.

 

The early R-4C left something to be desired!!  :-)   I guess 

that's what happens when you "convert" too many stages at once!

 

I have four TR-7's of various vintages, and find them to be 

excellent transceivers.  The receiver in particular is 

outstanding, even today.  There are very few if any that are 

"quieter".  The signals just pop up out of a very low noise 

floor.  I suppose you  _could_  drive it into intermod with a big 

enough antenna, but I haven't seen it happen yet.  The 

transmitter is stable and WAY underrated, as long as some "fixer" 

hasn't tweaked the output power up to 200W output.  (Which it 

will do, with the optional fan, but you lose just about all 

safety margin.  They don't have 2000 memories, less than 

effective DSP, or built-in keyers, but if one  _does_  break 

(none have yet) all but very few parts are standard, 

multi-sourced, through-hole components.  Try that with your 

KenYaeCom ($8,000 !?!) wonder!  :-)

 

> This is all along time ago and in spite of these experiences, they are 

> still the greatest Radios! A few years back, just before Drake stopped 

> supplying spare parts for the old radios, they supplied me with new 

> front panels for a T4X, R4B and L7. Close on 30 years after they stopped 

> producing them... what Japanese supplier can provide those parts even 

> for current production models!

> 

> Wish they still made them.

 

Me too!

 

73, Garey - K4OAH

Atlanta

 

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