[Drake] Better Antenna Connector on Drake R-4B Receiver

Thu Nov 7 23:37:32 EST 2013

I use RG-174 for the interconnect. It's 50ohm and 1/8" dia and works better 
with the RCA connectors.

Bob Macklin
K5MYJ
Seattle, Wa.
"Real Radios Glow In The Dark"
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan W. Dooley" <dan at dooleystreasurechest.com>
To: "'Dave Edwards'" <kd2e at comcast.net>; <drake at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2013 8:01 PM
Subject: Re: [Drake] Better Antenna Connector on Drake R-4B Receiver

> Any thoughts about the cable used as the receive antenna connecting cable
> between the transmitter and receiver?  The cable I have between the R-4B 
> and
> the T-4XB is a length of RG6 which is maybe three feet long at most.  I 
> know
> that cable is 75 ohm and I'm wondering if there is any reason to bother
> replacing it with 50 ohm cable.  As short as the run is, it seems hardly 
> and
> issue but I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts suggesting otherwise.
>
> Also running the same cable for the Injection line between the two.
> Thoughts on that cable?
>
> WB5TKA
>
>
> Dan W. Dooley
>  email: dan at dooleystreasurechest.com
>  Dooley's Treasure Chest
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: drake-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:drake-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
> On Behalf Of Dave Edwards
> Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 3:47 PM
> To: drake at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Drake] Better Antenna Connector on Drake R-4B Receiver
>
> I went through this many years ago when questioning these connectors and
> their use with Collins equipment.
> As I recall, they are an even BETTER impedance match than the SO239
> connector, and I also remember it suggested to me to NOT use the 
> audio-type
> RCA connector.
> Their is another
> which is designed for RF use.
> I got these, and use them with all my gear. Same idea, but the center tip 
> is
> longer than the standard audio RCA connector.
> ....Dave
> On 10/29/2013 4:24 PM, bonddaleena at aol.com wrote:
>> Dan, all great suggestions.  My $.02 worth.
>> I have a largish Drake collection and before setting a radio into place, 
>> I
> always use a small SS wire brush on the female socket and use a tiny bit 
> of
> "no-alox" on the outside. It has always been my belief that it's the
> 'petals' not the center conductor that causes problems.
>> The RCA connectors are OK up through UHF....
>>
>> ron
>> N4UE
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: WQ9E <WQ9E at btsnetworks.net>
>> To: dan <dan at dooleystreasurechest.com>; drake <drake at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Tue, Oct 29, 2013 4:01 pm
>> Subject: Re: [Drake] Better Antenna Connector on Drake R-4B Receiver
>>
>>
>> Dan,
>>
>> Unless you are going to be constantly moving this setup around and
>> plugging/unplugging the connections the original RCA connectors work just
> fine.
>> Just make sure to use a decent quality phono plug and if needed press
>> in the outer "petals" slightly so that they grab the outer shield of
>> the mating jack snugly.  The only other reason to use a more secure
>> connection for this would be if you were trying to use RG-8 or other
>> large diameter coax for the connecting cable and there is no call for 
>> that
> here.
>>
>> I have R-4/T-4X through R-4C/T-4XC setups here and all use the
>> original connection setup and I have never had any failure/issue with
>> it.  For awhile a pair of C lines were my main contest setup and they
>> got a lot of use and remain my favorite low band CW setup.  The only
>> time I have seen a failure with Collins S line and Heathkit SSB gear
>> (which use RCA jacks/plugs for the antenna
>> connection) was a cracked ceramic insulator which I suspect resulted
>> from the use of a heavy/stiff coax cable.
>>
>> You can certainly change them but the only result will be a modified
>> setup that works no better than the original.
>>
>> Rodger WQ9E
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>>> From: "Dan W. Dooley" <dan at dooleystreasurechest.com>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 11:33 AM
>>> To: drake at mailman.qth.net
>>> Subject: [Drake] Better Antenna Connector on Drake R-4B Receiver
>>>
>>> Has anyone replaced the original RCA style antenna connector on the
>>> back of a Drake receiver with a SO-239 connector?  I'm considering
>>> doing so and perhaps even replacing the other end which is on the
>>> back of the T-4XB transmitter with the same.  I'm thinking perhaps
>>> this would result in a more long term secure connection between the
>>> transmitter and receiver.  I've looked at the area around the
>>> connector on the back panel of the chassis and it should fit fine.
>>> I've got the receiver opened and on the work bench right now doing
>>> some other work on it so I thought it might be a good time to consider
> that.
>>>
>>> Thoughts?
>>>
>>>
>>> Dan W. Dooley  WB5TKA
>>>    email:  <mailto:dan at dooleystreasurechest.com>
> dan at dooleystreasurechest.com
>>>     <http://www.dooleystreasurechest.com/> Dooley's Treasure Chest
>>>
>>>
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>>
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>
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