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

WQ9E at btsnetworks.net WQ9E at btsnetworks.net
Fri Nov 8 08:26:30 EST 2013 

For the receive connection any small diameter coax is fine.  Drake does specify low capacitance coax for the injection cable (and for the BFO sync cable on the C line).  I have used RG-59 for all cables in the past with no problem but I also do the premix alignment with the transmitter and receiver connected so I account for the cable load during alignment.

Rodger WQ9E

-------- Original Message --------
> From: "Dan W. Dooley" <dan at dooleystreasurechest.com>
> Sent: Thursday, November 07, 2013 10:02 PM
> To: "'Dave Edwards'" <kd2e at comcast.net>, <drake at mailman.qth.net>
> 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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