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

[Dave Edwards]

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
>
>   
>
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>
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> -----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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