Steve -
Not really..... Yes, the neon 'PTO in Use' lights were a nice touch, but the 'above the belt'
switch from aluminum to black lettering made all the difference in the world in being able to READ
what they said. The new MAIN TUNING knob with 'dished' skirt also made them much easier on the
eyes, especially in lighting with any glare. That's why MANY of the R-4 and R-4A receivers no
longer have the old main knob and flat skirt, but ended up with the 'new' style with the nice bright
aluminum center. LOTS of those knobs and skirts were sold when the "B" came out. Most important of
all though was the change from 4 pole crystal filters in the T-4X to the 8 pole used in all later
models. The T-4X actually doesn't meet the 'Purity of Emissions' requirements in the FCC
regulations. Both the Carrier and Opposite Sideband suppression are much poorer in the T-4X.
Obviously the T-4X is 'grandfathered' in, and if you are not driving an amplifier, most will never
notice the difference. However, IF you use an amp, and/or have a nearby ham neighbor, you may make
new friends! :-) Of course if you only operate CW, not a problem as the T-4X has that nice,
smooth T-4X(any) keying. The 'B' also saw the conversion from bipolar to FET in the PTO for
improved stability.
Other than the above, not much difference! :-)
73, Garey - K4OAH
Glen Allen, VA
Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line
and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs
<www.k4oah.com>
Steve Wedge wrote:
#2 is still in its pristine, late-1960's state. I just bought it with a very nice-but-dusty T-4X
and MS-4 and AC-4 from Shelby. I have shut if down for now, though, as I've noticed significant
AC hum on the signals. Once I get my PTO back, I'll run my R-4A with the revitalized PTO whilst I
begin work on R-4B #2. This will include re-capping all electrolytics.
My take is that this set I bought at Shelby represents what a lot of hams with Drakes had during
that period: The receiver was enough of a progression from the R-4A to be worth upgrading, but the
transmitter wasn't really different enough to warrant dumping the T-4X for a T-4XB. From what
I've seen, the major difference is the neon dial indicator.
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
To be is to do - Socrates
To do is to be - Plato
Do be do be do. - Sinatra
All my computers have my signature with various pearls of wisdom appended
thereto.
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Garey Barrell" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 6:13 PM
To: "Steve Wedge" <[email protected]>
Cc: "Drake List" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Anyone ever look inside the PBT box?
Steve -
What did you do to the PTO in R-4B #2? I thought they were both jumpy?
I would use just about any small coax you have for the injection. It's not long enough to matter
what impedance or loss (within reason!) it is.
The headphone jack on the R-4A was in that location, and the panel still has the locator mark in
the "B" location, and of course the main chassis has the cut-out needed. Drake probably had
enough 'complaints' about the front panel location interfering with access to the RF GAIN and the
SSB/CW switch. I didn't complain, but the PHONE plug body sticking out there made it very
difficult to switch the SSB/CW switch.
So now we have to deal with the silly little flat plugs!
73, Garey - K4OAH
Glen Allen, VA
Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line
and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs
<www.k4oah.com>
Steve Wedge wrote:
Now I'm home (and listening to R-4B #2, which is going to need to be re-capped but is otherwise
working in a sterling manner) and checked out the info on the PBT assembly. It sounds pretty
simple once the cover is removed.
I'm now at the point with R-4B #1 where I feel that I owe it to the rig to put it back - more or
less - to the way Bob Drake intended it to be. That means I'll need to re-route a new Injection
cable inside the rig, as the PO shortened it when he moved it over to the SPARE location (WHY he
did this, I will never know, and it's my understanding that he's an SK). The audio mods I'll
probably leave in, as the rig sounds nice and rich, but that variable AGC delay is seriously
messing up the ability to control RF gain. I think I'll put a headphone jack where that extra
goofy knob is as I have seen more than a couple of B's that have had this change (in all
honesty, moving the headphone jack to the side wasn't a great move...)
Question here is this: what can I use for the internal cable in the R-4B to go from the
pre-mixer to the INJ jack? I will have to replace this since the PO shortened it :-(
Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
To be is to do - Socrates
To do is to be - Plato
Do be do be do. - Sinatra
All my computers have my signature with various pearls of wisdom appended
thereto.
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Chris Kepus" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 11:25 AM
To: <[email protected]>; "'Steve Wedge'" <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: [Drakelist] Anyone ever look inside the PBT box?
ROTHFLMAO!!! Made my day reading your softly worded post, Garey! Had to
clean up some coffee that squirted out, though. RTFCD and derivatives;
i.e., RTFIM, RTFD, etc., are most fun play words. :-))))
73,
Chris
W7JPG
"As some have said, 'RTFCD!!' :-)
73, Garey - K4OAH
Glen Allen, VA"
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