Being a mostly CW operator, I'm not surprised at this.
I've been making an attempt at going back to SSB - which would be a grand
movement for me from c. 1989 and even then, probably more since '85.
It's funny, but the T-4X that I got with the R-4B already had the B-series
knob with it. Since I routinely don't run these rigs beyond 100W in either
mode, I suppose all of the directives, etc. are probably meaningless to me.
I suppose that anything required beyond 100W with these rigs will require a
"helper" anyway.
I have that "helper" and it, too, will be online soon - to be called upon
when needed. :-)
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 10:57 PM
To: "Steve Wedge" <[email protected]>
Cc: "Drake List" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Anyone ever look inside the PBT box?
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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