The KEY jack being located to the back, I can't really say that I thought
that anything else was possible.
But, my history was a typical one of the early 1980's. My first rig was a
Swan 500. Yeah - try to copy CW with that, As it turned out, I made a few
QSO's on 40 and 15 and got hooked on CW in spite of the barn-door bandwidth
of the Swan. This was enough where I began to get up early in the morning
to work Europeans on 15. My elmer - who sold me the Swan 500 - let me know
I could have his R-4A for ten bucks. Thus began my relationship with Drake
radios.
That receiver had to be thoroughly cleaned in the bandswitch area. Once I
did that, I got a Johnson T-R switch and started using the R-4A for my
receiver and the Swan for the transmitter. It sort of matched, given the
aquatic waterfowl nature of the rigs' nomenclature...
I eventually amassed enough funds to go with a more serious rig. I bought
the C-Line rigs from K8PS. I had learned how to operate (and how NOT to
operate) Field Day on these rigs! I kept them until I found a set of
late-S/N C-line rigs at Hosstraders in NH. That set replaced Peter's rigs.
I still have the C-4 from that set that I bought. I owned and operated a
TR-3 and a TR-4 from my trailer and later motorhome (with a DC-3, no less!)
when camping. This taught me more about "vibrator power supplies", which I
had gained a rudimentary knowledge of when I owned a '40 Pontiac with an AM
radio that didn't initially work. (I loved old cars and still do...)
Two years ago, I saw a distraught-looking A-Line on a table at the Shelby
Hamfest. This is the set that, up until recently, I've been asking most of
the questions about here on the reflector. When I cleaned them, they went
from really grubby and "why did I buy these?" to "Now I remember why the
Drake stuff had the reputation that it has". Aside from that PTO that you
all know about, these rigs have shined.
Since then, I've unloaded my Hallicrafters and Johnson rigs so that I can
make more room for Drake stuff. Think about it: Drake was making equipment
that was a fraction of the size of what else was available at the time, and
it out-performed most of what was available. I'm looking for more Drake
equipment that will be used alternately with my K3 as the spirit moves me.
(BTW, the K3 is an American radio - though the chips may be made
elsewhere...)
I used a C-Line to rack up considerable totals in contests up until the late
'80's. I would occasionally beat out K1AR in contest phone pile-ups, with
comments of, "Nice signal!". I went to a Kenwood TS-930S at the time
because the 930 had a lot going for it. From there to a '940 and from there
to a Yaesu FT-1000D. During all those years, I missed the Drake rigs.
So, yes - I can remember those days while remembering that most older rigs
needed to adapt to the "new age" - Including meeting more stringent FCC
requirements. I still wanted a B-Line, because out of all the Drake radios
I ever owned, the B's I had were the ones that I owned for the shortest
length of time.
I'm still looking for a proper T-4XB. For now, I have two T-4X's that are
fully-functional. Since I keep them at 100W output, from a practical
standpoint I really don't have a reason to find a T-4XB. I just want one
:-) I have an Elecraft K3 that I use for chasing DX and contesting, and
yet - The R-4B and T-4X are being used again for routine DX'ing. I'm
thinking about keeping a traditional paper logbook when I'm using these
rigs: the logs that I look at from the early '80's do have a lot more
"personality" than the computerized logs I've kept since the late 80's.
Anyway, I figured you'd be interested and perhaps a lot of the Drakelist
would be interested in where I came from. I didn't feel like I was an Olde
Timer until around 2006. It's funny how time creeps up on ya...
73,
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 11:06 PM
To: "Steve Wedge" <[email protected]>
Cc: "Drake List" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Anyone ever look inside the PBT box?
Steve -
I forgot, we also got the KEY jack moved to the side so we could use those
neat little flat plugs.!!! :-) THIS really WAS an improvement though,
because a big old straight bodied plug really interfered with the
TRANSCEIVE and FUNCTION switch operation.
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>
Garey Barrell wrote:
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>
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