Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.

[Gypsymt34]

Hello Steve,
 
 w1es1...@earthlink.net writes:

Does  anyone have more information on which components are mounted on this  
board?
FWIW   modsDK   _http://www.mods.dk/view.php?ArticleId=3237_ 
(http://www.mods.dk/view.php?ArticleId=3237)  has   three pieces of information 
on an SPR4 
 The owners manual which had a  schematic and the service manual.   The 
latter is shades of a TR7  manual ( I am told) in that you had parts lists and 
numbers, portional  schematics, and pictures with parts labeled. Along with 
full schematic.
 
There was also a separate schematic which might not be a bad idea in that  
you could take it and digitally have it blown up and printed at your local 
Kinko  or print shop.  
Problem on modsdk if you haven't used them is that you can only pull a free 
 item every three days.
 
They also showed two modifications its a separate list.
73 and have fun,  Carl wd8nhk
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Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.

[Steve Wedge]

Thanks, Carl. I do have an account with them - I seem to remember pulling a manual a few months ago, but I completely forgot about this site.
That's going to be the biggest bear about getting this receiver working again: finding the parts and identifying the connectors. Drake used solder posts in this receiver and some of them appear to have jumpers across them. It's going to be a long process ringing out the wires and documentation will help tremendously.
I'm not in a rush, so if I have to pull two or three docs from them, I can wait. Thanks for reminding me!
73  enjoy those Drakes - 
Steve, W1ES/4
-Original Message- From: gypsym...@aol.com Sent: Nov 23, 2011 8:19 AM To: w1es1...@earthlink.net, drakelist@zerobeat.net Subject: Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me. 
Hello Steve,

w1es1...@earthlink.net writes:
Does anyone have more information on which components are mounted on this board?
FWIW modsDK http://www.mods.dk/view.php?ArticleId=3237has three pieces of information on an SPR4 The owners manual which had a schematic and the service manual.The latter is shades of a TR7 manual ( I am told) in that you had parts lists and numbers, portional schematics, and pictures with parts labeled. Along with full schematic.

There was also a separate schematic which might not be a bad idea in that you could take it and digitally have it blown up and printed at your local Kinko or print shop. 
Problem on modsdk if you haven't used them is that you can only pull a free item every three days.

They also showed two modifications its a separate list.
73 and have fun, Carl wd8nhk


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Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.

[K9sqg]

Please be aware that all the mods at that website are not necessarily 
advisable, because of damage to the equipment, compromised safety, or 
ineffective results.  I've gave up on that website when I saw things like 
remove the heat from the L4B power supply by taking the 50K 50 wt resistors 
out of the circuit.  Well, yes, it does reduce heat, but it also removes part 
of the bleeder resistor network and it also disables the ALC function.  Thanks, 
but no thanks.


On a more positive note...Happy Thanksgiving



-Original Message-
From: Gypsymt34 gypsym...@aol.com
To: w1es1982 w1es1...@earthlink.net; drakelist drakelist@zerobeat.net
Sent: Wed, Nov 23, 2011 3:21 am
Subject: Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.


Hello Steve,
 
 w1es1...@earthlink.net writes:
Does   anyone have more information on which components are mounted on this   
board?
FWIW   modsDK   http://www.mods.dk/view.php?ArticleId=3237 has  three pieces of 
information on an SPR4  The owners manual which had a schematic and the service 
manual.   The latter is shades of a TR7 manual ( I am told) in that you had 
parts lists and numbers, portional schematics, and pictures with parts labeled. 
Along with full schematic.
 
There was also a separate schematic which might not be a bad idea in that you 
could take it and digitally have it blown up and printed at your local Kinko or 
print shop.  
Problem on modsdk if you haven't used them is that you can only pull a free 
item every three days.
 
They also showed two modifications its a separate list.
73 and have fun,  Carl wd8nhk
 
 
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Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.

[Steve Wedge]

I was going to go there just for the manual. I rarely add mods to a radio unless I can see a distinct advantage for doing so - putting in a higher-wattage resistor for a known long-term heat-related issue comes to mind. In working on this receiver, I will first be making every attempt to get it functioning as it is.
I appreciated the reminder for the site. Garey also emailed me a pdf, so I might not need to download anything else (but I'll check anyway).
My first scan of this board has revealed to me that much of it is the power supply for the entire receiver. I'm wondering just how much ALC circuitry is on the same board. If many of those 18 or so 26 AWG wires are just powering other small boards, their connection locations may be less critical. Again, I'll have to rack my brains a bit on the drawings to figure out where all the wires go.
TNX to all for responding - this is my first SPR-4, so all comments are welcome!
Steve, W1ES/4
-Original Message- From: K9sqg Sent: Nov 23, 2011 10:04 AM To: gypsym...@aol.com, w1es1...@earthlink.net, drakelist@zerobeat.net Subject: Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me. Please be aware that all the mods at that website are not necessarily advisable, because of damage to the equipment, compromised safety, or ineffective results. I've gave up on that website when I saw things like "remove the heat from the L4B power supply by taking the 50K 50 wt resistors out of the circuit". Well, yes, it does reduce heat, but it also removes part of the bleeder resistor network and it also disables the ALC function. Thanks, but no thanks. 

On a more positive note...Happy Thanksgiving

-Original Message-From: Gypsymt34 gypsym...@aol.comTo: w1es1982 w1es1...@earthlink.net; drakelist drakelist@zerobeat.netSent: Wed, Nov 23, 2011 3:21 amSubject: Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.

Hello Steve,

w1es1...@earthlink.net writes:
Does anyone have more information on which components are mounted on this board?
FWIW modsDK http://www.mods.dk/view.php?ArticleId=3237has three pieces of information on an SPR4 The owners manual which had a schematic and the service manual.The latter is shades of a TR7 manual ( I am told) in that you had parts lists and numbers, portional schematics, and pictures with parts labeled. Along with full schematic.

There was also a separate schematic which might not be a bad idea in that you could take it and digitally have it blown up and printed at your local Kinko or print shop. 
Problem on modsdk if you haven't used them is that you can only pull a free item every three days.

They also showed two modifications its a separate list.
73 and have fun, Carl wd8nhk

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Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.

[geoffrey mendelson]

On Nov 23, 2011, at 7:47 PM, Steve Wedge wrote:

My first scan of this board has revealed to me that much of it is  
the power supply for the entire receiver.  I'm wondering just how  
much ALC circuitry is on the same board.  If many of those 18 or so  
26 AWG wires are just powering other small boards, their connection  
locations may be less critical.  Again, I'll have to rack my brains  
a bit on the drawings to figure out where all the wires go.




Before you do anything, take a lot of pictures. There is a comment  
buried in the manual (I'm paraphrasing from memory) that the way the  
wires are run affects performance.


I have an SPR-4. It's one of the best sounding AM shortwave receivers  
I've ever owned. I hate the ergonomics, but one can put up with them  
for the performance.


Geoff.
--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson,  N3OWJ/4X1GM
My high blood pressure medicine reduces my midichlorian count. :-(














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[Drakelist] The Drake PTO Yet Again...

[Eddy Swynar]

Hi Guys,

Not intending to flog a dead horse here, or anything, but I do feel compelled 
to let everyone in on my latest---and hopefully FINAL!---attempt at taming the 
squirrely PTO in my T-4X transmitter...

Last week I extricated the PTO board from its enclosure  mounts, and I 
outright replaced each  every fixed resistor associated with the oscillator 
stage itself. I used fresh 1/4-watt flame proof resistors that I purchased 
out of a place in Toronto. The theory behind all this was simple enough, i.e. 
if 40+ year old capacitors can change with age, then why not 40+ year old 
carbon resistors, too---especially when they're under load? Surely even a 
MINUTE change in an aged resistor's value could have a noticeable effect on the 
stability of a solid-state oscillator---especially if said resistor is in a 
lead connecting the transistor to its source of voltage, right...?

Anyway, some 10, or so resistors later (I got bleary-eyed from focusing on the 
small components!), I re-assembled everything, and have been testing the 
transmitter for a week now. The previous oh-so-gradual creep in the PTO's 
frequency---and the resultant sudden drop back to the original frequency---has 
disappeared. Ditto the sudden  unannounced frequency jumps of 1-2 KHz. There 
is no more warble, either...

I guess the point of posting this is two-fold: firstly, if you're plagued with 
an unpredictable PTO as i was, the final fix can be two-fold, three-fold, or 
even more! Secondly, whenever I've posted my past successes in this regard on 
the Reflector, the T-4X has ultimately  consistently proven me to be a liar! 
Hi Hi. Let's see if I might get fooled again with this one...

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ

 
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Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.

[geoffrey mendelson]

On Nov 23, 2011, at 7:47 PM, Steve Wedge wrote:
TNX to all for responding - this is my first SPR-4, so all comments  
are welcome!





Here's the actual quote, from page 19 of the manual:

CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO DISTURB THE LEAD
DRESS IN THE SPR-4 SINCE THIS. IS CRITICAL IN
SEVERAL CIRCUITS.

Geoff.
--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson,  N3OWJ/4X1GM
My high blood pressure medicine reduces my midichlorian count. :-(














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Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.

[Garey Barrell]

Geoff -

That statement is included in just about every Drake manual, just by 
substituting the model in question.

That said, there definitely ARE places in ALL of this gear where a circuit can be made to work with 
a lead in one position, but NOT in another position, even though electrically the circuit is 
correct.  This is typically a factor in circuits with very low value capacitors involved, 
neutralization and Carrier Oscillator balance for example.  Other cases may involve very high 
impedance circuits where unwanted signals or feedback can be coupled from one area to another via a 
wire lead.  The AVC, detector and audio stages are examples of this kind of problem.


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


geoffrey mendelson wrote:


On Nov 23, 2011, at 7:47 PM, Steve Wedge wrote:

TNX to all for responding - this is my first SPR-4, so all comments are welcome!




Here's the actual quote, from page 19 of the manual:

CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO DISTURB THE LEAD
DRESS IN THE SPR-4 SINCE THIS. IS CRITICAL IN
SEVERAL CIRCUITS.

Geoff.


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Re: [Drakelist] The Drake PTO Yet Again...

[Steve Wedge]

Here's hoping you're not a liar this time, Eddy!

If it was the resistors, I would say that it was an unusual failure mode.  The 
problem with chasing intermittents is exactly what you (and I) ran into: the 
problem would go away for a while, only to resurface later.  I was lucky in 
that the capacitor change solved the problem.

I still don't know what else was happening when I had the PTO from the T-4XB in 
that R-4A.  I subsequently set up a test bed and ran it on a regulated supply 
into a 200 MHz Fluke counter for over a week and it never budged.

The receiver has since gone on to grace another ham's shack and I haven't heard 
of anything funny going on there (I had to sell mine to buy the B-Line..)  It 
was working great for weeks after the fix, though.

Good luck, Eddy, and we're all pullin' for ya!

73,

Steve, W1ES/4

-Original Message-
From: Eddy Swynar deswy...@xplornet.ca
Sent: Nov 23, 2011 1:01 PM
To: drakelist@zerobeat.net
Subject: [Drakelist] The Drake PTO Yet Again...

Hi Guys,

Not intending to flog a dead horse here, or anything, but I do feel compelled 
to let everyone in on my latest---and hopefully FINAL!---attempt at taming the 
squirrely PTO in my T-4X transmitter...

Last week I extricated the PTO board from its enclosure  mounts, and I 
outright replaced each  every fixed resistor associated with the oscillator 
stage itself. I used fresh 1/4-watt flame proof resistors that I purchased 
out of a place in Toronto. The theory behind all this was simple enough, i.e. 
if 40+ year old capacitors can change with age, then why not 40+ year old 
carbon resistors, too---especially when they're under load? Surely even a 
MINUTE change in an aged resistor's value could have a noticeable effect on 
the stability of a solid-state oscillator---especially if said resistor is in 
a lead connecting the transistor to its source of voltage, right...?

Anyway, some 10, or so resistors later (I got bleary-eyed from focusing on the 
small components!), I re-assembled everything, and have been testing the 
transmitter for a week now. The previous oh-so-gradual creep in the PTO's 
frequency---and the resultant sudden drop back to the original frequency---has 
disappeared. Ditto the sudden  unannounced frequency jumps of 1-2 KHz. 
There is no more warble, either...

I guess the point of posting this is two-fold: firstly, if you're plagued with 
an unpredictable PTO as i was, the final fix can be two-fold, three-fold, or 
even more! Secondly, whenever I've posted my past successes in this regard 
on the Reflector, the T-4X has ultimately  consistently proven me to be a 
liar! Hi Hi. Let's see if I might get fooled again with this one...

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ

 
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Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.

[Steve Wedge]

As Eyegor said to Dr. Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein after the doc said, 
Damn your eyes! -- Too late!

73,  ;-)

Steve

-Original Message-
From: geoffrey mendelson geoffreymendel...@gmail.com
Sent: Nov 23, 2011 1:15 PM
To: Drake List drakelist@zerobeat.net
Subject: Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.


On Nov 23, 2011, at 7:47 PM, Steve Wedge wrote:
 TNX to all for responding - this is my first SPR-4, so all comments  
 are welcome!



Here's the actual quote, from page 19 of the manual:

CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO DISTURB THE LEAD
DRESS IN THE SPR-4 SINCE THIS. IS CRITICAL IN
SEVERAL CIRCUITS.

Geoff.
-- 
Geoffrey S. Mendelson,  N3OWJ/4X1GM
My high blood pressure medicine reduces my midichlorian count. :-(














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Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.

[Ernie Howard]

I'll second this statement about lead dress. I worked on a few of these 
back in the late '70s and remember problems with harness wiring being 
disturbed and causing goofiness. So if you get it together and working 
but things act funny, gently move wires associated with the circuit 
until it works right.


Ernie
W8EH


On 11/23/2011 1:15 PM, geoffrey mendelson wrote:


Here's the actual quote, from page 19 of the manual:

CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO DISTURB THE LEAD
DRESS IN THE SPR-4 SINCE THIS. IS CRITICAL IN
SEVERAL CIRCUITS.

Geoff.




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Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.

[LeeCraner]

Perhaps someone on the list would supply you with hi res photos of the  
underneath of their SPR-4.  I'm sure that would prove extremely helpful in  
getting lead dress right, etc..  Just a thought.
 
73
Lee WB6SSW
 
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[Drakelist] SPR-4 Vs R8

[Michael A. Kelly]

Just curious - for AM .. which is a better performer specifically with
the AM Broadcast band in mind?

Thanks,

Michael N4MAK

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Re: [Drakelist] SPR-4 Vs R8

[Garey Barrell]

Michael -

I've never owned an SPR-4, but it would be hard to beat my R-8A.  6 kHz IF filter, Synchronous AM 
detector and Passband Tuner make a pretty good receiver.  A wider IF might sound better for music, 
but much less resistance to QRM.


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


Michael A. Kelly wrote:

Just curious - for AM .. which is a better performer specifically with
the AM Broadcast band in mind?

Thanks,

Michael N4MAK



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Re: [Drakelist] SPR-4 Vs R8

[Paul Christensen]

Any significant performance or operating differences between the R-8A and 
R-8B?


Paul, W9AC

- Original Message - 
From: Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com

To: Michael A. Kelly mkell...@gmail.com
Cc: drakelist@zerobeat.net
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 3:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Drakelist] SPR-4 Vs R8



Michael -

I've never owned an SPR-4, but it would be hard to beat my R-8A.  6 kHz IF 
filter, Synchronous AM detector and Passband Tuner make a pretty good 
receiver.  A wider IF might sound better for music, but much less 
resistance to QRM.


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


Michael A. Kelly wrote:

Just curious - for AM .. which is a better performer specifically with
the AM Broadcast band in mind?

Thanks,

Michael N4MAK



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Re: [Drakelist] SPR-4 Vs R8

[Garey Barrell]

Paul -

I think the 'best buy' is the A version.  It has more than a dozen improvements over the R-8, some 
significant.


The B has only three 'functional' improvements(?) over the A.

1.  Selectable sideband for the AM Sync Detector

2.  Faster SCAN rate.

3.  1000 memories vs 440 in A

There may be circuit differences, but this is the 'operational' difference.  The PROM can be 
updated for firmware improvements, but I don't even know which version I have.  I suspect it might 
affect the RS-232 communications, but everything on the front panel seems to do what it says!  :-)


Aside from looking like a VCR instead of a communications receiver ( :-) ) it's 
great!

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


Paul Christensen wrote:

Any significant performance or operating differences between the R-8A and R-8B?

Paul, W9AC

- Original Message - From: Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com
To: Michael A. Kelly mkell...@gmail.com
Cc: drakelist@zerobeat.net
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 3:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Drakelist] SPR-4 Vs R8



Michael -

I've never owned an SPR-4, but it would be hard to beat my R-8A.  6 kHz IF filter, Synchronous AM 
detector and Passband Tuner make a pretty good receiver.  A wider IF might sound better for 
music, but much less resistance to QRM.


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


Michael A. Kelly wrote:

Just curious - for AM .. which is a better performer specifically with
the AM Broadcast band in mind?

Thanks,

Michael N4MAK


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Re: [Drakelist] TR7 PIN diodes source

[Karl du Roi]

I've got my replacement PIN diodes from www.futureelectronics.com to a 
reasonable price even when these items were declared as not in stock at the 
time of order last year. Two or three weeks later i found the diodes well 
packed in my post box. So give them a try...

73 de Karl, DK7AL

Am 22.11.2011, um 13:01:49 schrieb Randall M. Payne:
 I too can vouch for Bob W7AVK as a source for the diodes.  Very prompt
 and responsive to questions.
 Randy K4EZM


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Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.

[Steve Wedge]

I was thinking I'd seen that paragraph before as well.  Sort of like the do 
not open: no user-serviceable parts inside.  Appropriate for the guy off 
the street but it's a challenge to we who know...


Steve Wedge, W1ES/4

I swear by my life, and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake 
of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.

-Ayn Rand.

All my computers have my signature with various pearls of wisdom appended 
thereto.



--
From: Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 2:05 PM
To: geoffrey mendelson geoffreymendel...@gmail.com
Cc: Drake List drakelist@zerobeat.net
Subject: Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.


Geoff -

That statement is included in just about every Drake manual, just by 
substituting the model in question.


That said, there definitely ARE places in ALL of this gear where a circuit 
can be made to work with a lead in one position, but NOT in another 
position, even though electrically the circuit is correct.  This is 
typically a factor in circuits with very low value capacitors involved, 
neutralization and Carrier Oscillator balance for example.  Other cases 
may involve very high impedance circuits where unwanted signals or 
feedback can be coupled from one area to another via a wire lead.  The 
AVC, detector and audio stages are examples of this kind of problem.


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


geoffrey mendelson wrote:


On Nov 23, 2011, at 7:47 PM, Steve Wedge wrote:
TNX to all for responding - this is my first SPR-4, so all comments are 
welcome!





Here's the actual quote, from page 19 of the manual:

CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO DISTURB THE LEAD
DRESS IN THE SPR-4 SINCE THIS. IS CRITICAL IN
SEVERAL CIRCUITS.

Geoff.


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Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.

[Steve Wedge]

They were bundled in a harness, so I'll assume these are non-critical.
 No twisted pair, etc.  This isn't the oscillator circuit, so we should be 
in low danger.


Steve Wedge, W1ES/4

I swear by my life, and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake 
of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.

-Ayn Rand.

All my computers have my signature with various pearls of wisdom appended 
thereto.



--
From: Ernie Howard w8eh.er...@gmail.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 2:49 PM
To: drakelist@zerobeat.net
Subject: Re: [Drakelist] I've got a job ahead of me.



I'll second this statement about lead dress. I worked on a few of these 
back in the late '70s and remember problems with harness wiring being 
disturbed and causing goofiness. So if you get it together and working but 
things act funny, gently move wires associated with the circuit until it 
works right.


Ernie
W8EH


On 11/23/2011 1:15 PM, geoffrey mendelson wrote:


Here's the actual quote, from page 19 of the manual:

CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN NOT TO DISTURB THE LEAD
DRESS IN THE SPR-4 SINCE THIS. IS CRITICAL IN
SEVERAL CIRCUITS.

Geoff.




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Re: [Drakelist] SPR-4 Vs R8

[amfone]

I have the R8, R8A and R8B.  The major difference I note with the R8A compared 
to the B and the original version is that the sync detector frequently becomes 
unlocked on the R8A. In other words the sync does not work as well, you will 
frequently hear it unlocking on a signal. I don't know why or if the sync is 
any different in components, design or whatever but I clearly notice this.




 From: Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com
To: Paul Christensen w...@arrl.net 
Cc: drakelist@zerobeat.net 
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 4:24 PM
Subject: Re: [Drakelist] SPR-4 Vs R8
 
Paul -

I think the 'best buy' is the A version.  It has more than a dozen 
improvements over the R-8, some 
significant.

The B has only three 'functional' improvements(?) over the A.

1.  Selectable sideband for the AM Sync Detector

2.  Faster SCAN rate.

3.  1000 memories vs 440 in A

There may be circuit differences, but this is the 'operational' difference.  
The PROM can be 
updated for firmware improvements, but I don't even know which version I have.  
I suspect it might 
affect the RS-232 communications, but everything on the front panel seems to do 
what it says!  :-)

Aside from looking like a VCR instead of a communications receiver ( :-) ) it's 
great!

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


Paul Christensen wrote:
 Any significant performance or operating differences between the R-8A and 
 R-8B?

 Paul, W9AC

 - Original Message - From: Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com
 To: Michael A. Kelly mkell...@gmail.com
 Cc: drakelist@zerobeat.net
 Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 3:54 PM
 Subject: Re: [Drakelist] SPR-4 Vs R8


 Michael -

 I've never owned an SPR-4, but it would be hard to beat my R-8A.  6 kHz IF 
 filter, Synchronous AM 
 detector and Passband Tuner make a pretty good receiver.  A wider IF might 
 sound better for 
 music, but much less resistance to QRM.

 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


 Michael A. Kelly wrote:
 Just curious - for AM .. which is a better performer specifically with
 the AM Broadcast band in mind?

 Thanks,

 Michael N4MAK

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Re: [Drakelist] SPR-4 Vs R8

[Garey Barrell]

Paul -

I have not had that problem  I wonder if there is an alignment (or some other) problem with your 
A?   Mine stays locked for hours at a time.  I don't think I've ever had it lose lock?   Perhaps 
something in that firmware upgrade?


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


amfone wrote:
I have the R8, R8A and R8B.  The major difference I note with the R8A compared to the B and the 
original version is that the sync detector frequently becomes unlocked on the R8A. In other words 
the sync does not work as well, you will frequently hear it unlocking on a signal. I don't know 
why or if the sync is any different in components, design or whatever but I clearly notice this.



*From:* Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com
*To:* Paul Christensen w...@arrl.net
*Cc:* drakelist@zerobeat.net
*Sent:* Wednesday, November 23, 2011 4:24 PM
*Subject:* Re: [Drakelist] SPR-4 Vs R8

Paul -

I think the 'best buy' is the A version.  It has more than a dozen 
improvements over the R-8, some
significant.

The B has only three 'functional' improvements(?) over the A.

1.  Selectable sideband for the AM Sync Detector

2.  Faster SCAN rate.

3.  1000 memories vs 440 in A

There may be circuit differences, but this is the 'operational' difference.  The 
PROM can be
updated for firmware improvements, but I don't even know which version I have.  
I suspect it might
affect the RS-232 communications, but everything on the front panel seems to do 
what it says!  :-)

Aside from looking like a VCR instead of a communications receiver ( :-) ) it's 
great!

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 http://www.k4oah.com


Paul Christensen wrote:
 Any significant performance or operating differences between the R-8A and 
R-8B?

 Paul, W9AC

 - Original Message - From: Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com 
mailto:k4...@mindspring.com

 To: Michael A. Kelly mkell...@gmail.com mailto:mkell...@gmail.com
 Cc: drakelist@zerobeat.net mailto:drakelist@zerobeat.net
 Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 3:54 PM
 Subject: Re: [Drakelist] SPR-4 Vs R8


 Michael -

 I've never owned an SPR-4, but it would be hard to beat my R-8A.  6 kHz IF 
filter, Synchronous AM
 detector and Passband Tuner make a pretty good receiver.  A wider IF might 
sound better for
 music, but much less resistance to QRM.

 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


 Michael A. Kelly wrote:
 Just curious - for AM .. which is a better performer specifically with
 the AM Broadcast band in mind?

 Thanks,

 Michael N4MAK




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