If you¡¯ve been trying to hear things these past few days, be aware that there was a recent solar flare that has really knocked propagation for a loop.?
Really, the only hard to find item in the 2-B (aside from the knobs) is the RF GAIN pot, which is 20M. The transformers can be hard to find but there are lots of parts floating around.?
The only semi-difficult tube is the 8BN8. I can¡¯t remember if there are any 12BZ6¡¯s¡
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Mon, May 19, 2025 at 11:52, Gary WB6OGD via groups.io <
winbladgary@...> wrote:
Richard,
The best radio to work on is the one that is already on your bench!? If you are getting static on the 2B, that is a good
sign.? What are you using for an antenna?? I have a real poor antenna right now and some days I can barely hear a
couple hams if that... band conditions are really poor I think.
?
The 2b is still an excellent receiver.? Its stability and selectivity are excellent, the opposite of the old S-40 class radios.
But it is mostly setup just for ham bands.? The 2-LF lets you listen to the AM broadcast band but IS a rare unit and
asking prices are high IF you can even find one.? Good luck.
?
I have been building cheap FS-4 replacements for years and they work great with the Drake 4 Line BUT, they do
not work with the 2B!? If you look for a chinese signal generator (which reportedly works) be sure it puts out sign waves,
not square waves!
?
If you want to get (back?) on the air on the ham bands, keep the 2B.? If you want to listen to AM band and/or
shortwave broadcast, I would fix (if you can) and then sell the 2B and be a Hallicrafters.
?
This group has lots of great experts, fixing the 2B shouldn't be that hard with all the good help available here.
What kind of service equipment do you have available?
?
Good luck,
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
