With all of the talk about the 2-B, I wonder if any/many pair it with a
4 line transmitter?? I can see where getting them synced could be a
problem.? Sounds like putting the Stby/Rcv switch in Stby and connecting
the mute pins to the transmitter will mute the receiver during
transmit.? My 2-B has the 2-AC, but I don't have a 2-AQ or 2-BQ.? I'd
have to use the MS-4 for a speaker if I try to get the 2 and 4 line to
work together.
73
Stan
KM4HQE
|
Re: Drake C Line For Sale
Oh brother why do you tempt me
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Hello all,?
I am selling one of my Drake C Lines: R-4C, T-4XC, AC4, MS-4 and fresh cables.? All stock, very good condition,? and regularly on the air.? For the time being, pickup only in Arlington, VA.? $550.? tks, Burt W3IO
|
Re: The Drake 2B and its Frequency Spread Limitations
If nothing else, I'd be skittish about the leads sticking up with high voltage on them.
Barry - N4BUQ
From: "Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io" <w1es@...>
To: "DRAKE-RADIO" <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:09:08 PM
Subject: Re: [DRAKE-RADIO] The Drake 2B and its Frequency Spread Limitations
My first 1-A came with diodes replacing the 6X4,? At the time, it was an easy mod that was popular at a time when people wanted to replace tubes.? I removed the diodes and bought a NOS 6X4 off eBay for about $4 + shipping.
If not properly compensated, using solid state diodes in place? of a tube can raise the voltage on the plate supply.? In the case of the 1-A, Drake used lots of taps to provide various voltages instead of just perhaps using two different plate voltages like the R-4(any).? The highest voltages were near 200V before I put the tube back in.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Tuesday, May 20th, 2025 at 6:32 PM, Richard W2ONE via groups.io <cowboyhat@...> wrote:
Hey Gary,
?
Here are some more pictures of my cabinet.? Yes, a previous owner stuck a Heathkit 100 kc Calibrator in place of the Drake 100 kc Calibrator.? A previous owner also replaced the 6X4 tube with two diodes.? I believe I read somewhere that this is a hack on the 2B, but I do not remember if the hack was an improvement over the use of the 6X4 tube or as a substitute if the tube cannot be located.? I would appreciate any words of wisdom that anyone has on these two situations (my Heathkit calibrator and the diode replacement of the 6X4 tube).
?
Other pictures showing the crystals that have been installed and the bottom of the chasis.
?
Richard
W2ONE
?
?
?
?
|
Hello all,?
I am selling one of my Drake C Lines: R-4C, T-4XC with manual AC4, MS-4 and fresh cables.? All stock, very good condition,? and regularly on the air.? For the time being, pickup only in Arlington, VA.? $550.? tks, Burt W3IO
|
Re: The Drake 2B and its Frequency Spread Limitations
Sorry, I misspoke (happens a lot now that I’m nearing 80 years old). The band switch does have a 80m position. It just didn’t have a crystal slot. Now I know why.
It does have a rather factory (not Drake) addition to the main tuning knob and dial. I’ll take a picture and pass it along.
Thanks for setting me straight.
Tom N5AMA
|
Re: The Drake 2B and its Frequency Spread Limitations
I would not recommend replacing the 6X4 with silicon diodes. Leave
the 6X4 in place.
Just what does one expect to accomplish by substituting silicon
diodes in place of the
6X4 rectifier tube? What harm to your 2B receiver have you the owner
found that
occurs by leaving the 6X4 tube in place?
The formula for calculating the crystal frequencies is found on page
10 in the 2B manual.
A single crystal can provide 2 different frequency ranges. This is
explained in the 2B manual
on page 10.
I have two Drake 2B receivers. The calibrator is not as good as one
would expect it to be.
It's a little weak on some bands but stronger on other bands. I
found this to be true on
both on my 2B receiver. Both of my 2B receiver have the 2AC plug in
calibrators.
I recommend finding and adding the Drake 2AQ Multiplier. It adds
quite a bit of selectivity to the
2B receiver.
73
Mike W5RKL
On 5/20/25 7:09 PM, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4
via groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
My
first 1-A came with diodes replacing the 6X4,? At the time, it
was an easy mod that was popular at a time when people wanted to
replace tubes.? I removed the diodes and bought a NOS 6X4 off
eBay for about $4 + shipping.
If
not properly compensated, using solid state diodes in place? of
a tube can raise the voltage on the plate supply.? In the case
of the 1-A, Drake used lots of taps to provide various voltages
instead of just perhaps using two different plate voltages like
the R-4(any).? The highest voltages were near 200V before I put
the tube back in.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Tuesday, May 20th, 2025 at 6:32
PM, Richard W2ONE via groups.io
<cowboyhat@...> wrote:
Hey Gary,
?
Here are some more pictures of my cabinet.? Yes, a
previous owner stuck a Heathkit 100 kc Calibrator in place
of the Drake 100 kc Calibrator.? A previous owner also
replaced the 6X4 tube with two diodes.? I believe I read
somewhere that this is a hack on the 2B, but I do not
remember if the hack was an improvement over the use of the
6X4 tube or as a substitute if the tube cannot be located.?
I would appreciate any words of wisdom that anyone has on
these two situations (my Heathkit calibrator and the diode
replacement of the 6X4 tube).
?
Other pictures showing the crystals that have been
installed and the bottom of the chasis.
?
Richard
W2ONE
?
?
?
?
|
Re: RV-75 from Hamvention
Any caps that are branded CAPAR should be unconditionally replaced. The larger caps with more recognizable names should be OK. On Tue, 20 May 2025 21:03:07 -0400 "K8CCA via groups.io" <echapm4@...> wrote: Success! A few new caps and cleaning the grounds seems to have fixed it.
Very stable! I only did the caps on the top board as I didn't have the 10 &
100uf for the bottom board. I will pick some up tomorrow and this should be
back online. Thanks Evan for your thoughts on this thing!
73,
Eric
K8cca
On Tue, May 20, 2025, 3:56?PM K8CCA via groups.io <echapm4=
[email protected]> wrote:
Hey guys,
Picked up a nice looking Drake RV-75 vfo for my TR-7 last weekend. Hooked
it up last night and my main vfo was in the middle of the 20m band, but
when I switched on the remote vfo freq drop to around 13.9mhz and I am not
able to adjust it. I guess I got a hamfest special. Any hints on what to
look for? I have not even opened it up. Got a great deal on it however so I
hope I can fix it. I showed it to Evan, K9SQG when I ran into him there.
Thanks in advance,
Eric
K8cca
-- 73 -Jim NU0C
|
Re: RV-75 from Hamvention
Success! A few new caps and cleaning the grounds seems to have fixed it. Very stable! I only did the caps on the top board as I didn't have the 10 & 100uf for the bottom board. I will pick some up tomorrow and this should be back online. Thanks Evan for your thoughts on this thing!
73,? Eric? K8cca? 
Hey guys,
Picked up a nice looking Drake RV-75 vfo for my TR-7 last weekend. Hooked it up last night and my main vfo was in the middle of the 20m band, but when I switched on the remote vfo freq drop to around 13.9mhz and I am not able to adjust it. I guess I got a hamfest special. Any hints on what to look for? I have not even opened it up. Got a great deal on it however so I hope I can fix it. I showed it to Evan, K9SQG when I ran into him there.?
Thanks in advance,? Eric? K8cca?
|
Re: RV-75 from Hamvention
Success! A few new caps and cleaning the grounds seems to have fixed it. Very stable! I only did the caps on the top board as I didn't have the 10 & 100uf for the bottom board. I will pick some up tomorrow and this should be back online. Thanks Evan for your thoughts on this thing!
73,? Eric? K8cca? 
Hey guys,
Picked up a nice looking Drake RV-75 vfo for my TR-7 last weekend. Hooked it up last night and my main vfo was in the middle of the 20m band, but when I switched on the remote vfo freq drop to around 13.9mhz and I am not able to adjust it. I guess I got a hamfest special. Any hints on what to look for? I have not even opened it up. Got a great deal on it however so I hope I can fix it. I showed it to Evan, K9SQG when I ran into him there.?
Thanks in advance,? Eric? K8cca?
|
Re: The Drake 2B and its Frequency Spread Limitations
My first 1-A came with diodes replacing the 6X4,? At the time, it was an easy mod that was popular at a time when people wanted to replace tubes.? I removed the diodes and bought a NOS 6X4 off eBay for about $4 + shipping.
If not properly compensated, using solid state diodes in place? of a tube can raise the voltage on the plate supply.? In the case of the 1-A, Drake used lots of taps to provide various voltages instead of just perhaps using two different plate voltages like the R-4(any).? The highest voltages were near 200V before I put the tube back in.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Tuesday, May 20th, 2025 at 6:32 PM, Richard W2ONE via groups.io <cowboyhat@...> wrote:
Hey Gary,
?
Here are some more pictures of my cabinet.? Yes, a previous owner stuck a Heathkit 100 kc Calibrator in place of the Drake 100 kc Calibrator.? A previous owner also replaced the 6X4 tube with two diodes.? I believe I read somewhere that this is a hack on the 2B, but I do not remember if the hack was an improvement over the use of the 6X4 tube or as a substitute if the tube cannot be located.? I would appreciate any words of wisdom that anyone has on these two situations (my Heathkit calibrator and the diode replacement of the 6X4 tube).
?
Other pictures showing the crystals that have been installed and the bottom of the chasis.
?
Richard
W2ONE
?
?
?
?
|
Re: OT: Looking for help with Kenwood Handheld
I think I remember that Mouser and/or Digikey can weld on tabs for any of their batteries for you.
73, Gary WB6OGD
Nice!? I wasn't aware of their site.? I've gotten in touch with them regarding a CR1220 with tabs.
Thanks!
Barry - N4BUQ
Take a look at Batteries America (). They can probably supply what you need.?
Tony - W9JXN? This is the only amateur radio group of which I'm a member so I'm looking for a bit of help.? Is there an appropriate group for older Kenwood hand-helds?
I have a TH-28A that needs an internal lithium battery and am having no luck finding a suitable replacement.? If someone can point me to a group or, even better, point me to a source for those batteries, I would appreciate it.
Note that I can find all sorts of lithium coin cells with solder tabs but none of the ones I find match the configuration of the one in my TH-28A.
Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ
|
Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
Richard,
Your 2B looks in good condition, good buy.
A Heathkit calibrator is a good substiute for the Drake.? The only thing I would do is make some kind of bracket
to mount it down.? If those wires on its socket touch ground (or your hand!) damage can be done.
?
Diodes should work fine for a tube replacement.? I would have soldered them in myself but if they are making
good connection in the socket and don't fall loose, that should be ok.
?
So, how do we fix it?
You should be able to hear the calibrator signal every 100KHz? (KC as we used to say, hi hi).
There is a CAL switch on the front to turn it on.? You need to set the band and peak the preselector to hear it.
If you don't hear it, try all the bands, its possible the band switch or a band crystal is bad.
80meters is where I would start, it doesn't need a band crystal.
?
If you dont' hear it...
Remove each tube one at a time.? Make sure its the right tube.
Insert and reset each tube several times to clean its pins.? I would do all this first before I powered it up.
Also, work the bandswitch multiple times.
?
Oh FIRST THING.? Check the fuse, it should be 0.6Amp? (600ma) slow blow.? I have seen 6AMP fuses in radios,
that would not protect anything and would insure that if anything goes wrong you WILL have damage.
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
|
Drake 2B Instruction Book
?
I found the Drake 2B Instruction Book on line, but it is a digital copy made after several generations of machine copies - it is not very clear in some places.? A couple of the pages are also out of order.? I have found a different digital version that is cleaner and has a few additional pages of information.? Interestingly, this other version also has a slightly different description of the crystals and how to use them - probably a version made that was before or after the version now on line.
?
I am attaching this cleaner version here to share.
?
Richard
W2ONE
|
Re: The Drake 2B and its Frequency Spread Limitations
Hey Gary,
?
Here are some more pictures of my cabinet.? Yes, a previous owner stuck a Heathkit 100 kc Calibrator in place of the Drake 100 kc Calibrator.? A previous owner also replaced the 6X4 tube with two diodes.? I believe I read somewhere that this is a hack on the 2B, but I do not remember if the hack was an improvement over the use of the 6X4 tube or as a substitute if the tube cannot be located.? I would appreciate any words of wisdom that anyone has on these two situations (my Heathkit calibrator and the diode replacement of the 6X4 tube).
?
Other pictures showing the crystals that have been installed and the bottom of the chasis.
?
Richard
W2ONE
?
?
?
?
|
Re: OT: Looking for help with Kenwood Handheld
I have one that I bought from a guy in Germany.
It has a controller that lets you specify the amount of energy in joules
that you put into the weld. I use it with a car battery.
- Jerry, KF6VB
|
Re: "I THE cantenna unveiled!
?
In addition to the lesser concerns already expressed here, I would point out that PCB dielectric oil is quite dangerous if it burns.? The poison known as dioxin is produced.?? No one wants a lung-full of that in the case of a fire.
?
?
/??
--------------------------------------------------------------------??
Radio is your best entertainment value.??
--------------------------------------------------------------------??
?
?
?
?
|
Re: OT: Looking for help with Kenwood Handheld
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 20, 2025, at 3:58?PM, n4buq via groups.io <n4buq@...> wrote:
? Nice!? I wasn't aware of their site.? I've gotten in touch with them regarding a CR1220 with tabs.
Thanks!
Barry - N4BUQ
Take a look at Batteries America (). They can probably supply what you need.?
Tony - W9JXN? On May 20, 2025, at 9:26?AM, n4buq via groups.io <n4buq@...> wrote:
This is the only amateur radio group of which I'm a member so I'm looking for a bit of help. ?Is there an appropriate group for older Kenwood hand-helds?
I have a TH-28A that needs an internal lithium battery and am having no luck finding a suitable replacement. ?If someone can point me to a group or, even better, point me to a source for those batteries, I would appreciate it.
Note that I can find all sorts of lithium coin cells with solder tabs but none of the ones I find match the configuration of the one in my TH-28A.
Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ
|
Re: OT: Looking for help with Kenwood Handheld
Nice!? I wasn't aware of their site.? I've gotten in touch with them regarding a CR1220 with tabs.
Thanks!
Barry - N4BUQ
Take a look at Batteries America (). They can probably supply what you need.?
Tony - W9JXN? On May 20, 2025, at 9:26?AM, n4buq via groups.io <n4buq@...> wrote:
This is the only amateur radio group of which I'm a member so I'm looking for a bit of help. ?Is there an appropriate group for older Kenwood hand-helds?
I have a TH-28A that needs an internal lithium battery and am having no luck finding a suitable replacement. ?If someone can point me to a group or, even better, point me to a source for those batteries, I would appreciate it.
Note that I can find all sorts of lithium coin cells with solder tabs but none of the ones I find match the configuration of the one in my TH-28A.
Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ
|
Re: OT: Looking for help with Kenwood Handheld
I didn't know such a thing was being made.? Nice to know.? Hopefully it won't come to that and I can get a battery with tabs that will work (and I think I see some being offered).
Thanks, Barry - N4BUQ
Spot-weld the tabs yourself: AMAZON - Docreate Hand-Held Spot Welder, 5.5KW, $30 73 de Andrew/N5ASE
I didn't know that could be done as a service like that.? We have a Batteries Plus but not sure if they'd do that. Thanks for the tip! Barry - N4BUQ If you have a Batteries-Plus, or Batteries & Bulbs store near you, they might have one. They have the ability to spot-weld tabs on about any battery.
This is the only amateur radio group of which I'm a member so I'm looking for a bit of help.? Is there an appropriate group for older Kenwood hand-helds?
I have a TH-28A that needs an internal lithium battery and am having no luck finding a suitable replacement.? If someone can point me to a group or, even better, point me to a source for those batteries, I would appreciate it.
Note that I can find all sorts of lithium coin cells with solder tabs but none of the ones I find match the configuration of the one in my TH-28A.
Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ
|
Re: OT: Looking for help with Kenwood Handheld
?Take a look at Batteries America (). They can probably supply what you need.?
Tony - W9JXN?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 20, 2025, at 9:26?AM, n4buq via groups.io <n4buq@...> wrote:
?This is the only amateur radio group of which I'm a member so I'm looking for a bit of help. ?Is there an appropriate group for older Kenwood hand-helds?
I have a TH-28A that needs an internal lithium battery and am having no luck finding a suitable replacement. ?If someone can point me to a group or, even better, point me to a source for those batteries, I would appreciate it.
Note that I can find all sorts of lithium coin cells with solder tabs but none of the ones I find match the configuration of the one in my TH-28A.
Thanks,
Barry - N4BUQ
|
Burt W3IO
Jim Shorney
K8CCA
Gary WB6OGD