Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
To hear tones in the "quiet" space you will need to center the passband knob at the middle of the passband. Or halfway between USB and LSB if thinking in terms of SSB. As you tune the dial through this range you should hear the beat tone down into the low hundreds or high tens of Hz at least. This is where you will need to start turning the volume up. As you get very close to zero Hz the beat note will become a cyclic variation in the noise. If the S meter is working and you set AVC to fast you would see it as a wavering on the S meter. At zero Hz the variation/wavering would cease. If you continue to tune past zero you would climb back up the hill towards higher audible tones. On Sat, 24 May 2025 15:40:35 -0700 "Richard W2ONE via groups.io" <cowboyhat@...> wrote: Yes, I am hearing a small quiet space (less than 1 kHz width) between the two tones when calibrating the radio.? I get it now.? But there is a 1 kHz difference at the "zero beat" locations on the 3.6 MHz and 4.0 MHz marks on the dial.? It is a very close match, but not exact. -- 73 -Jim NU0C
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Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
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Thanks guys!
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Yes, I am hearing a small quiet space (less than 1 kHz width) between the two tones when calibrating the radio.? I get it now.? But there is a 1 kHz difference at the "zero beat" locations on the 3.6 MHz and 4.0 MHz marks on the dial.? It is a very close match, but not exact.
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I have ordered a package of 5 .6A slow blow fuses from Mouser.
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This evening (while watching Svengoolie), I will check the individual tubes (especially the 6U8s) for differences in performance.
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Tomorrow I will raise my long wire antenna higher, fit a better 9:1 unun, and see if I can pick up anything in the contest 7.0-7.1, 14.0-14.1, and 21.0-21.1 frequencies.
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Thanks!
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Richard
W2ONE
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Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
Check the 6U8¡¯s. They¡¯re notorious for going bad.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Sat, May 24, 2025 at 2:54 PM, Gary WB6OGD via groups.io < winbladgary@...> wrote:
Hi Richard,
Great, good progress.
?
Hearing the calibrator is good news.? I would consider 80meters as working.
?
Now, remember, the 2B is an 80 meter receiver with a converter on the front end for the other bands.
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Hearing the calibrator on other bands is good but I think it's possible that it is really hearing it somehow passing through to 80meters.
Do you have a transmitter or signal generator you could use to make sure?? Not hearing signals on the bands is of course bad, it might
mean that the front end converter is not working!? It could be several crystals.. or a tube..? or dirty or broken band switch.
?
You are right, zero beat in this case is the beating of the crystal calibrator and the BFO (beat frequency oscillator).? Zero beat means the
two are at the same frequency, if they are different, your hear an audio tone that is the difference.? As you tune across a single frequency
carrier signal, the tone will decrease, then stop, then increase.? The point in the middle (no tone) is zero beat.? At zero beat with the calibrator,
you should set your dial to match the calibration point (every 100KHz) so that the dial reads correctly.? The 2B has marks around the knob
that can be moved to a long hash mark and there is a little red thing on the dial glass.? Move both so you can read the correct frequency.
?
FYI, there is a CW contest this weekend so there are lots of signals on the low end of the bands (7.0-7.1, 14.0-14.1, 21.0-21.1, etc.).
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
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Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
Hi Richard,
Great, good progress.
?
Hearing the calibrator is good news.? I would consider 80meters as working.
?
Now, remember, the 2B is an 80 meter receiver with a converter on the front end for the other bands.
?
Hearing the calibrator on other bands is good but I think it's possible that it is really hearing it somehow passing through to 80meters.
Do you have a transmitter or signal generator you could use to make sure?? Not hearing signals on the bands is of course bad, it might
mean that the front end converter is not working!? It could be several crystals.. or a tube..? or dirty or broken band switch.
?
You are right, zero beat in this case is the beating of the crystal calibrator and the BFO (beat frequency oscillator).? Zero beat means the
two are at the same frequency, if they are different, your hear an audio tone that is the difference.? As you tune across a single frequency
carrier signal, the tone will decrease, then stop, then increase.? The point in the middle (no tone) is zero beat.? At zero beat with the calibrator,
you should set your dial to match the calibration point (every 100KHz) so that the dial reads correctly.? The 2B has marks around the knob
that can be moved to a long hash mark and there is a little red thing on the dial glass.? Move both so you can read the correct frequency.
?
FYI, there is a CW contest this weekend so there are lots of signals on the low end of the bands (7.0-7.1, 14.0-14.1, 21.0-21.1, etc.).
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
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?
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Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
I thought I'd heard that he found a 6A in the set.
Looking around Amazon, for some reason <1A and SB are horridly expensive.
The transformer in the 2-B is smaller and more likely to be of less output power than the transformer used in the R-4. However, I would feel sufficiently protected with a 1A FB in there in lieu of the 600 mA SB.
N.B., I have not looked on eBay yet but I have plenty of fuses for my radios and the ones that blow the most are the 6A fuses in Kenwood hybrids. I almost never get blown fuses in Drake equipment -- even if I do something completely stupid like connect the screen supply to the bias supply (The 100-ohm, 5W resistor became the fuse there and I am fortunate to have lots of those from converting AC-4's to Harbach and Heathkit Shop boards. That puppy broke in half!)
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with Proton Mail secure email.
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On Saturday, May 24th, 2025 at 1:49 PM, Jim Shorney via groups.io <jimNU0C@...> wrote: You missed a decimal Steve. :) He's looking for 0.6A.
On Sat, 24 May 2025 17:45:59 +0000
"Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io" w1es@... wrote:
I would see no problem using a 1A FB. That's what's used in the R-4(any). A 6A is just insane.
--
73
-Jim
NU0C
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Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
I believe all the 4 line receivers use a 3/4A? (750ma) SLOW Blow.
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For best protection, you always want the smallest fuse that won't blow in normal operation.
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73,
Gary
WB6OGD
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Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
I have always wondered about all the odd ball size fuses.? I worked in a very large plant and we had many different fuses from less than one amp up to over 300 amps and voltages from 24 to over 5000 vols.??
Some factory men came in one day and explained why they had so many sizes for the same voltage and amp rating.? They did that just because they could say they had a fuse for many applications.? but over the years they decided to consolidate all the fuses to a small number of physical sizes.
Never did explain why they made a 63 milliamp fuse instead of either 50 or 75 or 100.? Same for a 6 1/2 instead of just 7.
Instead of a .6 amp fuse I think I would just put in a one amp fuse if the .6 fuse was hard to find.
Ralph ku4pt
On Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 01:49:25 PM EDT, Jim Shorney via groups.io <jimnu0c@...> wrote:
You missed a decimal Steve. :) He's looking for 0.6A.
On Sat, 24 May 2025 17:45:59 +0000 "Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io" <w1es@...> wrote: > I would see no problem using a 1A FB. That's what's used in the R-4(any). A 6A is just insane. -- 73 -Jim NU0C
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Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
I uploaded a different 2-B manual and schematic to the Files section.
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and just the schematic from the manual
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Tom, AG9X
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Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
You missed a decimal Steve. :) He's looking for 0.6A. On Sat, 24 May 2025 17:45:59 +0000 "Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io" <w1es@...> wrote: I would see no problem using a 1A FB. That's what's used in the R-4(any). A 6A is just insane. -- 73 -Jim NU0C
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Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
On Sat, 24 May 2025 09:37:37 -0700 "Richard W2ONE via groups.io" <cowboyhat@...> wrote: I ordered a complete set of new tubes and replaced all tubes. This is not a good isea for reasons that have been discussed in depth in forums all across the internet including this one. Best practice is to replace each tube one at a time and check for an improvement in performance. If no improvement is noted put the original tube back in and move on to the next tube. I am listening for "zero beat" to calibrate the dial, but what the heck is "zero beat"?? I am a musician and in musical terms it is the matching or two tones and tuning them together so that there is no wavering or beating of one tone against the other. It is exactly the same thing. When the beat note is 0 Hz the dial frequency is exactly the same as the calibrator signal's frequency. You will need to set the PBT control to center and likely turn up the volume to hear the low beat tones and find zero. This is also how we listen to AM with a receiver in SSB mode. Zero beat the carrier. It's called ECSS. -- 73 -Jim NU0C
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Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
My apologies.? That's a FB fuse.
I would see no problem using a 1A FB.? That's what's used in the R-4(any).? A 6A is just insane.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Saturday, May 24th, 2025 at 1:42 PM, Steve Wedge, W1ES <w1es@...> wrote:
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Saturday, May 24th, 2025 at 12:46 PM, n4buq <n4buq@...> wrote:
Mouser has them individually but you can also get a 5-pack:
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Littelfuse/0313.600MXP?qs=rkYlxpo0zrH8phPYUSt1bg%3D%3D
?
Hello Gary,
?
So, I have done as you have suggested.
?
First, yep, my fuse was a slow blow 6A instead of a .6A.? Oddly, I cannot find a .6A slow blow on Amazon, so I will have to do a little looking around in the specialized on-line seller sites and pay their "YIKES!" shipping fee added to a $1.50 fuse.
?
I ordered a complete set of new tubes and replaced all tubes.? Having done that, I am able to pick up a few stations in the 80 meter band, but nothing on the other bands (other than static of varying pitch and tone).? My antenna may be at fault on this, so I will be upgrading it to something better (still simple, but better).
?
As for calibration, with the "Cal" switch on, I do hear a squeal or tone in all bands which have crystals (including the 80 meter band).? The tone is much louder in some bands than others (would this indicate a failing crystal in the quiet bands?).? Following the book instructions, I am listening for "zero beat" to calibrate the dial, but what the heck is "zero beat"?? I am a musician and in musical terms it is the matching or two tones and tuning them together so that there is no wavering or beating of one tone against the other.? But for radio calibration, the term has no meaning to me.? What I hear is a squeal that covers approximately 3 - 4 kHz then silence for 2- 3 kHz, then squeal again for another 3 - 4 kHz.? Am I looking for that quiet space between the two squealing tones as the point where the dial should be moved to?? I must sound empty-headed to you guys who get this, but the lack of descriptions in the manual is frustrating.
?
Help will be appreciated...
?
Richard
W2ONE
?
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Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Saturday, May 24th, 2025 at 12:46 PM, n4buq <n4buq@...> wrote:
Mouser has them individually but you can also get a 5-pack:
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Littelfuse/0313.600MXP?qs=rkYlxpo0zrH8phPYUSt1bg%3D%3D
?
Hello Gary,
?
So, I have done as you have suggested.
?
First, yep, my fuse was a slow blow 6A instead of a .6A.? Oddly, I cannot find a .6A slow blow on Amazon, so I will have to do a little looking around in the specialized on-line seller sites and pay their "YIKES!" shipping fee added to a $1.50 fuse.
?
I ordered a complete set of new tubes and replaced all tubes.? Having done that, I am able to pick up a few stations in the 80 meter band, but nothing on the other bands (other than static of varying pitch and tone).? My antenna may be at fault on this, so I will be upgrading it to something better (still simple, but better).
?
As for calibration, with the "Cal" switch on, I do hear a squeal or tone in all bands which have crystals (including the 80 meter band).? The tone is much louder in some bands than others (would this indicate a failing crystal in the quiet bands?).? Following the book instructions, I am listening for "zero beat" to calibrate the dial, but what the heck is "zero beat"?? I am a musician and in musical terms it is the matching or two tones and tuning them together so that there is no wavering or beating of one tone against the other.? But for radio calibration, the term has no meaning to me.? What I hear is a squeal that covers approximately 3 - 4 kHz then silence for 2- 3 kHz, then squeal again for another 3 - 4 kHz.? Am I looking for that quiet space between the two squealing tones as the point where the dial should be moved to?? I must sound empty-headed to you guys who get this, but the lack of descriptions in the manual is frustrating.
?
Help will be appreciated...
?
Richard
W2ONE
?
|
Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
Mouser has them individually but you can also get a 5-pack:
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Littelfuse/0313.600MXP?qs=rkYlxpo0zrH8phPYUSt1bg%3D%3D
?
Hello Gary,
?
So, I have done as you have suggested.
?
First, yep, my fuse was a slow blow 6A instead of a .6A.? Oddly, I cannot find a .6A slow blow on Amazon, so I will have to do a little looking around in the specialized on-line seller sites and pay their "YIKES!" shipping fee added to a $1.50 fuse.
?
I ordered a complete set of new tubes and replaced all tubes.? Having done that, I am able to pick up a few stations in the 80 meter band, but nothing on the other bands (other than static of varying pitch and tone).? My antenna may be at fault on this, so I will be upgrading it to something better (still simple, but better).
?
As for calibration, with the "Cal" switch on, I do hear a squeal or tone in all bands which have crystals (including the 80 meter band).? The tone is much louder in some bands than others (would this indicate a failing crystal in the quiet bands?).? Following the book instructions, I am listening for "zero beat" to calibrate the dial, but what the heck is "zero beat"?? I am a musician and in musical terms it is the matching or two tones and tuning them together so that there is no wavering or beating of one tone against the other.? But for radio calibration, the term has no meaning to me.? What I hear is a squeal that covers approximately 3 - 4 kHz then silence for 2- 3 kHz, then squeal again for another 3 - 4 kHz.? Am I looking for that quiet space between the two squealing tones as the point where the dial should be moved to?? I must sound empty-headed to you guys who get this, but the lack of descriptions in the manual is frustrating.
?
Help will be appreciated...
?
Richard
W2ONE
?
|
Re: Drake 2B Instruction Book
?
Hello Gary,
?
So, I have done as you have suggested.
?
First, yep, my fuse was a slow blow 6A instead of a .6A.? Oddly, I cannot find a .6A slow blow on Amazon, so I will have to do a little looking around in the specialized on-line seller sites and pay their "YIKES!" shipping fee added to a $1.50 fuse.
?
I ordered a complete set of new tubes and replaced all tubes.? Having done that, I am able to pick up a few stations in the 80 meter band, but nothing on the other bands (other than static of varying pitch and tone).? My antenna may be at fault on this, so I will be upgrading it to something better (still simple, but better).
?
As for calibration, with the "Cal" switch on, I do hear a squeal or tone in all bands which have crystals (including the 80 meter band).? The tone is much louder in some bands than others (would this indicate a failing crystal in the quiet bands?).? Following the book instructions, I am listening for "zero beat" to calibrate the dial, but what the heck is "zero beat"?? I am a musician and in musical terms it is the matching or two tones and tuning them together so that there is no wavering or beating of one tone against the other.? But for radio calibration, the term has no meaning to me.? What I hear is a squeal that covers approximately 3 - 4 kHz then silence for 2- 3 kHz, then squeal again for another 3 - 4 kHz.? Am I looking for that quiet space between the two squealing tones as the point where the dial should be moved to?? I must sound empty-headed to you guys who get this, but the lack of descriptions in the manual is frustrating.
?
Help will be appreciated...
?
Richard
W2ONE
?
|
Rather than spending time trying to reinvent the wheel, have any of you installed 16 AWG SJT power cords into an AC-4 using the correct strain relief?? I understand that this will involve enlarging the hole in the AC-4 but I'm done with Dremeling strain reliefs to get them to work with round cables.? Too much time and I have a few AC-4's that need at least an updated AC cord.
Yes, 16 AWG is smaller than factory 14AWG 2-conductor but a 5A continuous load is fine with a 16 AWG cord.
It's more important, at this point, to have a safety ground for the power supply.
What size relief and what size hole?
73,
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
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Re: Help ID'ing Some Misc Flea Market Items
I was thinking the meter may be from one of their 2m mobiles but have no idea which.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Saturday, May 24th, 2025 at 10:14 AM, VE7PS via groups.io <ve7ps@...> wrote:
The 2nd pic was an optional rear panel for the TR-4 (and possibly the TR-6?) that facilitated hooking up the TC-6 and/or TC-2 transverters. I have a TR-4 with one on it.?
The surge protector is what it is. Drake model 1549 as shown.?
Don¡¯t think the meter is Drake. Doesn¡¯t ring any bells with me.
73 PS On May 23, 2025, at 1:12?PM, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io <w1es@...> wrote:
? Barry's correct on the first one.? The second one looks like a rear upper panel for a TR-4C
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Friday, May 23rd, 2025 at 11:47 AM, n4buq <n4buq@...> wrote:
I think that first one is the backlight lamp holder for a 4-line receiver/transmitter/transceiver(?).
Barry - N4BUQ
Some things followed me home this weekend. In addition to my TR7 parts, I got several "bonus" items. Let me know if you recognize any of these pieces, or better yet let me know if you need them.?
<20250523_102224.jpg> <20250523_102235.jpg> <20250523_102252.jpg> <20250523_102305.jpg> --
Craig/W8CS
Greenville, SC
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Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters
They need a bit of air space round them just like any power resistor. See /g/DRAKE-RADIO/files/TR-7/PS7-Inrush.pdf for examples. On Sat, 24 May 2025 10:56:29 -0400 "John K5MO via groups.io" <johnk5mo@...> wrote: Do you do just mount them under the chassis away from things like
electrolytics, etc? I know they are hot when they're running.
John K5MO
On Sat, May 24, 2025 at 10:18?AM Jim Shorney via groups.io <jimNU0C=
[email protected]> wrote:
They do wonders for the PS7 THUMP. I find them in scrap PC power supplies.
-- 73 -Jim NU0C
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Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters
Do you do just mount them under the chassis away from things like electrolytics,? etc? I know they are hot when they're running.?
John K5MO
They do wonders for the PS7 THUMP. I find them in scrap PC power supplies.
On Fri, 23 May 2025 22:52:04 -0700
"Steve KL7JT via " <radiorobots=[email protected]> wrote:
> I have used CL-70, 80, and 90 in various pieces of gear to limit inrush, with good result.
>
> For AC-4 I used either CL-80 or CL-90; YMMV.
--
73
-Jim
NU0C
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Re: Supercapacitors - Possible anti-surge device to protect filaments/ heaters
They do wonders for the PS7 THUMP. I find them in scrap PC power supplies. On Fri, 23 May 2025 22:52:04 -0700 "Steve KL7JT via groups.io" <radiorobots@...> wrote: I have used CL-70, 80, and 90 in various pieces of gear to limit inrush, with good result.
For AC-4 I used either CL-80 or CL-90; YMMV. -- 73 -Jim NU0C
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Re: Help ID'ing Some Misc Flea Market Items
The 2nd pic was an optional rear panel for the TR-4 (and possibly the TR-6?) that facilitated hooking up the TC-6 and/or TC-2 transverters. I have a TR-4 with one on it.?
The surge protector is what it is. Drake model 1549 as shown.?
Don¡¯t think the meter is Drake. Doesn¡¯t ring any bells with me.
73 PS
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Show quoted text
On May 23, 2025, at 1:12?PM, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io <w1es@...> wrote:
? Barry's correct on the first one.? The second one looks like a rear upper panel for a TR-4C
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Friday, May 23rd, 2025 at 11:47 AM, n4buq <n4buq@...> wrote:
I think that first one is the backlight lamp holder for a 4-line receiver/transmitter/transceiver(?).
Barry - N4BUQ
Some things followed me home this weekend. In addition to my TR7 parts, I got several "bonus" items. Let me know if you recognize any of these pieces, or better yet let me know if you need them.?
<20250523_102224.jpg> <20250523_102235.jpg> <20250523_102252.jpg> <20250523_102305.jpg> --
Craig/W8CS
Greenville, SC
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Jim Shorney
Gary WB6OGD