[Boatanchors] Comarison?

[Bob Macklin]

I'd like to thank everyone for their comments about the three sets of twins.

I have only had one problem with my SB-301. A few years ago the disks on the 
main tuning shaft fractured. Glen told me how to repair them but they were 
never as good as the original. I was able to purchase a new (salvaged) main 
tuning assembly from RTO. While replacing the main tuning shaft I broke one 
of the disks off the ZERO SET shaft. I was able to purchase a new (salvaged) 
ZERO SET assembly from one of the eBay sellers that have been parting out 
Heath units. Since then I have picked up 2 more main tuning shafts and a 
ZERO SET shaft.

I'm thinking of trying a Drake T4? after the 1st of the year. I don't expect 
a major improvement over the SB-301.

I am antenna handicapped. I live in a 20X20 RETIREMENT CLOSET. My current 
antenna is a 40M dipole that is on the wall about 6" below the ceiling. 
Until the sunspots went on vacation it did a pretty good job on 40M. And my 
reception on 20M was also very good. I hope I can put up a 20M dipole this 
spring.

I'd also like to try a Collins 75S-3. Maybe Santa will be nice to me next 
year.

I have no desire to get a RICEBOX. I do have a Kenwood R2000 and it is no 
better than any of the BA receivers I have except for the digital tuning. I 
sometimes use it to set the main tuning dial on one of GC receivers to the 
calibration point of one of the ham bands.

Bob Macklin
K5MYJ
Seattle, Wa.
"Real Radios Glow In The Dark"


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Singley, Rodger" <rbsingl at ilstu.edu>
To: "Bob Macklin" <macklinbob at msn.com>; "Boatanchors list" 
<boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009 12:12 PM
Subject: RE: [Boatanchors] Comarison?


As an addendum to my previous post, I would put my S line in third place but 
in this particular race third isn't too shabby.

I may be a bit biased against the Collins because I haven't had them as long 
as my Heath and Drake gear.  I really don't care for the 200 khz tuning 
segments on the S line.

My rig as a general class was a Heathkit SB-102/220 and I operated a lot of 
Drake gear at other stations while contesting in those years (mid to late 
1970's).  I bought my first C-line in 1983 (used) when I went in to order my 
first new ham transceiver which was a Yaesu FT-980.  It was a loaded C line 
that looked very nice priced at $200.  I did order the FT-980 which I think 
was around $1,200 with a couple of extra filters.  I should have just 
skipped the FT-980 because the only thing it does better than the C line is 
look pretty.

In the mid 1990's I got involved with vintage gear in a big way and acquired 
some Heathkit SB twins and various Drake 4 line twins during this time 
period.  I picked up the main part of my Collins station a couple of years 
ago and have a KWM-2 and 30L-1 connected with a 51S-1 as an external 
receiver and a 32S-3/75S-3 with a 30S-1.  The Collins gear looks very nice 
and apparently has very nice transmit audio but the Drake receiver is much 
better under any type of tough receiving condition.

As a side note, I bought a Yaesu FT-1000MP shortly after they came out and 
loaded it with Inrad filters.  The first time I used it on 160 during a 
contest I found that my Drake R-4C with the external Autek QF-1A filter was 
much better at following weak CW signals down into the noise.  Pretty sad 
that a pretty expensive transceiver with around $1,000 worth of additional 
filters and DSP is bested by a much older receiver.

Another good performing set of twins are the Kenwood R-599/T-599 series. 
The A variant is much improved over the original version and the D version 
is the same as the A except for cosmetics.  Nice tuning, stable, and the 
receiver is very quiet and stable.  The receiver covers 160 but the 
transmitter does not.  Just another possible set of twins to consider.  Of 
course then there are what I call the cousins instead of the twins such as 
the Drake TR-7 transceiver with the external R-7 receiver or the Kenwood 
TS-820S with the R-820 receiver.  Both sets of Yaesu twins (the earlier 
FRDX/FLDX-400 and FR-101/FL-101) are also decent but definitely not in the 
Drake or Heath peformance class.

Lots of choices for your Christmas wish list Bob, good luck choosing!

Rodger WQ9E


-----Original Message-----
From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net on behalf of Bob Macklin
Sent: Fri 12/18/2009 12:39 PM
To: Boatanchors list
Subject: [Boatanchors] Comarison?

I would like to know how the Drake R4/T4 twins compare to the Heath SB 
twins.

I have had a Heath SB-301/SB-401 pair for many years. The SB-301 has all 
three filters so it's as good as it gets.

My question is how do the Drake twins compare to the Heath twins. I have had 
friends that preferred the Drake twins over the Heath twins.

The Collins S-Line is outside my budget and I don't see a major improvement 
for the money required. I think the Collins thing is mostly SNOB APPEAL!

Bob Macklin
K5MYJ
Seattle, Wa.
"Real Radios Glow In The Dark"
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