[Boatanchors] Drake 2B General Coverage (Addition)

Thu Jul 7 10:01:40 EDT 2011

How about the R-392? THat's a fun receiver to operate and I seem to get good performance with it.

      Joe Connor

From: Carl <km1h at jeremy.mv.com>
>To: dhallam at knology.net; boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
>Sent: Thursday, July 7, 2011 9:10 AM
>Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Drake 2B General Coverage (Addition)
>
>The 390 is well above the ability (mechanical mostly) of many and was even a 
>nightmare at the tender overhaul level in the Navy and Im sure in other 
>services and quickly replaced by the 390A.
>
>The R-388 /51J3 or 51J4 would be my choice for a good SWL band cruiser of 
>the Collins military family.
>
>The HQ-180/180A is still a good radio and has been the subject of much 
>discussion. They dont require recapping and the main problem is SMD in the 
>IF cans which is a straightforward fix if/when it occurs. The optional Noise 
>Silencer is a plus.
>If SSB isnt a big interest the HQ-145 is basically a 180 without the HC-10 
>SSB adaptor built in. It still works on SSB the old way.
>
>A real sleeper which has been showing up often recently at a low price is 
>the Hallicrafters SX-73/R-274. Superb quality unlike anything else from 
>Halli and easy to work on. Same tuning ranges as the SP-600/R-274 of BCB to 
>54 MHz but far superior quality and performance.
>
>The SX-62 was designed as an upscale homeowners AM BCB, FM BCB and SWL 
>radio. It tunes from 530 KHz to 108 MHz continuous. The downside is that it 
>shares with the SX-42 of being the hardest Halli to refurb. My primary 
>general coverage all band cruiser is a SX-62A.
>
>Carl
>KM1H
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>
>From: "David C. Hallam" <dhallam at knology.net>
>To: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
>Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 8:05 AM
>Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Drake 2B General Coverage (Addition)
>
>
>> Joe,
>>
>> You are finding the shorting comings of the 2B as a general coverage
>> receiver.  It was designed as a ham band receiver.  For that purpose it
>> is excellent.  If it's within your budget and you want to stay with a
>> tube type receiver, the R-390, not the R-390A, is the best you can get
>> for a general coverage receiver.
>>
>> David
>> KW4DH
>>
>> On 7/6/2011 8:59 PM, Joe Connor wrote:
>>> I should add that another shortcoming of the 2B is that it cannot receive 
>>> below 3.5 mhz without a special low frequency converter. That's a shame 
>>> because it seems this would be a great set for BCB DXing.
>>>
>>> Here are some details on the converter: 
>>> http://www.dproducts.be/drake_museum/2-lf1.htm
>>>
>>> If anyone has one for sale, please let me know.
>>>
>>>
>>>                                        Joe Connor
>>>
>>> From: Joe Connor<joeconnor53 at yahoo.com>
>>>> To: Mail List - Drake Gear Drake Gear<drakelist at zerobeat.net>
>>>> Cc: "boatanchors at mailman.qth.net"<boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, July 6, 2011 8:01 PM
>>>> Subject: [Boatanchors] Drake 2B General Coverage
>>>>
>>>> OK, guys, I have been using my Drake 2B as a general-coverage receiver 
>>>> for a week now and I wanted to report back on my experiences. This is a 
>>>> receiver that you folks helped me out with about a month ago. To repair 
>>>> it, I had to install a 6BF6 tube (easily obtained) and replace the 
>>>> filter cap can.
>>>>> I made it a general-coverage receiver by using the accessory crystal 
>>>>> sockets B, C and D. A 10 mhz crystal gives me 49m, a 13.5 mhz crystal 
>>>>> gives me 31m and an 8.0 mhz crystal gives me 25m. The stock crystal for 
>>>>> 40m includes the 41m band. The receiver's sensitivity and selectivity 
>>>>> are very good. The tuning is spot-on accurate. While the audio does not 
>>>>> rival that of an SX-28 or NC-183d, it is more than acceptable. I am 
>>>>> really impressed. This receiver is a keeper. I have this set in my 
>>>>> study and use it for general SWLing as well as monitoring the ham 
>>>>> bands. It's a fun set to use.
>>>>>
>>>>> There are shortcomings:
>>>>>
>>>>> (1) you have to buy the crystals for each SW band;
>>>>>
>>>>> (2) it's a royal pain to change crystals. The 2B's top does not open, 
>>>>> which would make changing the crystals less of a chore. Thus, I am 
>>>>> pretty much limited to the SW bands listed above. This is a significant 
>>>>> limitation. For example, I would like to be able to monitor the 19m 
>>>>> band; and
>>>>>
>>>>> (3) I have yet to master the 2B-Q Q multiplier.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>                                        Joe Connor
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>>
>> -- 
>> "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the 
>> government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of 
>> taking care of them."
>> Thomas Jefferson
>>
>>
>> "We may consider each generation as a distinct nation, with a right, by 
>> the will of its majority, to bind themselves, but none to bind the 
>> succeeding generation, more than the inhabitants of another country."
>> Thomas Jefferson
>>
>>
>>
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