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You can
write your own review of the Drake TR 4 and other radios in this line.
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N4UE
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 27, 2010 15:57
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Can't beat a Drake!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I thought I had placed a review here for this fine radio, but I was mistaken.
I have been a ham for 50 years and have owned them all. I still have a large boatanchor receiver collection and about 20+ Icoms. However, when I picked up my first Drake 15 years ago, I was stunned by how well they functioned. I have had many TR-4(any) and TR-3s go through here, and I finally found a 'keeper' TR-4Cw. It is playing in the background right now listening to 40M CW. What a sweet sound through the RV-4C speaker. The remote VFO is a VERY handy accessory, IMHO.
I add a small muffin fan to all my tube-type radios and have NEVER had a failure of any type. I started the fan deal after putting my arm on my TR-6 after having it on all day. OUCH!! 19 tubes in the TR-6 makes some major heat. For their age, Drake used quality caps and other than replacing the electrolytics for preventive measures, they are ROCK solid.
I also have three R-4Bs and a R-4C (heavily moded), but the receiver in the TR-4 sounds sooo good.
Let's keep these national treasures working for another 40 years!!!
Happy New Year to ALL!!!!!!!
ron
N4UE
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WD9FUM
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 6, 2010 11:46
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Still Have Mine
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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When I upgraded to General, another ham told me to get a TR4. I took his advice and have never regretted it. Whoever designed it using sweep tube finals was a genius - I could load up a wet noodle. The TR4 is a keeper!
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K9FON
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 1, 2010 09:17
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I cant get away from them!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Ive owned several HF rigs over the past few years and i have had some GREAT HF rigs and then ive had some that were DOGS(Ten tec Corsair) but for some reason i always seem to end up with a Drake Tr-4. I am on my third TR-4 and as always I love it. I like the Tr-4 just as much as I like the Yaesu FT 101 series and the atlas 210 210X rigs. They just work and work WELL! Plus the 175 watts out doesnt hurt matters either.
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W8YG
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 16, 2010 08:36
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Great Radio!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I would have to say that this radio has a truly great receiver it is very pleasant to listen to. I have gotten mixed audio reports with it. I am going to have to find a good microphone for it.
But as with most of the radios that have been in my shack I seem to be able to hear most stations and am able to work them.
But as we all know that having a good receiver does have it drawbacks when you are working a station that cant quite hear you but they are the dreaded S9 copy on my end. Oh my S9 is almost like cursing some hams out.LOL
I love this radio and I am sure that once I get used to it it will be even more of a joy to operate.
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N3WAK
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 24, 2009 12:50
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TR-4CW--Great Rig!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I own a refurbished Drake TR-4CW that I got from Ron Baker, WB4HFN. This is a fantastic rig! I bought it for nostalgic and practical reasons, as I had simpler and older Drake equipment as a novice three decades ago, and I needed a radio.
The rig is beautiful! There's a comfortable, warming glow from the tubes, dial, and meter, which is nowhere to be found on "modern" rigs. Sure, my Icom is effortless to operate, and has plenty of bells and whistles. But its LCD screen is cold and utilitarian, and it doesn't welcome me like the old TR-4CW does.
Ham radio was a part of my youth, and it's great fun to again have lots of dials to turn. Too, I love the smell of warm vacuum tubes in the morning. If you want to savor, enjoy, and linger over a vintage Port, the TR-4CW is for you, especially on a cold, wintery night. However, if you want simply to chug down a few tasteless, cheap beers, you might want to look elsewhere.
With a TR-4CW, you can put out a big signal, have great audio, buy American, and scratch the nostalgia itch all at the same time!
There are only two caveats that come to mind. First, the rig only covers 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. If you want to operate on 30, 17, and 12 meters, you should consider the Drake twins and not a TR-4CW. Second, you can't just ship it back to the factory if it goes on the fritz. Fortunately, if you aren't a technical expert, there is a very talented pool of Drake enthusiasts, and several ham techs who specialize in Drake repairs, to help you out. You can find a lot of helpful information on WB4HFN.com.
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VE3PTC
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 13, 2008 18:12
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what a blast !
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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i have always liked the older radio gear, mainly ts 520, ft 102 etc, for the outstanding audio both on tx and rx. originally living in the uk, i really never saw too many drake radio's, for sale, and so recently, i picked up a tr4 with the pwr supply/speaker combo for a very modest price. i switched it on, and tuned across 75m. the audio quality was just outstanding, and the selectivity first rate. i marvelled at this radio, as it was built some 36/37 years ago, and it can still hold its own with the other modern stuff in my shack!
i have sent it away for an alignment, and i'm going to install the pwr supply upgrade kit, then i'm going to have some fun with this radio!!
i have to say, i'm very impressed with this radio, the quality of build, and its performance. i only wish i had "discovered" drake equipment earlier!
regards, de bob. ve3ptc/gm0ley
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LU5DDX
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Rating: 4/5
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Jun 16, 2008 12:56
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hermoso !!!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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the equipment is very good. but weak nb optional and the lamp that activates ppt. little sensitivity in high bands, superb sound in 80 and 40 meters, greetings Jorge
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AC5XP
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 4, 2008 11:32
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Absolutely fantastic
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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"Rich ops buy Collins smart ops buy Drake" - but real ops collect both. Yes, I own both. Some years ago I got a hold on a mint TR-4 and would not trade it for anything any more. This radio is truly fantastic in both performance as well as construction. Actually, I like it more than the KWM-2A, the latter by itself already a very good radio. However, all things being equal, I think Drake did a better job than Collins in bringing a radio to the market that was a more justified value for the money, while actually having a better performing receiver. The Collins only wins for its general-coverage concept and the 6146 tubes instead of the sweep tubes.
If you see a Drake TR-4(x) offered for sale in good condition, buy it. Drake is still undervalued in the collectors community, that could change though. But I won't sell you mine!
73s, Loek "Luke d'Hont, AC5XP
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W8ZNX
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 29, 2008 11:16
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rich ops buy Collins smart ops buy Drake
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Hello Radio
finaly have a TR-4CWrit
first i rebuilt the power supply
then put a few hours in to the xceiver
simply love this radio
runs rings around other tube hf xceivers
in over 40 years ive owned a ton
of 60s/70s tube type ssb xceivers
from KWM-2 to Hallicrafters SR-150s
from Swan 500 to National NCX-5
and Heathkit HW- rigs
sure its not as pretty as a KWM-2A
but it sure runs rings around one
you can not call a rig great
unless it works well on fone and cw
most SSB xceivers are simply horrid on cw
the KWM-2 is unuseable on cw
the TR-4CWrit is a joy to use on cw
sure its not a modern
" state of the art rig "
modern radios have no magic
no soul, no mystery,
if you have any trouble shooting skils
you can fix it
if you can't fix it
there are people that have spent a lifetime
fixing Drake gear
that can fix it for you
many years ago
when i was a young squirt op
a old timer took me aside
and told me
" rich ops buy Collins, smart ops buy Drake "
he was right
yours truly
Mac
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K6YE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 17, 2008 07:27
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GREAT RADIO
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought a TR4C/RV4C/MS4/AC4 in 1985 at the TRW swapfest in Torrance, California. At the time my primary radio was a Kenwood TS-430S and I wanted a backup. The Drake put out twice as much on CW and had great punch on SSB. Bottom line is I did not need an amplifier to work them (remember most radios at the time were 100 watts nominal output).
Time passed and the Drake was in boxes after some house moves. I have gotten rid of most of my surplus gear but the Drake is still here. I am looking for a variac to bring things up and put this baby back on the air.
The great thing about the TR4C is that one can work on it (my old eyes and arthiritis can sometimes be a hinderance with solid state and smt).
If you can find one at a good price, buy the bad boy. You will not be sorry.
Semper Fi,
Tommy - K6YE
DX IS
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