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write your own review of the Drake SW 8.
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NI6S
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 22, 2006 00:54
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Poor Man's R8B
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I'd always wanted an R8B, but with their used prices these days, it's more than I wanted to spend. Plus I have too many receivers as it is, so it would've been hard to justify. I therefore decided on an SW-8 because it represented a good compromise and best bang for the buck. When hunting for one, however, I discovered how difficult they are to find, especially in good condition. Plus, >1996 copies are nearly impossible to locate, as people tend to want to hang on to them. I finally resorted to Ebay and got one for the going rate (~$400). The seller indicated that "the pilot light did not work" and that the whip antenna "could be pulled out of its socket." In preparation for these anomolies, I contacted Drake for a replacement whip ($15) and John Kriner (Drake Tech) for misc parts. Had to get these before they became extinct. Once I got the receiver, I switched out the antenna, followed the Drake troubleshooting guide on cleaning the LCD display contacts (on the Drake website), and changed out the knobs, which improved the cosmetic appearance. I've read reviews that cite "cheap knobs, etc." I disagree, as the knobs are metal and the PTO knob appropriately weighted, as this is afterall, a portable. The performance is outstanding and the synch detection holds its lock well. The tone knob makes a difference and the stock speaker is adequate. The bandwidths are good and do especially well in SSB mode, where you can listen, using the 6 kHz bandwidth! I find this receiver to have a decent front end and is a good performer on the Tropical bands (60/90m), even using just the whip antenna. The Air Band is neat, though the squelch control on the rear leaves something to be desired, as it's inconvenient to access. Overall, I am quite happy with the purchase and am thankful that a few parts are still available from Drake and other third party sources. But get those parts while they last! Drake is no longer servicing this radio, so I imagine replacement parts will not be around for long. If you've always wanted an R8B but don't want to shell out the $$$, go for the SW-8 and be sure to get a 1996 or later build, as it has all the factory revisions and updates. Good luck and e-mail me if you have any questions. 73 de Ed, NI6S(navydude1962@yahoo.com)
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VR2AX
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 16, 2006 05:51
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Swansong
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Bought mine new from Universal Radio in 1997, new model with synchronous am detector. I still have it, now at my GW qth. My first experience with the synch which seems to work. It's a Drake and therefore, by definition, 'great' (5++!). Objectively, as far as I can, a really fine sensitive and selective shortwave communications receiver, with the added benefit of airband. Top cover seemed to be of dubious quality, faded in the sunlight when left on my desk for a year or two in the living room. At first I thought someone had spilled talcum powder on it, anyhow the cover faded slightly in colour for whatever reason. No modern polish that I will dare to apply removes it so I suspect a chemical chnage in the paint. I would put it head to head with my IC-R9000 and expect the synch to make a difference in convenience when listening to sigs under high QSB. But heck, who expects hi fi quality from shortwave. Nevertheless for sentimental reasons mainly, this must be a 5.
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WPE9JRL
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 22, 2005 08:49
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Great Radio With a Few Exceptions
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I owned one of these for about two years. I bought one of the "later" SW-8's with the SELECTABLE SIDEBAND sync detection and expanded Long Wave coverage down to 100KHz. It is an extremely good performer on HF and MW just using the built-in antenna....that was a real surprise. No other portable that I have owned since can live up to that.
The sync detector firmly locks onto fading AM carriers and provides superb audio. FM Broadcast band sensitivity and overload immunity was excellent. It is really, a nice radio. I can see why Grundig picked up the design and cloned it as their Satellit 800.
Some problems that always bugged me about the radio: The squelch control works on the Aircraft Band only...the control is on the rear of the radio and the squelch action was poor, producing pops when squelch is broken with an incoming signal. The tuning knob is cheesey, unweighted and has a "tight" feel much like all of the Drake receivers of this vintage. The display started going bad on mine. I had to remove the LCD display and clean the edge contacts to make it work again 100% (don't try this at home, a very delicate procedure). It eats batteries like a pig. Good quality alkailine D-cells only lasted about 6-10 hours of use. As a portable, beware of this. The AC adapter is large and clunky.
I sold the radio after two years of use mainly due to the fact that it ate batteries so rapidly and I was afraid that the display would go bad again.
Overall, an excellent performer. Built in the USA, one of the last consumer SW portables made within our borders. Pleasure to use and listen.....despite annoying quirks. If Drake was commited to any longevity in its manufacture of this radio, I'm sure we would have seen a SW-8A and SW-8B that incorporated upgrades to correct a few of the quirks. Unfortunately, the SW market did not (apparently) support this. We all know where R.L. Drake sits now in the communications recevier market: RIP
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MMAGHAKIAN
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 5, 2003 20:02
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supurb radio for the money
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned an SW-8 for about a year now and the only radios that compare are the R-8B and Satellit 800. the 8B cost a lot more and the 800 is quite large. The Sync detector is nothing short of incredible. I have owned about 100 radios in the past 25 years. most can't hold a candle to the SW-8. HOWEVER YOU MUST GET THE ONE WITH SELECTABLE SIDEBAND SYNC DETECTOR. serial number beginning with 6 or higher.
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WB8ETHJR
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 13, 2003 06:02
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A serious choice
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I am an SWL (son of a silent key- hence the "JR") and have been one since the late 80's when I got my hands on an old S-38c.
The SW-8 (later version with sideband selectable sync) is a well build rig- this thing screams quality ! I have one for my main receiver and love it. While it many not have every single possible feature- the features it does have work almost without flaw. The Sync detector is very forgiving and will lock onto weak and off-tuned signals (off-tuning with a sync detector and a narrow filter setting can salvage many a QRM laiden signal).
If you are looking for a great revceiver- BUY IT !
Mine had no birdies or anything like that- just the odd "churp" when spinning the tuner fast.
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WI4NDS
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 30, 2003 03:05
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Excellent!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned several. I loved them all, but the best are the 1996 thru 2000 models. They have the selectable sideband sync detector and cover longwave (below 500 khz) down to 100 khz.. I currently have a 1997 model. The first number in the serial number gives you the year of manufacture, the letter after gives you the month (A is January, B is February, etc.).
This is a wonderful radio that works very well. It has a very good FM BCB section as well and the Aircraft Band is good also. I have been an SWL for over 30 years and I love my SW8.
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MMAGHAKIAN
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 6, 2002 19:14
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awesome receiver
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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with the selectable sideband model you don't need a PBT or Notch filter or any other fancy controls. just turn to the clear sideband with the sync detector and adjust the frequency then your problems are gone.
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N6GY
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 1, 2001 01:24
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Primo
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is an Excellent general purpose receiver with features and quality that you would not expect from just reading the specs. For example, on broadcast FM with a decent external speaker it will startle you. But, that's not why you're thinking of buying it. On HF reception definitely exceeds that on my multi$$ Icom rig. Only downside for me has been the pushbutton switches which rock on their centers and thus are a bit tenuous. In summary, I own and use many radios and this one is the absolute last I would part with. (and i know i ended that sentence with a preposition and i shouldn't of)
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KA1RI
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 29, 2000 14:48
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Bargain in Portable SW
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Great receiver, in general.. FM broadcast is a real plus too... generally selective throughout the HF bands... sensitivity will please all but the most hyper DXers. Battery operation can be useful too... highly recommended.. simplicity makes it fun to operate!!
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