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Reviews For: Drake 1A

Category: Receivers: Amateur Radio

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Review Summary For : Drake 1A
Reviews: 2MSRP:
Description:
Ham band only receiver circa 1960. Bizarre physical shape (long and slender). Unique design aimed at single sideband.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
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W6SSP Rating: 2021-09-15
Nice receiver, ahead of its time Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had a number of Drake radios over the years and like them so when a 1A showed up locally bought it to see how it compared to others. Its an odd receiver in many ways, primarily the cabinet and very large dial. Wasn't really expecting that much. A previous owner
had made many modifications, some of which made no
sense so put it back to original. This is an early one,
s/n 35. Once it was completed the performance was
suprisingly good. Sensitivity, audio quality, noise
and VFO stability are impressive. Not as good
as the Drake 4 line but close. If you're a collector
this is a nice, usable receiver to have in your collection.
Early versions did not include WWV but many, like
mine, were returned to the factory to be upgraded
at very little cost.
K7EXJ Rating: 2014-12-23
Amazing early SSB Receiver Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
About 1960 the ham radio club at Shadle Park HS in Spokane, WA obtained a brand new Drake 1A receiver. Some of us were on SSB (I was on with a Central Electronics 10A and a home built 6L6 amp and a Hammarlund HQ129 receiver) but most receivers then were designed for AM and CW. We could hear SSB but it was never great. The Drake 1A was the first receiver I used that was selectable sideband and it was a revelation! I could never afford one and the 1A was soon replaced by a 2A (which the club also got) but I always preferred the 1A for SSB.