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Reviews For: Jeff Covelli WA8SAJ

Category: Amateur Radio Equipment Repair

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Review Summary For : Jeff Covelli WA8SAJ
Reviews: 75MSRP:
Description:
RL Drake repair
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.wb4hfn.com/Services/WA8SAJ/SAJ-Repair.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00754.7
N9AI Rating: 2016-08-19
Save your $$$ Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got my TR5 back from him and the band switch was still dirty and not working correctly. You would think that the band switch is something he would pay attention to. I guess that what I get for thinking. I fixed the switch myself. From here on out, I'll send my gear to someone with a good reputation.
This guy also likes to argue and talks down to you. He thinks he can 'walk on water'. He is in for a surprise one of these days.
KB1PKS Rating: 2016-07-05
Excellent Drake Restorations and Repairs Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Jeff has helped me with repair work and replacements since 2007 when I first became a ham. To date he has repaired and enhanced at least eight different Drake rigs and accessories for me. Way back in 2007 I sent a poorly working T-4XB (obtained via e-Bay) and AC-4 power supply (also e-Bay) to Jeff as my first submission. He repaired, aligned, and replaced all necessary caps in the T-4XB as well as the 6JB6 finals. He also replaced all the caps in the AC-4 as well. When it came back from Jeff the T-4XB looked and ran like new putting out 160 to 170 watts on 160 to 15 meters. More than this, Jeff gave me instructions on how to use my vintage Collins R390A receiver with the Drake T-4XB to zero beat and get on the air when I finally got my ticket in 2007. Since then I also sent a R-4B (Dayton Hamfest) to Jeff which he completely refurbished with new caps, aligned it with my T-4XB and both B-Line Twins still look and run like a charm. Over the years Jeff has fully restored and aligned my more recently purchased R-4C (e-Bay) and T-4XC (e-Bay) twins and repaired a newly installed 4-NB noise blanker (also e-Bay) that needed a new pot and re-wiring to chassis (which is not properly covered in the Drake 4-NB manual).

This past month I purchased a vintage Drake 2B via e-Bay and 2BQ Q-multiplier via the 2016 Dayton Hamfest. As received the Drake 2B only poorly received signals on 80 meters and no other band yet had all the crystals for 80 through 10 meters as well as the optional 10A crystal. I sent my 2B and 2BQ to Jeff and he brought back both to life, better than Factory Specs! Not only did Jeff replace all the caps, clean the chassis and repaint or replace the knobs and faceplate, he mechanically repaired the passband tuner by taking it apart and refurbishing the springs, cams and aligning it, so that proper passband tracking is now restored (for the details of the Drake 2B passband tuner, please see the recent article in Electric Radio, Number 323, April 2016)! All I can say is that Jeff supplies great service and there is nobody with his depth of knowledge and passion when it comes to Drake radios. All my Drakes look and perform great thanks to Jeff. Jeff will always be my guy for all my Drake repair and advice in the future! Thank you Jeff.
As for the latest Drake 2B and 2BQ additions to my shack, I have submitted some before and after pictures to the 40 meter 7272 Ragchew net newsletter that one can obtain by looking on the web or by contacting the author of the newsletter, Robert W. Lobenstein, WA2AXZ on QRZ.Com or by e-mail at WA2AXZ@arrl.net.
KG9D Rating: 2016-01-30
great experience Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I sent my 2B to Jeff for repairs and it was back in my shack on the 28 for a fast turnaround.The radio performs and looks brand new.He returns old parts and documents referring to the work he performs.I would highly recommend him for your vintage radio repairs.
N6BIZ Rating: 2015-12-18
GREAT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY THATS HASNT BEEN SAID ABOUT JEFFS SERVICES SENT HIM A DEAD TR7 I BOUGHT OFF EBAY NOT KNOWING IT WAS LOADED WITH FILTERS AND THE NOISE BLANKER GOT A GOT IT BACK REAL QUICK ITS PERFECT LOOKS NEW AND YOU CAN TALK TO JEFF OVER THE PHONE AND THAT VERY IMPORTANT TO ME NOW IM LOOKING FOR AN S LINE FOR JEFF TO MAKE PERFECT
THANKS JEFF
W3RXO Rating: 2015-08-29
THE MAN!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Just got my radio back, from the third service, done by Jeff. Second for this particular set. He did a great job on it, in 2008, but after sitting for a few years, unused, it developed "issues". I thought that I'd try re-aligning the B-Twins myself. Big mistake!
So, I wound up sending the set back to Jeff. While the cost is never cheap, you pay for what you get. And when you consider that you are getting THE BEST SERVICE AROUND, ANYWHERE, then the price becomes very reasonable. I may have gotten it done by a hack, more cheaply, but I would never have been as happy, as I am with Jeff's work. Those who complain about cost, or work performed that wasn't asked for, forget that they sent their radio to him, TO MAKE IT RIGHT, 100%. And, that's what Jeff does. He makes it 100% RIGHT.
It's why my third experience with Jeff, is as good as my first, because he is consistent. If I ever get another 70's boat anchor, it will go straight to Jeff, to be made right.
KU3S Rating: 2015-04-15
Great Work Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Several years ago, Jeff did a derelict R4 and turned it into a screamer of a receiver and subsequently did a T4XB and power supply restore, all excellent and fee that seemed quite reasonable. Love using this 1964 receiver . I have been treated well.
K8SOR Rating: 2015-04-14
MORE than wanted Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I sent my 2B to Jeff for "ALIGNMENT AND TUNE UP"
I told him in a letter that I had replaced the caps, and I had a new 3-wire power cord that I would put on it and that I would clean it when it was working properly.
Well $280.00 later he sent me an email saying it was done----checked out---replaces 3 tubes ( one was the crystal calibrator-" for higher drive"--it worked fine for me, put in new frosted pilot lamps ( the originals worked) New power cord, New main tuning knob, 3/4 amp china fuse---it had a 1 amp in it. Cleaned entire unit---put a new red pin for the dial.
What could I do? he had my radio. Now I have 2B that works swell, but I'll never be able to get my money out of it. DON'T SEND HIM A RADIO UNLESS YOU WANT HIM TO GO WAY OVER BOARD WITH IT.
W8NCZ Rating: 2015-01-23
excellent service & fees Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I sent my early model tr7 to Jeff because of no tx he replaced some bad parts gave it a through cleaning inside and out replaced the blue lenses and lamps cleaned the pto and replaced the shaft bushing, predriver transistor a bad choke on the predriver board and a complete alignment including a printout of the swept freqs of the crystals. I shipped it to him and in roughly 3 weeks it was back in my shack that was Dec 22 of 2014 it is now 1/22/15 and this radio has been on 24 hrs a day since Dec and works just like it did when it was new. Jeff's service, knowledge and communication is top notch he is the #1 guy to go to for Drake,Collins and any other old gear his fees are reasonable and fair, his service is the best bar none I can not say enough about how good he is
W1QD Rating: 2014-10-13
great repair work Time Owned: more than 12 months.
While there are several Drake repair tech's out there, I always have my gear sent to Jeff. Over the years he has repaired my TR-4, TR-4C and upgraded my 2 MS-4 power supplies. He is also is a wealth of information on R.L. Drake gear and always good for advice and turn-around time.
KA9HJZ Rating: 2014-01-23
Did a very good repair job on my TR-4C Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had forgot to leave Mr. Covelli a rating. Better late than never. Sent him a broken down TR-4C I had bought to be repaired. He did a fine job. Gave me a list of what he did and even gave me the old parts back, He also did the PS Mod that I was to lazy to do. He even cleaned it up. have no complaints with the price in fact it was much cheaper than what Drake would charge when they were in business.