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Reviews For: Ron Baker - WB4HFN

Category: Amateur Radio Equipment Repair

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Review Summary For : Ron Baker - WB4HFN
Reviews: 46MSRP:
Description:
Drake and Collins expert repair and restoration
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.wb4hfn.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25465
WB2ZXJ Rating: 2016-12-29
Drake MN 2700 refurbish Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ron refurbished my 50 year old R-4A. After that, I asked Ron to work on a Drake tuner that I bought on eBay. It was mainly cosmetic (cabinet repainting...). It came back looking and working like new.

Highly recommended.

Barry
WB2ZXJ

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Earlier 5-star review posted by WB2ZXJ on 2016-11-13

Ron is the ultimate Drake service person. He is an excellent technician, and communicates every step of his work.

I am the original owner of this Drake R-4A SN#3978 (bought it ~1965 with money from my newspaper route). It served me greatly when I was first licensed. As life moved on, the Drake was moth-balled. Almost 50 years later I decided to resurrect the radio. I was going to clean it up myself -- but decided it really deserved more TLC.

Ron restored it to "better?" than new.

Highly recommended.

Barry
WB2ZXJ
W9JB Rating: 2016-12-27
Superlative restoration Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Ron did a great job restoring a long-stored TR4CW back to life . . . his "full service" option resulting in a virtually new transceiver in both appearance and performance. Highly recommended.
KK4HCF Rating: 2016-10-27
Excellent Experience Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I had looked for a TR-4C for years and finally found one that looked promising to put back on the air. Delivered to Ron for repair/refurbish, etc. His attention to detail, experience, and obvious love for his work was evident in the finished product. What a great experience with him; and he freely shares his knowledge of Drake equipment. Professional and courteous.
Highly recommend him for any of your Drake repair/refurbishment needs.
WA0YSL Rating: 2016-04-24
Absolutely the best Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have owned my Drake R-4B, T-4 Reciter transmitter and AC-4 power supply since the late 1960's. In the mid 70's, I started having some issues with the R-4B. I got married about the same time and instead of getting the receiver repaired, all 3 units went into storage for about the next 39 years. About last Christmas a ham friend talked me into getting the Drake equipment back on the air and he highly recommended Ron. I sent all 3 units to Ron, WB4HFN to be brought back to original operating condition. This included rebuilding the AC-4 with the HKS AC-4R kit. About 6 weeks later, I received them back from Ron. Was I surprised! All 3 units were like they were brand new! They looked new and they worked like they were new. I used my original microphone, an Electro Voice 638, and I received many wonderful comments on the audio. I am very pleased with the way they work now. Ron is a professional in every way and very good to do business with. After I had sent the Drakes to him, I had some concerns and he was most helpful. I highly recommend him.
K6QXZ Rating: 2016-04-22
A Master Craftsman! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ron Baker is a Master Craftsman 'par excellence'. It does not get any better when looking for an expert in refurbishing and repairing Drake equipment. I recently had Ron refurbish my Drake B-Line. He is prompt, courteous, and undoubtedly one of the most experienced technicians that exist in making an "old rig" sing again. On top of all this his prices are very fair. So, don't look any further if you need help breathing new life into your Drakes...Ron Baker's the man!
NR4M Rating: 2015-11-01
Absolutely the best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is the second time I've used Ron for repair to my old Drake C-line twins. Both times, I was very satisfied with his work, communication, prices and documentation.
I was in a bit a 'pickle'... I had a stock transmitter and a highly modified receiver. NO ONE wanted to work on the receiver, so it had to go to Sherwood Engineering for repair and alignment. I don't think Sherwood Eng works on transmitters (don't know for sure) so never could get them aligned - as a package -
I discussed my issue and Ron agreed to take a look at the receiver, as well as, the transmitter, with the understanding that if there was an issue with the Sherwood stuff, he could not/would not work on that part of it.
Got the stuff back last week and I can honestly say that I have NEVER, EVER had a pair of modified twins (and I've had a few over the years) that is as 'hot' and works as well as what I have now. I just could never have expected this level of performance. (I understand and recognize the need for high performance, as I have a competitive CW/RTTY multi-multi contest station.)
I am not normally one to make a big deal of a work product at a level I am expecting, but the result is just 'above and beyond' what I was expecting.
I now have my other Drake stuff 'lined up', to go to Ron.
I could not be happier.


WD9HML Rating: 2015-01-14
Total Satisfaction Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Several years ago I bought a TR4 and power supply from Ron. He had gone through both and they look and work great. Just in the past year he has done a 2B and an R4B. In both cases I sent him an old tired radio and he returned a fresh 'nearly new' looking and working radio. My next job for Ron is a T4XC. I have used other services for other brands of radio and I can say without reservation that Ron Baker is tops. His work is outstanding. He communicates. He is prompt. And, his prices are very fair. You will not be disappointed in Ron's service. I just hope he continues doing his excellent work for many years to come. The Drake community needs him.
K4KYO Rating: 2014-11-30
One of the Very Best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I can echo the praise from the other 5-star ratings. Rather than do that though, I'll just add that I've found Ron to be a good and honorable man who knows is stuff as well or better than anybody I've encountered.

My first dealings with Ron were a few years ago when I sent my newly acquired my TR7 that had some intermittent problems due to apparently rough handling in shipping. He sent it back to me working to specifications and a performance report. Since then I've routinely sent all my Drake gear to Ron when I've acquired them for a going over and preventive maintenance whether or not they appeared to be working okay. I've never been disappointed and have always considered his charges to be appropriate and reasonable.

K3VYY Rating: 2014-06-13
Great Service! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had my T4XC on the bench three times after it worked fine for several years, and could not find the problem. I had bought it used and it really needed to be refurbished. Talked to Ron and decided to send the radio to him. He said it might take 6-8 weeks with the backlog. Got the T4XC back this week and just got it back on the air with the R4C. Ron did his standard package and found the problem, a bad solder joint on the antenna relay board. New window filters, and a knob insert and the radio works like.md looks like new! I am really pleased. Price was very reasonable. Thanks Ron!
WA8ZIP Rating: 2014-05-03
Drake T4XB and R4B for refurb Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had these radios as a young ham 45+ years ago, but they have been mostly silent for 30+ years due to school, job, wife, kids. As retirement approaches, wanted to bring them back to life. Ron was very helpful; he provided detailed advice and a complete report of the work done. The radios came back in great shape... they looked almost new and worked better than ever. Ron is a professional who does excellent work. It's first come, first served, so you might have to be patient, but it's worth the wait. I thought the cost was reasonable.