SolderSmoke Podcast #236 is available!
Podcast Posted on 1 April 2022:
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke236.mp3
Winterfest! Many Boatanchors. Lots of old good analog test gear. Talk with Dean KK4DAS. Met up with Armand WA1UQO and Charles AI4OT.
Serving the worldwide community of radio-electronic homebrewers. Providing blog support to the SolderSmoke podcast: http://soldersmoke.com
Solar X-rays: Geomagnetic Field: |
SolderSmoke Podcast #236 is available!
Podcast Posted on 1 April 2022:
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke236.mp3
Winterfest! Many Boatanchors. Lots of old good analog test gear. Talk with Dean KK4DAS. Met up with Armand WA1UQO and Charles AI4OT.
SolderSmoke Podcast #236 is available!
http://soldersmoke.com/soldersmoke236.mp3
Winterfest! Many Boatanchors. Lots of old good analog test gear. Talk with Dean KK4DAS. Met up with Armand WA1UQO and Charles AI4OT.
Dale Parfitt W4OP's SBE-33 with modern digi freq counter |
Pete Juliano during Field Day, 1959 |
You are right, there is a lot of disdain for the HW7 out there.
While looking for a reasonable selection of do-able modifications to the HW7, I observed a sentiment that when all boiled down would sound like this: “Yea, rip out the innards and build a new transceiver in the carcass that is left.”
On the flip side, I have experienced relatively good results from my virgin HW7. Oh yea, I did add dial and meter lighting along with A nice set of Radio Shack Knobs but that is about the extent of the changes.
So Bill, I was wondering if any listeners to Solder Smoke know of a good source of reasonable modifications to the HW7 without inducing an implant? Second, is there a way of adding an S-meter to a direct conversion receiver? Are there any mods that can be lifted from the HW8 or HW9 and applied to the Old Senior HW7?
Thanks & 73’s
Harv WA3EIB Albuquerque, NM
What makes a radio a 10 out of 10?
Good question. A real 10 to me means the radio is flawless, clean, not repainted and the best example possible based upon age and general appearance.
Here is one of my Drake 2B Communication Receivers with the matching Speaker/Q Multiplier.
This one has the S/N 2532 which, places the production of this radio close to early Spring 1961. The radio is not flawless. It has very minor metal edge dings in the paint.
I have the original Owners Manual and lots of special notes. At best my pictured radio above is a 9.5.
In my collection is also; S/N 4226 which was built near the end of 1961. I rate S/N 4226 as a 9.8 radio.
I’m impressed with the AVG recovery, general receiver sensitivity and the combination selectivity afforded by the Q-Multiplier.
I believe the Drake web site is spot on with the dating of the production runs for Drake equipment.
From talking to other Hams, it looks like the 2B started with S/N 2000 on their first full run of production in early April 1961.
It would be interesting to see if others find radios with a serial number less than mine still out there pulling duty.
I’m sure some pilot radios are out there in private collections. Let me know if someone finds an earlier serial number.
Keep up the great work Bill!!!
ENJOY
HARV -=WA3EIB=-
Albuquerque, NM.
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