Classic Ham Radio: Does this 40 Year old Drake TR7 Still Work???

[@moviestudioland]

great tests. Thank you. I have even older Drakes TR4 from 1966 anf TX4B and RX4B from 1968

[@moviestudioland]

look up drake tr4 moviestudioland on youtube

[@SevenFortyOne]

I have a T4XB and R4XB too

[@JPS316]

The best looking rig out there, and a performer as well. It's aged extremely well and a great example of an "old school" rig to own and operate now and then. There's also a lot of online literature about this rig and several suggestions for mods.

[@ndchevy4fun]

Good job on the video ! The Drake TR7 is a fine rig and is easy to listen to. It has just enough tools to get the job done. It really shines when the band is contest busy. On the AF or volume control, I have a TR7 and 2 TR7A rigs. Only one of the 3 has the volume completely mute. I have tried a few other TR7’s and they did not mute completely. Thinking that is how it was designed. Would be fun to hear from other TR7 user on that myself. For the AM on transmit I believe again it was designed that way to only use single side band AM. Not double side band AM. There is a mod to do double side band AM on a web page. The heavy power supply lets the TR7 run higher power on high duty modes like RTTY or FT8. The TR7 comes with a narrower 2.3 KHZ filter that hold the transmitting audio on the narrow side compared to new HF rigs now days. It is good communications audio. Easy on the ears. I remember it was way out of my dollar range back when I was a new ham. Just tune the VFO to the frequency and talk. No need to tune the receiver or dip the plate. Quite a USA made transceiver 1977- to 1981 or so years. See you on the HF bands.

[@sstressfl]

All of it reminds me of when my dad and I used to go to radio shack to buy parts for his giant cb radios. The analog knobs and gauges are simply fantastic.

[@n2jmb]

Something about these older radios I just love. I look forward to seeing what other videos you make on this Drake. 73 and Happy Holidays!

[@apollohernandez6149]

Good afternoon this is KD2GRT Thank you for your service to the ham radio community great show well done thanks

[@Kw1161]

When I was in the US Navy my ship had one in the Mars station. It drifted but the receiver was almost immune to external interference. As its antenna was located between our two most powerful radars plus the radio transmitter for the ship and you never would know they were in use. The base club also used one with a 40M beam which was stuck because of a hurricane. The best night of QSO s I ever had was with that radio, even Cyprus station called us. Good memories. Happy New Year!

[@johnm.karian5295]

GREAT! There was nothing quite like opening a box from Miamisburg, Ohio. Still have all my original 4-Line gear with the boxes and factory tags. Best of 73, KB3H

[@IrishvintageTVRadio]

I know a man who has 5 TR-7's, and he won't part with even 1! He absolutely loves them and after he gave me a demonstration I could see why.

[@christophermusgrave3105]

I really enjoyed the back story and whole upgrade and Drake adventure. Keep up the Ham next door focus!

[@billyrey9679]

I bought the TR 7/line for the USS Coral Sea while in Oakland, Ca.It worked great calling home/phone patches from the Indian Ocean.

[@joelmeddings481]

When I got my novice license back in 1980, my elmers Dan WD4RBG and Marsha KA7DDZ had a new Drake TR-7. So all of my beginning contacts were with a TR-7. I'll always have a warm spot in my heart for the Drake TR-7

[@shayne109]

lovely radios i currently have my second early TR7 here that i recently did a recap and a tune on this radio came to me for FREE i found it literally dumped in a skip! there was absolutely no way i could allow such a venerable old radio to be landfill so i took it home cleaned it off and gingerly power it up to find other than a partially failed frequency counter unit it works just fine. so until i can source a working counter board i have slotted in a blue led chinese counter that allows me to adjust for drive directly from the high side of the mixer and swapped out every cap i could find and it works a treat all the best with yours.

[@gatesmw50]

Got mine the same way, silent key auction. Love a radio with no annoying menus !

[@paulkinas7926]

Thanks for the video! Owned a TR7 in the late 80's and made thousands of QSO's on CW with it. Great CW rig! Paul NA9M

[@ReedAB8AS]

$75 wow. I had Drake Twins at one time. Wish I still had them.

[@rogerparrett3242]

The Drake TR7 and it's companion L7 linear is my primary rig... Even work FT8 with a SignaLink attached to the rear audio and front mic connector. Awesome channel. 73, Roger NQ8RP

[@RadioJimProductions]

The TR-7 is a keeper. It is a solid performer and practically bulletproof. They run circles around most any low end rig and run well with the big dogs even today. I own three TR-7s and two R-7s (along with a C-Line, TR-6, and 2-A). You want about a 20CFM fan on the radio, pulling air OUT. The AUX switch is not only for crystals, with the proper option in place it can give you quick access to the WARC bands. Your AM is completely normal and is the way a great many modern rigs produce AM. It is A3H AM which is upper sideband with carrier inserted. It is possible to modify the rig to transmit double sideband (A3E) AM if you have the AM filter but you will want to talk to me before you do the online mod. Noble Radio makes NEW crystal filters for the 7-Line and he offers a 450Hz CW filter. Filters can also be found online used at the usual places. There is a ton of info online about these rigs, most of it good. As for re-capping there is only one cap in the radio that is a must replace, the large electrolytic on the small Power Supply board in the right front corner of the radio. Beyond that, don't sweat it. You will need the service manual to do an alignment but don't even start until you have read through the service manual and have a good understanding about how the radio works. It's not rocket science but it is radio science. The TR-7 intimidated the hell out of me when I first got it over 30 years ago but I know the radio inside out now. Please join us in the groups.io/g/DRAKE-RADIO group where you can get any questions answered about any of your Drake gear. 73 de Jim NU0C

[@RadioJimProductions]

Here's the missing detail for the AM mod: www.mail-archive.com/[e-mail]/msg09892.html

[@JasonCooper-em4gt]

Marc club alabama hamfest nov

[@鈴木道雄-c9e]

Hi guys I am really enjoying your upload thank you so much in my mind it’s the best radio I think it’s nice and good looking I can’t believe such a old radio which Condition best I have ever seen thank you

[@TheNoCodeTech]

Thank you for sharing this. Great video man.

[@sincerelyyours7538]

Very interesting! I'm glad I found this channel. I have a Kenwood TS-830s I bought off eBay two years ago that I've been dying to test but didn't have an antenna to test it with. I can't put up any kind of antenna due to various site problems but hope to resolve those later this year when I move into a new house. In the mean time I have made two more eBay purchases, an MFJ 969 Versa Tuner II and a NOS Kenwood MC-50 mic, and my most recent purchase is an SDRPlay RSPdx. I had no idea an SDR can pick up TX signals from a dummy load. Now I can at least test the Kenwood to make sure I've tuned it properly. Thank you for the idea!

[@1southsoon]

Nice to see my old tuner in its new habitat. Its too bad that I sold my matching L7 amplifier a week before you obtained the radio. Great video, made me switch on my old Kenwood hybrid. 73

[@SevenFortyOne]

No worries on the amp, I'd get myself in trouble with that anyway. Catch you on the air soon! 73

[@fansalarmslightingetc]

Merry Christmas SevenFortyOne!

[@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee]

Awesome old set up 👍. One day I hope to get an older Yeasu FT-series that’s in good shape . Keep up the good work and stay warm

[@lyfandeth]

A friend of mine has his original TR7 with docs. The power supply was thrown out after a flood, probably just needed a drying. As I remember it, I put a standard (4"?) computer fan on the back of the TR7 for him. The TR7 was supposed to only need a fan in tropical high duty cycle operation, so he had never ordered one.

[@AirwavesAmateurRadio]

Enjoyed the video. Have fun on the journey of getting the setup just right for you!

[@dennyoconnor8680]

Getting ready to go to Florida for the rest of the winter, but will try to pull my TR7 out of the cabinet and see if it still works. Been in there for decades. Purchased brand new and was one of the first ones produced. I made a lot-of-5 purchase of 5 of them (4 other guys) as a retailer (ahem, hopefully the almighty wont strike me down for that little fib)) before they were released to the public. Always liked it.

[@brianrose2487]

Very impressive video! Would love an old Drake down the road. Take care (Thanks Don)

[@hp7093]

I love old radios and that is a gem. Unfortunately, as time moves forward, we ar losing the hams that can keep this stuff going...

[@hs0zcw]

After trading off a Drake 2B and A Johnson Viking radiant the transmitter, I bought a . Drake TR7 and the tube style VFO. The standard transceiver came let's say my monstrous power supply that supplied 12 volts and huge amperage to completely satisfy the TR7 needs. that power supply alone it came a way of powering mods of rigs that needed 12 volts.

[@francismcclaughry3794]

I''m envious. I love what you got. I love the drake I got even though they quit making transmitters before I got in to the game. I hope it is not your video that is making it sound that good.

[@stevegriffin3609]

That was a great video. As old as that Drake TR7 is it still an awesome looking radio. Like you said possibly an alignment change the cabs out that being said I think you got a winner. Once you give it a tuneup you’ll get that what they call the Drake sound, Which it is totally awesome to listen to. I myself I have a Drake R8 Communications receiver and that is staying in my shack have no need to sell it. Again congratulations on the TR seven and I hope you have fun and enjoy it. 73 WD5ENH Steve

[@SevenFortyOne]

It's a great radio and I'm happy to have it! Enjoy your R8! Those are great receivers!

[@info-wizz]

I'm so envious when I see these radios. My dream radio back then was a Yaesu Ft 707 or a Kenwood T500 or thereabout, sad so say it's just not affordable here in SA. Many have them and the newer models but we now talking only talking about a very small percentage of the Ham World in South Africa. I'll keep dreaming 😂

[@SevenFortyOne]

Sorry to hear its hard to get these radios in your country.

[@info-wizz]

We can get but the the exchange rate being 17 to 1 in favour of the dollar it's insanely expensive. Guys are talking about 300 pound and dollars X that by 17 for pounds or 14 for dollars.

[@billtheslink4541]

I was licensed In 1992 I think. I was 14. I had a Drake TR3 at the time which was the transceiver that came out right after your twins. My Elmer had a TR7 fall into his hand in a month or two at a real good price and I drooled over it, but couldn't come up with the money. A couple of months after that I bought a Yaesu FT-101ZD which was a great smooth operating radio. W8PEF

[@gasworker3042]

Great story about the gear! Thanks for sharing. I reecently got interested in radio so I have been watching a lot videos, to see if it's something I think I would be able to learn lol😁

[@SevenFortyOne]

You can learn it, just keep at it and it will come to you.

[@normjacques6853]

Wonderful old radios & gear! Congrats and good luck working those pesky little bugs out. BTW, I'm not sure that that stuff would benefit much from a re-cap. I'm sure you'll find out once the cover is off, but I think it'll be recent enough to still be pretty stable. Happy Holidays to you and your family, Rob! 73 DE W1NLJ

[@SevenFortyOne]

Same to you Norm!

[@garybalanesi610]

I have a TR7 manual here. Good radio. Thats a good fan for the tr7.

[@tglenn3121]

Wow. Lucky you. I'd love to have a pair of Drakes.

[@rollandmason5596]

Excellent video...really nice radio. Definitely worth looking into its few problems. Will be watching for more videos on it. Love the old radios. KJ6DQ.

[@chuckyzzz]

Nice. George will be pleased.

[@yllib68]

Merry Christmas Rob! Great video!

[@SevenFortyOne]

Thanks Billy! Merry Christmas to you too!

[@raymondbeard8159]

Absolutely wonderful video. You are blessed with the energy and the spirit of amateur radio. I found your video because I wondered what happened to all the beautiful Drake equipment of yesteryear. I started with my general ticket in 1963 and heard tons of great sound Drake equipment years after that but very rarely, is seems if ever, I hear Drake equipment on any more. Personally I am a Collins fan and keep lots of it running as I write, just getting off a QSO on 40M with a beautiful Rockwell Collins KWM-2A and 30S-1. I guess nowadays there are so few of us left, kind of like the toaster repairman, that hardly any one is interested or capable of keeping this beautiful equipment running. You have some gorgeous equipment and I can see you are very pleased to be blessed with it. I have lots of pictures of my equipment on my QRZ page for posterity and a KZbin channel by my reply name that you might enjoy. 73 WA4QGA

[@SevenFortyOne]

I like Collins radios too but don't own any yet. I've been very fortunate to have these old Drake radios - they are very fun to work with and use.

[@kellingc]

We have a Drake R7 at the Armature Radio Club of the Vintage Radio & Communications Museum of CT (W1VCM) in Windsor, CT. It is in dire need of repair, but haven't found any manuals, service manual, or schematic. Seems the receiver wasn't as popular as the TR.

[@SevenFortyOne]

If I happen to see any docs for that I'll pass them along. I need to stop by and visit .... It's been a few years since I've been to the museum.

[@RadioJimProductions]

The combined 7-Line was a DXer's dream. If you can't find any help with the R-7 you are looking in the wrong places. I would gladly take it off your hands but would rather see you get it running and enjoy it. Try groups.io/g/DRAKE-RADIO.

[@andrewhamop6665]

20:56 "You can hear I've got some CW going" haha RTTY go brrrrr

[@hamrad88]

Up early? Have a great day. Thumbs up.

[@DucatiMTS1200]

Old radios are more fun! Great video. Good commentary also. 73 de GI8WFA.

[@catfeline1530]

I am guessing George's ghost is super happy his beloved radios found their way into caring hands.

[@davidpiper3652]

I used to operate a Drake station at the Science Museum station in London, GB2SM, about 1990.

[@eduardopower5254]

Man I love those drakes. Congrats. If you want to ged rid of the Kenwood Speaker and AT please let me know. Merry Christmas.73

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Love DRAKES!!! I sure wish I still had mine. It was the transceiver, I believe it was a TR3. Made a lot of contacts, had the matching tuner, watt meter for it. That was a great idea to donate the money to charities. I am like you, when I get anything, it could be ham radio or firearms it grows roots and stays here. The only time that changed was back in 2006 when I sold all my ham gear when I was getting out of the hobby. Sure wish I had never done that. You would have a complete Kenwood station and a complete DRAKE system!! Strange how things works out. That filter works really nice. I liked the SSB filter better than the AM, when you was on the net, it took a lot of the hiss out of the audio. Put the Drake mic on the Drake, and the Kenwood over on the Kenwood, well when you were on 20 Meters, the AM was kind of really low and sounded awfully strange. Great video bud, sure wish I did have my old Drake TR3, I love the glow of tubes in the night! Take care and Merry Christmas my friend. Juddie - WD8WV

[@SevenFortyOne]

Thanks juddie! Merry Christmas!

[@calescapee9642]

My 60 year old Collins S Line works quite well so does my Hallicrafters SX 111 and HT 37. So there.

[@SevenFortyOne]

That's good to hear. Collins and Halicrafter made great radios.

[@nelsonlinkousii5174]

AWESOME!

[@AaronHuber]

I really enjoyed your knowledgeable presentation. You have earned a new subscriber. 73

[@SevenFortyOne]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@MauofMiami]

The drake tr7a is awesome great receiver in it.

[@Dratchev241]

Step one. do a recap on the drake radio and id also recap the power supply. as for the AM, you will have to check the man on that. I never owned a drake so idk if that is how they was built or if it has a fault. but the manuals and schematics should help figure that out.

[@buzzsah]

It's amazing that it works.

[@msf60khz]

Very useful video. I think the TR7 uses one sideband plus carrier for AM.

[@mauricewilkes826]

Correct, that is the way Drake designed it. No difference on receiving in AM mode as long as there is a carrier.

[@biringen]

I restored my AC4 PSU with new Caps and Diodes, did nothing to my RV-4c remote VFO or my TR-4c, still works as a charm using a D104 mic. i use it on the Nostalgic NET here in Norway,, RV4C-TR4C- MN2000 but one thing is missing thats an L4B for the complete line

[@adrianoragazzo1321]

No jokes : there are very few state of the art transceiver . The TR7 is one of .

[@samjones56]

great video great ssb radio ..

[@kweeks10045]

Great rig!

[@fiatunonewsletter6782]

A number of comments on the AM test transmission. I don't know why people expect a perfect transmission on a mode that does not fall into that frequency category. Most would do only AM test transmissions on the 80 meter band as per regulations if you are interested to do that. That radio and both microphones sounded awesome and above expectation given the age and condition of the rig. The radio found the perfect home. My best piece of ham equipment stand next to my bed... Icom IC-R70 and have no microphone jack. de ZS1JDT

[@SevenFortyOne]

Am can be used on any band in the US

[@hs0zcw]

Despite the Drake team bad choice of external looks for this stereo looking ham radio, the interior was a masterwork I love assembly and engineering where's card cage construction that aloud lots of interchange if necessary.

[@hs0zcw]

It was the finest construction design of its day and never got adequate rewards. The frequency stability was amazing from a couple of seconds after startup and holding frequency forever after. I paired my TR7 with a HEATAHKIT HP220 two kW linear amplifier and killed successfully on many contests. I have actually collected ALL but the phone mdevice made by Drake

[@hs0zcw]

I even bought 2R7A, put the best parts into one and so the remainder, then having a complete drake station with a solid-state remote vFO added. I sold the whole drink station two European and got a yesu FT2000 and found out what a fine selectivity receiver that is. Although I stepped over and got a Kenwood 990 or was it the 9000. I went back to yazoo and have never left since. When I became disabled my yahoo FT DX9000 front screen which turned to bright yellow overall.

[@hs0zcw]

That was paired with at K3 which is still there.

[@mikesey1]

A very useful video. Thanks.

[@just_in_time5518]

Those are really cool radios 📻 . Sounds good 👍

[@EricLDC]

So vintage transceivers cb ham radios can still work in 2023? I'm sure signals haven't changed much for those over the years. Heck my friend has a 1970 police scanner. Still getting signals but he's in a rural town with about 3000 population.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Yes vintage radios are still quite useable

[@James_Bowie]

Great score! That fan has definitely got to go. i replaced a very noisy fan on my bench power supply with an Arctic brand fan that has its speed controlled by a temperature sensor that you attach to the heat sink. Maybe look at that approach.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Good tip...I'll check it out!

[@denzack1]

Overall, I think the Kenwood mike sounded better. I agree, you may have had the mike gain a little high. The Drake mike seemed to cut out low frequencies and may be the better choice when in a DX pileup. Very good review. And I wish I could get my hands on one of these radios!

[@Radiowild]

What a nice station! The Kenwood mike sounds way nice than the original Drake mike. Strange problem with the sideband on AM. Just wondering if that was by design, or maybe having one of the two installed filters is causing that to happen. Cat photobomb was a hoot! I hope you and your family have a very nice Christmas holiday! 73's de KC2RDU

[@SevenFortyOne]

Thanks Bob! Merry Christmas to you and your family too! We should do a show again soon.

[@Radiowild]

@@SevenFortyOne Sure! Just let me know when you'd like to do it!

[@RadioJimProductions]

H3E (new) or A3H (old) designator for Single Sideband with full carrier. AM for SSB era. :)

[@dxace1]

And of course, the R7A is still considered one of the top receivers of all time...

[@ChrisCornell79]

I got my first TR7 from a thrift store for $20 about 10 years ago. I didn't have my ticket at the time so i sold it. Wish I had kept it.

[@SarahRWilson]

Would it be sacrilege to change the display to match the rest of the panel?

[@SevenFortyOne]

I've seen some people do it and it looks good. I'm on the fence as to whether I will or not

[@joerotman5214]

my main unit is still the Drake TR7 with a B-line as back up.

[@wa2mo]

Some really neat stuff... I believe what you are experiencing on "AM" is normal for that rig. I wasn't surprised when I saw the results on the display. Go to this link www.wb4hfn.com/DRAKE/DrakeArticles/TR7_AM_Mod/TR7_AM-P1.htm , I think you'll understand why that is happening. Seems like an easy fix with the correct filter installed. Good luck with the TR-7

[@uoba9989]

Nice Tr7! First of all, the fan on your radio is not the correct fan as supplied by R L Drake. These were designated as the FA7 Fan and were an option. The fan you have on your power supply appears to be an original FA7 fan. Both pieces used the same fan. You can find the FA7 units on Ebay from time to time. Great radios! Enjoy! de w4jba

[@SevenFortyOne]

Thanks for the info!

[@RadioJimProductions]

@@SevenFortyOne The FA-7 was an off-the-shelf 19CFM fan. Nothing special about it. Some users have found the AC Infinity Axial 8038 to be a good substitute.

[@rectify2003]

Nice

[@salvatoresquadrito109]

Bellissime radio!!!!

[@benjaminmeadows1380]

Can't have enough got a set drakes tx4c and a r4a but still works after years of setting just repair new tubes capacitor s

[@benjaminmeadows1380]

Ok 👌 73

[@janwrangel2454]

Noted your TR7 is making some noise when the AF gain fully off - The reason is the the AF gain potentiometer's carbon track which does not have metal endings. However, you can replace it with a track that has a metal endings. This is an easy job once you get the pot out of the radio. I have done it on my TR7 and it is now very quiet. Here is where you can get a new carbon track: Write to Brett at [e-mail] ask for the carbon track of their "series 45" potentiometers value is10K log with 3 solder terminals. The company is Blore Edwards Ltd located in UK. 73 and enjoy the silence! SM5MRQ

[@SevenFortyOne]

Thanks for the great info!

[@cozhinchey1598]

I am looking for someone to fix a ts 430s for me. would you know any one in Australia to fix this for me

[@SevenFortyOne]

Sorry, I don't. But there is an Australian ham radio youtuber talked ham radio dx who might.

[@christophermcvay375]

This is chopper from New York did you fix CB radios

[@SevenFortyOne]

I fix my own radios but I don't fix them for others...I just don't have the time.

[@francismcclaughry3794]

I like the sound of the old drake better. I guess I'm just old school

[@jamesmackinlay4477]

I talked to a guy running a TR-7 the other day on 40 meters I had a lot of Drakes through the years hell those Drakes will be running longer than you LOL.

[@WA8QFE]

I was able to find a Noble NRV7 DDS I will wire up to my TR7. WA8QFE

[@francismcclaughry3794]

I came into a drake receiver but the display doesn't work on it. I think this receiver was made after this radio. when I bought the radio a girl had taken from her boy friend. I probably paid to much for it. I have more modern equipment. my problem where one go to get a drake repaired. I'm an appliance operator. not a person who fixes these things. the shop that we had in our area retired. so I have no place to find a good repair man . I had a drake am receiver and it got hit with lightening. ihad my good equipment un hooked and I did lose any good equipment.

[@1crazynordlander]

Ha! 7.241 I get it!

[@williamgreenleaf9302]

KD2QOJ Fun to watch. Thanks

[@indridcold8433]

I still see stuff like this for sale. The people selling it still want $600. This is why amateur radio is dying. The Yaesu FT-DX costs $5000. The prices are enough to make anybody run back to CB, or a pen pal corresponding. You got extremely lucky to have paid $75 for your hf equipment.

[@JasonCooper-em4gt]

👋

[@francismcclaughry3794]

boy that thing sound good I don't think my to modern radios sound that good I have the cheaper radios 7300 hundred and a five ninety. sure does sounds good.

[@tomwoehle3519]

got a hum

[@sirmordrede]

the drake is a much better then a ic 7300

[@chrisreich40]

No - it's not. That TR-7 was the last Drake ham radio made for a reason.

[@mark351]

Interesting, AM is USB only.

[@RadioJimProductions]

fccid.io/Emissions-Designator/H3E

[@chetweeds9223]

Yeasu 101 will run circles around that but it’s still old garbage compared to today’s radios

[@hs0zcw]

sadly TR7 vy superior rig was killed by dumb Drake team deciding on a Stereo home audio "look" which hams could not abide..... Kenwood 930 kept the "military" look and with a good rcvr too, it dominated. Drake never recovered.

[@1crazynordlander]

My wife's cat is always starting some app or writing messages on my Yaesu Wires-X software to other hams. She doesn't have a license. I will be getting in trouble with the FCC for writing obscure messages in some sort of cat encryption that goes like this ijblahsdlvajbakjdb98y3498oinf034nnisfvj...---...blahdfbviufiubvuiaaubvv. I know the federal government is going to nab me someday.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I have similar issues. I've tried convincing the cat to study for her tech license but she won't.😁

[@spakkajack]

not proper am.

[@GEORGE-jf2vz]

Pays to beg on youtube.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I don't Beg on youtube. If you watched the video all the way through you'll have heard I donated money to charities in exchange for this radio.

[@carl-gunnarhillefors7612]

DRAKE TR7 AND PS7 I S A TOP AMATEURRADIO GEAR! KONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR GENERAL LICENS! DO GOOD USE OF PS7/TR7/MN7! 73s de Gunnar sm6oer>>\