Drake TR-4C Tuning Up - Ham Radio

I demonstrate tuning up my TR4-C on 40 meters. I've had this for many years, but only recently regained interest in amateur radio.

[@peterarsenault2671]

Absolutely EXCELLENT tutorial on tuning a Drake. None better. Thanks for doing this👍

[@brutuslee9523]

Nice video! I have 3 Drakes and love them. Picked up the TR-3 first, then acquired a dead TR-4 that is now a very nice radio. Then I picked up a TR-4C that needed a little TRC. I really like the dual dial on the TR-4C. I love the sound of the Drakes. I only operate tube radios and Drake is one of my favorites.

[@mark5862]

I know what you mean! I'm 57 years old and I always preferred these old American rigs. I started out with a new HW-101 that I built when I was about 14, I think it was toward the end of production. Like you I got disinterested in ham radio after starting college, and when I picked it up again in the late eighties the solid state Kenwoods and Icoms didn't impress me at all. I purchased a Swan 350 at a hamfest despite the group of guys looking at it before me bashing it. These radios are not only incredibly well made, but a pleasure to operate and easy to tune and fix if something goes wrong.

[@donaldlockhart5842]

Great demonstration. Used it today to tune up a Drake TR-4CW that I just bought on EBay, and now I'm off and running. Thanks

[@moviestudioland]

Thank you for the tutorial I just picked up a Drake Tx4B transmitter. I have not tuned an HF transmitter since my SWAN 500 way back in 1993. I picked up a Tx4B to do AM on 3885 and this was probably not the best choice. Late night eBaying is sometimes in error. But love the rig. I pulled out the finals to just see if I can get any RF on a receiver and see if there is drive to the finals at all. I plan to use WebSDR's as receivers so I will not need a receiver.

[@johnspics]

Thanks for this video. I was able to watch it and tune up my TR-4C and get on the air.

[@derrickjamestempro4521]

Thanks for the video I'm going back to ham radio after 35 years I just picked up a Drake T4XB and need to find a matching R4-B soon. Need to learn all over again this is going to be fun

[@fearlessleader1436]

Had several Drake radios including the Twins and Tr7. Great fun, you can work on them yourself by replacing tubes and checking your caps and transistors. Ten thumbs up !

[@vu3uno857]

THANKS FOR THE video i had fun tuning my tr-4cw using the video as reference

[@bigrick1953]

Just put a TR-4C inline and this video was a big help.. I saw somebody else ask for a zero beat how to video.. that would be helpful for us vintage radio rookies.. thanks

[@destijl7414]

Excellent! Thanks for the TR-4C tutorial.

[@solarflare4259]

Great video! Still love my TR-4; the quickest way I tune the transmitter it is into a 50 ohm dummy load for max power then I switch to antenna with the tuner adjustments only for max power ...

[@arielrodelas8350]

Thanks for sharing this video 73

[@Team-fabulous]

Superb rig....

[@N4TCM]

Would love to have one of these old Drakes. Tim KD4RNC

[@f3wtpierre795]

top notch demo. TU. Pierre, F3WT

[@mykenwood830]

Also can you show how to set the transmitter gain for talking on ssb ?

[@EverDave]

Hello, I tried to follow along, but as soon as I turned my knob to X-CW it pegged the PLATE meter to the right. What am I doing wrong?

[@anamerican481]

Great radio

[@alessiorroadies800]

well done you kept it dry and safe during a period of your life, mostpeople woudn't. a tip (maybe you alredy know) to put some paper tape and sign with a pen where the tune ups are on certain frequencies you use the most

[@mykenwood830]

you should do a video showing how to zero beat the rig when changing bands.

[@robertbales3237]

I need to get my Drake TR-4 repaired. I've had mine for along time, parts get old after 40+ years of Ham Radio.

[@vk3mh]

What is the difference between a Drake TR4 and TR4C?

[@HL3LMS]

TR-4C HF RIG VERY GOOD !!

[@mikedemeo5038]

Thanks! Just got a TR4 C restored and was afraid to use it for fear of blowing the finals. The manual does not give as good a description of tuning transmit. One question. In the beginning tuning the transmitter gain how far up do you go? Just a little? My radio seems to be able to go higher. When do you know that you raised it to the right level?

[@Giovanniram22]

Is this transceiver capable of transmit - receive, also outside the band?

[@ve5psl]

how often do you have to tune tube radios?

[@bigbruno200]

I bought a brand new Drake TR4C in the mid 70's. Wish I never traded it in.

[@rohnkd4hct260]

Love tube equipment.

[@hubzcaps]

Sick its got a noise blanker. Just got a nice 1011D. Similar to a swan 270

[@Rounder308]

Great Video. I have a TR4. Same tune up it looks like. So, if you wanted to transmit on low power, like 5 watts, would you tune up as you demonstrated and just back off the power or would that upset the tune up? 73 N1PGP

[@formerfarmer1718]

Didn’t it have filters? I see no knob to choose 250 or 500 cycle filters for CW.

[@reflectionsbydon]

Can we get the name..... contact information..... of the Drake repair tech...... Thank you and my Drake TR-4C thanks you......

[@martinmarauder1]

Great Rig! 73 PY7BC

[@mrrcrogersjr]

Here's my ignorance of old gear. The X-CW (CW - Tune) switch, does that activate transmit, or did you have your key activated as well? At what condition is this rig transmitting into the dummy load? I got a TR3 for a song, and I don't want to mistreat it!

[@tylerhall6455]

Yea when its in the x-cw setting etc its in full transmit. hes not keying down, so have it plugged into a dummy load or a tuned antenna prior to doing so.

[@bigbruno200]

Who fixed you radio,? Thx. Bruce

[@david203]

All these knobs? Doesn't look like very many to me...

[@VintageTechFan]

Tune it into a dummyload, so it's tuned for 50 ohms. Then don't touch it any more. After that, tune the antenna tuner.

[@EverDave]

Does this work the same on 10 meter???

[@jimw7ry]

10 meters. 10 METERS

[@EverDave]

Meters@@jimw7ry

[@charlescompton4495]

Good old transceiver, KA8ZAF

[@robertbales3237]

If you use a Resonate antenna you do not need a antenna tuner. Boy how long have you been around Tube Type ham rigs.

[@robertbales3237]

It is actually easy to operate.

[@vinchel118]

Cool ! KC3AFY

[@robertbales3237]

No it will not transmit on 11 Meters and there is no way to modifiy it to do so. Yes it will Transmit and Receive out side the Ham bands. However it is Illegal to transmit outside of the ham bands.

[@citysubwater7219]

where are rest of videos you made very nice videos JOE KL4QG

[@KC9UDX]

Here's how you do it with a TR-3 kzbin.info/www/bejne/f369oJ6poNOcors

[@mykenwood830]

Go here kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnvHaYSOnsqVl7s to learn how to ZERO BEAT this rig.

[@wolfgangterheggen7212]

OK, Fine but you can keep the Video a little bit shorter. My Question: What is happens after tuning your Antenna Tuner? You have to tune Up again? Can be a endless Procedure.