Why Not Have an FRG-7....or Two!

[@mibi1946]

The FRG 7 was great in its day. Good audio and the Wadley loop tuning system was just great. I have one still and I love using it now and again. A real radio I fist cut my teeth on.. Thanks for posting.

[@RobVK3BVW]

Good to hear, Michael! Cheers, Rob.

[@KA5IVR]

I have one of those with my other 101 equipment. Thanks for sharing!

[@KB5WQW]

I've had a Sears branded Frog 7 for many moons, and I still love it. I think its getting to were it needs some TLC, however. There are one or two videos on my channel using mine.

[@g4kfjve7kfj34]

did sears really sell these amazing

[@KB5WQW]

@@g4kfjve7kfj34 Yes! Here's a picture of mine from several years ago. www.pinterest.com/pin/120963939979342438

[@Chris-KC3MLI]

Great receiver! Love mine! Great video, happy listening!

[@RobVK3BVW]

Thanks for taking the time to watch the video, Chris. 73, Rob VK3BVW

[@Wenlocktvdx]

Got mine n a garage sale 10 years ago in very nice condition. The band switch needed cleaning And I’ve also cleaned the mode switch. The only other thing to do was to remove small dry leaves from the if board. Think it was stored in a shed. I’d had it about a year when the bulbs started to fail so I replaced them with warm white leds. I also added 10uF between the mute and ground posts to slow the agc for SSB/cow and resistor between the HF and AMposts so the SO239 would work for AM too

[@sreekumarUSA]

051020/0003pst greetings from California. Thank you for the wonderful review of YAESU FRG-7. This set is a marvellous unit and I happened to possess one got from, Craig’s List for $15, way back in 2013.This was the first time, I ever had a communications receiver, and I didn’t know how to operate the device. There was no reception, even after throwing a “million mile” long antenna wire outdoors connecting 7 Oak trees around my home ! I thought I could receive ISS transmissions! But NO ... all I got was splutter, hissing and far away thunder! That’s it. I stored the set in garage an totally forgot about it..... 7 years passed since then. I happened to meet Andy from Canada, to whom I poured out my sad story. He told me that I need to use “two hands” to work on FRG-7 ! He talked about ‘Preselect dial, corresponding Band switches (a,b,c,d) the MHZ dial and the tuning dial. Thanks Andy.. It took a wee bit of time to understand the system and NOW, I’m an expert Radio Operator. I removed all the Electrolytic Capacitors, especially, the 3X1000mfds and a few in audio OP. Incidentally I became too much involved in SWL ( it’s addictive, you see? ) I bought YAESU FRG-7700 and YAESU VR-5000. But let me tell you, I love YAESU FRG-7, than any of the above. I made several modifications to FRG-7, 1) Relocated the bridge rectifier (as I found I can fry an egg on it) to chassis 2) relocated the main transformer from the side wall to the chassis 3) Assembled LiFePo4 Battery, from my old MacBookPro, to 12.60V and installed it at the empty space for the battery 4) Andy introduced me to yet another wonderful gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr. McIntosh who sent me EF-SWL Balancer for the antenna. After installation of the above THE WHOLE WORLD OPENED UPON ME. Sorry about the long episode. But this is my story an honest story. Take care Sir, be safe and 73s.

[@RobVK3BVW]

Hi. Thanks for sharing your story and the modifications you have made to your FRG-7. All sounds very good! I wish you many more years of happy radio listening. Best wishes, Rob VK3BVW

[@sreekumarUSA]

Thank you and appreciate your comments. I need to know how you calibrated YAESU FRG-7. The main reason for me to ask you, is because ( even though FRG-7 reception is fantastic) the calibration of BAND and MHz and the TUNING DIAL do not match. The BAND switch ABCD and the BAND column tower is perfectly matched. The MHz Tower is not. Meaning if the BAND TOWER is on 31Meter Band; the MHz TOWER should be 10MHz. Another example: The Colorado Atomic Clock broadcast is on 31 Meter Band. Correspondingly the MHz TOWER MUST BE on 10MHz. But on my FRG-7 it is on 8MHz. I’d greatly appreciate if you could shed some info as to how I could calibrate the MHz tower. I know, I have already confused you. To better understand, I could eMail images or a short video. Take care, stay safe and Bless you. 73s PS: I have FRG-7700 and VRGAS-5000. But FRG-7 is my favourate.

[@RingwayManchester]

Great video rob

[@RobVK3BVW]

Thanks. I'm a regular viewer of your channel, too! All the best, Rob VK3BVW

[@RingwayManchester]

@@RobVK3BVW thanks so much Rob! I’m working through your back catalogue! 73 for now

[@af4od02]

Real clean. Nice radio. Thanks for sharing.

[@kenenglish124]

I need to overhaul my FRG-7. It has several mods, but it needs new RF/IF transformers. BTW, I love the Great Circle Map behind you. I made several of those off the website, years ago, with SLC at the center.

[@RobVK3BVW]

Thanks for watching the video.

[@aureliusprimus]

Very fine receiver ! What sort of atenna did you use ? 😀

[@juliocesarpereira4325]

I've read your Retro Receiver article on the FRG-7 and also watched the videos you suggested and right now I'm even more tempted to acquire ax XCR Barlow Wadley receiver I saw for sale. I have too many tabletop receivers, and there's always some room for a portable one. 73! PY3WHO/PY5136SWL.

[@SpectreOZ]

Why not have 2... why not indeed 👍

[@mfahey]

I'm hopeless - I have 3 FRG-7's! @ mint condition (as new) and the original I owned that I used as a teenager (40 years + ago!)! My teenager one is a little bashed up - I took it on a lot of DXperditions back in the day!

[@mfahey]

Opps I intended to say 2 of my FRG-7s are in mint condition. The third is pretty bashed up!

[@RobVK3BVW]

@@mfahey - An impressive collection there, Mark! Happy New Year, my friend! - Rob

[@GiuseppeDucaDiParma]

Which antenna do you suggest for this unit?

[@MCruzDXer]

Great!!!! I have one FROG too. 73 Rob.

[@raymondcathode1]

Looking to buy a FRG-7, found a dusty one that seems ok. By the way, do you mind sending me the make and model of your reading glasses? Like the look of this style. cheers.

[@RobVK3BVW]

Hahaha....Well, that's a new question I haven't been asked before!!! The make is RayBan, would you believe! :-)

[@johnforester11]

Great! But which antenna is used?

[@RobVK3BVW]

Well....depending on the frequency being monitored, I was probably using one of three antennas at that time. 1) a 100m long horizontal loop, 2) a 30m inverted vee, or 3) a 20m double bazooka. My Alpha Delta ASC-4 Position Antenna Switch helps with this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWaaZmeuZa2LZ8U Hope that helps, John. 73, Rob VK3BVW

[@johnforester11]

​@@RobVK3BVW I was surprised that there are no thunderstorms, very quiet air. Very similar to Bev antenna.

[@macchi205]

unfortunately it has not a stable vfo for ssb or ECSS reception

[@James_Bowie]

I'm looking for a project, so if you want to sell the barn find let me know how to contact you.

[@fabioeduardobertolinidemor6812]

Great Video! - PX2Q2328 - 73!

[@juansanchezcabrera7227]

👍 EA7FKI ……..73Dx

[@phantomrose1999]

You should make a copper loop antenna. Gets rid of all the noise. See mine on my channel. Was using my in Mornington as well.

[@sreekumarUSA]

Sir, would you, please publish your channel URL? I’m quite eager to make one of those loop antennas. The Chinese are selling the same @$33 for stainless steel loop, 9:1 balancer, antenna preamp and power supply. I’d rather use your scheme to make the same, than import one. My email is [e-mail]. Thanks in advance. Stay safe and 73s.

[@phantomrose1999]

Sree Kumar pls take a look. The cooper loop is in here. 6m of 19mm copper works best with a large tuning cap between the ends. Need around 500pf for 80m so I added a switch in kzbin.info

[@g4kfjve7kfj34]

its ham radio do it pal