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A Boat Anchor Worthy of Collecting.

It is sad when an American ham radio manufacturer no longer produces cutting edge products and then folds. The R L Drake Company is one of those firms.

As a part of my herd thinning, I dug out my Drake TR-7 and powered it up. I was in awe for this is a radio built in the time frame of the late 1970's to early 1980's and had no microprocessors or microcontroller embeds yet performed like it did. In today's dollars and fully kitted think $10K.





Sitting at your operating desk, the TR-7 could operate on all frequencies from 1.5 to 30 MHz on AM, CW and SSB. The PA stage was rated at 250 watts but typically set to deliver 100 watts.

The TR-7 had provisions for 3 filters and a slot for an optional NB. The Digital Display could be switched from the back panel to become a general purpose 100 MHz Frequency Counter. Initially the TR-7 using a jumper board could be used without the digital display and became an Analog Only Radio Readout. There were capabilities to temporarily store frequencies if the digital display board was installed.

This radio was a Christmas present several years ago from my son Tim and his XYL Amy. He got it really cheap as it didn't work and was sold as a Tech Special. I found the problem, and it was a $0.39 three terminal regulator supplying 24VDC to one Op-Amp. That small cost part made it totally inoperative.

But the TR-7 is not for the faint of heart to repair. It is one complex radio and takes a lot of analysis to find the problem. You also need a set of extender boards (unobtanium) to service the radio as the key to its compact size are the multitude of plug in boards. 

With a G4GXO frequency stabilizer board installed in an earlier TR-7 I had, the frequency held within 11 Hertz over a 12-hour period.

You can find TR-7's on eBay in the range of $600 to $2000 so it is an investment. Also look for a later S/N >4000. I think my son paid about $250 for the Tech Special so mine cost $250.39. Likely the lower cost ones have issues so you really have to plunk down $1000 for a really old radio that works. But think hard when for the same sum you can get a IC7300 NIB with a guarantee. 

Still time to make a donation to a food bank and spend some time praying for those Americans who will lose their ACA extension. When you go to vote in the 2026 Mid-terms keep in mind who is responsible for your increased healthcare costs. Still believe the economy is A++++++++++?


73's
Pete N6QW


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