The ubiquitous Drake TR-7

[n8yx]

Found this page yesterday while doing a bit of searching for a non-Drake-related topic:

HF Newsgathering in Botswana (http://www.paws.dircon.co.uk/drake.htm)

I've heard tales of the 7-line stuff being used in a number of commercial applications. Add this one to its list of credentials.

Of particular interest is their design for a broadband dipole; follow the "Appendix" link. Anyone needing an antenna that exhibits a fairly "flat" SWR from 3-10 MHz might take note of this one...

[wa9cwx]

Nice article, old, but nice.

Yep, still have my original TR7 and R7 from early 80s.
In the early 90s I bought a used TR7A, and a very high serial # R7A, one of the very last off the line, also got a MINT EARLY R7, (I think I recall a 3 letter serial #). Got all the accesories, keyer, speaker, phone patch etc, Have since sold all that stuff, but kept, and still use, my original pair.

Nice gear, keeps on working, toughest finals out there I think http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[VA3JOD]

I'm a proud owner of a 26 year old Drake http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I have a 8 dollar old hand held mic hooked up to it and I get great audio reports lol

[n8yx]

Quote[/b] (wa9cwx @ Feb. 09 2006,08:30)]"...still have my original TR7 and R7 from early 80s.
In the early 90s I bought a used TR7A, and a #very high serial ## # R7A, one of the very last off the line, also got a MINT EARLY R7, (I think I recall a 3 letter serial #). #Got all the accesories, keyer, speaker, phone patch etc, Have since sold all that stuff, but kept, and still use, my original pair..."
I recently managed to obtain a pair of R7's in the mid-2000 serial number range. One came from an FCC office in MI; got all the associated paperwork with it. The other was an eBay "rescue"; had to fix darn near every circuit board in the thing. They're connected to a pair of TR7's, one of which was a similar "rescue".

That station (the "twins") was the one I always wanted when coming up through the ham ranks. Drake first released them about the time I was studying for my Novice license.

After all these years, the sets still work FB - albeit after a little TLC. I can chase all the DX I care to with 'em.

Both of my R7s are modded to incorporate a dual-gating squelch. The circuit can be made to trigger on signal level or audio threshold change; the "Notch" control was replaced with a dual (concentric) pot and knobs - as found on the AF/RF Gain control. There's an opening in R7's main chassis where a TR7's PBT REF Adj board is connected into; Drake used the same subchassis for both radios. I installed a TR7 chassis-mount Molex connector into the opening then built the squelch circuit on a small PCB which plugs into the connector. Said connector has power, audio in/out and a few miscellaneous lines run to it. All very Drake in appearance.

Works good. Lasts long time. There are fancier rigs out there (and in my shack), but I keep going back to my 7-line...

[n8yx]

Quote[/b] (VA3JOD @ Feb. 09 2006,08:37)]I have a 8 dollar old hand held mic hooked up to it and I get great audio reports lol
I have a 20+ year-old Turner Super Sidekick mic hooked to one of my TR7s...and it sounds as good as the 7077/$P75 combo which is connected to the other TR7.

Sssshhh....don't let that out too widely. Wouldn't want to devalue the 7-line accessory market... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[WB2WIK]

I keep using my TR-7, too. I'm an original owner since 1978 and although much newer gear has come and gone through my shack, not that much of it "stuck," because the TR-7 blew away most of it, in terms of sheer performance.

Not to mention the NB-7 noise blanker really works when almost nothing else does.

My secret is also an outstanding microphone system to promote great audio reports. I use a 25 year-old Radio Shack noise cancelling dynamic hand held "CB" mike that cost $9.95 in 1980; almost everybody asks what kind of "audio rack" and EQ equipment I'm using. And the TR-7 transmits a 2.3 kHz (-6 dB points) bandwidth signal. It's hilarious.

WB2WIK/6

[KA4DPO]

Drake equipment was definitely built to last. I have a mint B line. It still looks and works like new and I intend to keep it for many more years.

I will buy a TR-7A when I find a nice one.

[n8yx]

Quote[/b] (KA4DPO @ Feb. 09 2006,13:44)]Drake equipment was definitely built to last. #I have a #mint B line. #It still looks and works like new and I intend to keep it for many more years.

I will buy a TR-7A when I find a nice one.
From what I've gathered, the B- line is a better choice for the operator than the C- line...although an R4C can be modded to match the -B's performance.

TR7As appear from time to time on eBay, and command premium prices when they do. The only differences between a TR7A and a TR7 were filter complements, noise blanker installed as "stock" and an AUX MIC input on the rear panel. Unless you're into collecting for the sake of collecting, grab a late-model TR7 then stuff it full of filters...NB7...maybe an AUX7, and away you go.

[AG3Y]

A friend of mine who moved to the other side of the country, was the proud owner of a TR-7 and as far as I know, still uses it to this day. He, like I , has always handled his rigs like they were precious hierlooms, and although I haven't seen it for years, I would dare say it probably is in mint condition to this day. A better rig for the job was probably never made !

73, Jim

[KD7WHQ]

Got one of them here as well, with the "luggage" power supply, RV7 and stock mic.

It might have a slightly deaf reciever, but won't know that one until I throw some wire up. It didn't do well on 10' of wire tacked between door frames.

I DO know that all else functions correctly though, so a repair may be a simple bit if required.

A very nice rig, it really is..

[n8yx]

Quote[/b] (KD7WHQ @ Feb. 09 2006,19:48)]It might have a slightly deaf reciever, but won't know that one until I throw some wire up. It didn't do well on 10' of wire tacked between door frames.
A properly working and aligned TR7 will be almost dead silent without an antenna attached...

...and signals will jump out of the noise when it's connected to a decent aerial.

Some folks have commented that the rig is slightly "deaf" on 10 and 15M. Honestly, I cannot see much of a difference between the TR7 and a few other "high-performance" rigs to which I've compared it. One can perform an alignment of the RF and IF sections of the radio fairly easily; that may help.

There is a PIN diode on one of the bandswitch decks which has been noted as a source of trouble on the upper bands if it's gone bad. When everything is in proper working order, you should see a calibrator signal of around S-9 when on 28 MHz.

[KD7WHQ]

I rather figured.

I got used to the SW-54, hearing the world on 4' of zipcord, which was the cause of concern.

But, I have the space, and come spring, a dipole goes up as high as a slingshot can put it..

See what happens then..

[K7FE]

I still use the TR-7 I purchased in 1978. I bought a second one in 1979, gave it away about 10 years ago to a needy ham. Love that radio!

73,
Terry, K7FE