I just got a Drake R8 with VHF converter. I am simply blown away by the audio and its ability to remove static crashes on 75 and 40 meters. I have been a ham since 1965 and I never knew about this jewel until I watched your channel. These are great receivers.
I spent the time to enter about 65 NAMES into my R8B receiver. Takes some time, but when you tune to say 10 MHz, instead of 10.000.0 is reads WWV. Neat option!!!! Very Useful in the broadcast band 540 KHz to 1.7 MHz..
I concur with the comments here that this is a superb receiver. A friend sold me his R8B in mint condition with the original box and all paperwork and I've been putting it through its paces. Very impressed so far. In your video looks like you are tuned to Radio Marti on 11930 kHz which is often jammed by the Cuban regime and this may explain the background noise that you hear. The Drake does an excellent job delivering clean audio under such circumstances. 73's!
Drake R8s are great radios. Especially the R8B's. Unfortunately, age is beginning to catch up with them. I would suggest helping extend the radio's life by running off a 12v power supply to reduce the radio's heat. Feel the top even when it's off to see how much heat the internal power supply creates. Running it off a 12v power supply eliminates that. The ability to Sync to the Upper or Lower Sideband of an AM signal and adjust the Passband while synced goes a long way to bringing in those weak signals. These are great versatile radios, and even now, they can hold their own against the DSP crowd. By the way, Drakes's outstanding audio also has to be mentioned when discussing these radios. It's one of the first things I miss when switching to another radio brand. Great Channel. You have a new subscriber. :-)
Thanks for doing this on the R8B , nice receiver but can't seem to find one under 1500. Which is a bit much for a used rig, there are two on e bay, still considering. I am a ham but really enjoy doing what u are doing, listing to the commerical and ute bands, ham is mostly boring to me. Thanks, matt
I paid more than that I think. These are awesome receivers. One of the best consumer table top receivers ever made. I should trade you a bunch of receivers for your 9500!
Don't count out the capabilities of the original R8. The ergonomics might not be as convenient, but the specs are nearly identical for a LOT less than an A or B model. My R8 and my R390A are closer in performance than people might think.
I have the original Drake R8 version and really enjoyed its superb reception and acoustic characteristics which truly shine when hooked up to a Palstar SP30H speaker.
Wellbrook antenna outside comes into a series of Stridsberg Engineering Multicouplers. They are amplified and hot all the time with the Wellbrook signal
@@audiophileman7047 No, theres 6 leds behind the meter, but I found the problem. A connector pin was bent. Its ok now. Theres another 50 some behind the display. No bulbs.
I just got a Drake R8 with VHF converter. I am simply blown away by the audio and its ability to remove static crashes on 75 and 40 meters. I have been a ham since 1965 and I never knew about this jewel until I watched your channel. These are great receivers.
Plus the Sync is awesome in AM.
I spent the time to enter about 65 NAMES into my R8B receiver. Takes some time, but when you tune to say 10 MHz, instead of 10.000.0 is reads WWV. Neat option!!!! Very Useful in the broadcast band 540 KHz to 1.7 MHz..
I agree. Excellent idea
I concur with the comments here that this is a superb receiver. A friend sold me his R8B in mint condition with the original box and all paperwork and I've been putting it through its paces. Very impressed so far.
In your video looks like you are tuned to Radio Marti on 11930 kHz which is often jammed by the Cuban regime and this may explain the background noise that you hear. The Drake does an excellent job delivering clean audio under such circumstances. 73's!
Drake R8s are great radios. Especially the R8B's. Unfortunately, age is beginning to catch up with them. I would suggest helping extend the radio's life by running off a 12v power supply to reduce the radio's heat. Feel the top even when it's off to see how much heat the internal power supply creates. Running it off a 12v power supply eliminates that.
The ability to Sync to the Upper or Lower Sideband of an AM signal and adjust the Passband while synced goes a long way to bringing in those weak signals.
These are great versatile radios, and even now, they can hold their own against the DSP crowd.
By the way, Drakes's outstanding audio also has to be mentioned when discussing these radios. It's one of the first things I miss when switching to another radio brand.
Great Channel. You have a new subscriber. :-)
Thanks for the tips!
I am not getting any heat off the top of my R8. I do not leave the power on to it when it is not in use. That may be the difference.
Nice review I enjoyed it a lot thank you. I have a SW8 that I enjoy but would gladly own one of these.
Thanks for doing this on the R8B , nice receiver but can't seem to find one under 1500. Which is a bit much for a used rig, there are two on e bay, still considering. I am a ham but really enjoy doing what u are doing, listing to the commerical and ute bands, ham is mostly boring to me. Thanks, matt
I paid more than that I think. These are awesome receivers. One of the best consumer table top receivers ever made. I should trade you a bunch of receivers for your 9500!
Don't count out the capabilities of the original R8. The ergonomics might not be as convenient, but the specs are nearly identical for a LOT less than an A or B model. My R8 and my R390A are closer in performance than people might think.
Nice radio set up for sure...
It seems to work easier then my IC R8600. Sounds nicer too even nicer than my Yaesu 101d or the IC R8600.
I have the original Drake R8 version and really enjoyed its superb reception and acoustic characteristics which truly shine when hooked up to a Palstar SP30H speaker.
Nice of radios. Airspy hf + discovery is a good unit
Thank you
A circular polarizer will fix most of the reflection problem.
Thanks Gordon. Do they make those for iPhones? That’s how I make vids
With all those radios how do you divide antennas to all of them, splitters or coax switches?
Wellbrook antenna outside comes into a series of Stridsberg Engineering Multicouplers. They are amplified and hot all the time with the Wellbrook signal
Stridsberg are for RX only. Absolutely no TX, you will ruin them
What is the difference between Drake R8A and R8B?
Look at the spec's for each radio and you'll find out.
Does your S-meter illuminate? My R8a I just got, the meter doesnt light up.
Yes my meter lights up
Maybe a bulb burned out, if there is one?
@@audiophileman7047 No, theres 6 leds behind the meter, but I found the problem. A connector pin was bent. Its ok now. Theres another 50 some behind the display. No bulbs.
@@RadioRich100 LED's are definitely better than an incandescent bulb. They should last a long time. These Drake radios must be really well built.
R8 or jrc 535 ?
If you’re asking which is better? Drake R8B by a mile