![\"\"](\"http:\/\/va1der.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Drake-TR-7A.jpg\")
<\/a>My new Drake TR-7A – already a beloved part of my shack.<\/p><\/div>\n
When I was conducting research for my initial HF radio purchase, I had narrowed down to the Heathkit SB-104A rather quickly.\u00a0 It is a beautiful radio itself.\u00a0 However, as I was researching it I found that the principal designer for it, Mike Elliot, went on to work for R. L. Drake and to design their TR-7.\u00a0 What I read was that the Drake TR-7 was<\/em> what Mike Elliot had wanted<\/em> the SB-104 to be.<\/p>\n SB-104A – is Mike Elliot’s prototype Drake TR-7A?<\/p><\/div>\n I couldn’t afford a Drake TR-7 at the time, nor were there any good options to buy a decent one anyway.\u00a0 And, honestly,\u00a0I was content to go with the Heathkit.\u00a0 After all, one of my major purchase considerations was to get a radio I could tinker with.\u00a0 In fact I wanted to get a radio that was basically going to force<\/em> me to tinker and learn (without going so far as to buy myself a problem).\u00a0\u00a0 The\u00a0SB-104A that I purchased was affordable, was (and is) itself a fantastic radio, and has given me ample opportunity to tinker and upgrade it.\u00a0 But I’ve always had in my head this thought: if I love my Heathkit, and the Drake TR-7 was what its designer had wanted that Heathkit to be, then what kind of radio is the TR-7?<\/p>\n I will be finding out!<\/p>\n A special thanks to Gary Follet, W0DVN (known also as “dukeshifi”) who sold me the radio.\u00a0 An excellent person to do business with.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I finally found one!\u00a0 Now sitting on my shelf is a beautiful Drake TR-7A, serial number 12195, and I am in love.\u00a0 Welcome to the family! When I was conducting research for my initial HF radio purchase, I had narrowed … Continue reading <\/a>