What Happened to Drake Radio? | The Receiver That Ruled Ham Radio for 20 Years
51K views · Jul 23, 2026 · Education
Comments · 104
@patrickmartin4996 · 3 weeks ago
Wonderful History. Thanks for posting. I own an SPR4 and and R8. Even though I have moved to SDR's, the receivers are great works of art.
2
@martincvitkovich724 · 2 weeks ago
I got to visit and have a tour when they were open. I stopped in to buy a couple of Xtals and they invited me into the shop. Great people making radios.
1
@kiowablue2862 · 1 month ago (edited)
Gonset, Clegg, Galaxy, Swan and E.F. Johnson are some of the names I remember (aside from the others like Hallicrafters, Collins, Hammarlund et al) when first licensed in '68. <br>First rig was a Gonset Communicator III, often referred to as the Gooney Bird.
6
@benedicto9281 · 2 months ago
150 <br>I have a Drake line, over 20 years old, which I bought used: TR-4C, RV-4C, AC-4C and SP-4, and I still communicate on 7 and 14 MHz. Nostalgic and fantastic!
10
@careycraig4360 · 3 weeks ago
Excellent Presentation.
2
@miltcollins · 2 weeks ago
My dad was a ham operator, K80EE, Had a TR3 and used it both stationery and mobile during the late 60's through the 80's. Somewhere it got lost to history but I remember many nights of listening and fine tuning 40M SSB on many late nights...
@Vintage-Technology--Gary · 2 months ago
Thank you you're right when I was in college (ca 1990) our library had a complete collection of old QST mags and old Radio Handbooks. The radio club had more recent issues.
8
@HowardTripp-ui7mj · 4 weeks ago
My dad had a Drake radio, along with two Swan transevers. Plus a Heather twoer, and a Heathkit 6 meter transevers.
1
@stefanz6502 · 1 month ago
I love my 1991 Drake R8, It rocks!
2
@cx5fk · 2 months ago (edited)
I still have my old L4b I use them daily. During my several years working in cable TV, the satellite receivers were Drake brand. Excellent equipment.
9
@canadianbrewer · 2 months ago
I still use my Drake R8 which I bought in 1991 in my home town of Peterborough, Ontario.
4
@Kevinsouth · 2 months ago
First ham license in 1967. I had many QSOs with stations using Drakes.
2
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