Drake R8 Shortwave AM SSB Ham Radio Communications Receiver **CLASSIC USA UNIT*

Description

This sale is for a used Drake R8 communications receiver that is appears to be average in cosmetic condition.  The unit has a few marks that are typical with age and use, but nothing really outstanding.  Please look closely at our pictures for specific cosmetic detail.  The front tilt feet designed for the R8 receiver were not properly considered by RL Drake and are easily broken due to the weight of the receiver and onset of age.  This was the case with this receiver and so neither of the front tilt feet are still present.  We do want to mention that during testing and cleaning, we moved the receiver around.  During this time, we heard a small rattle inside the Drake that sounded like loose solder.  Upon removing both the top and bottom covers, we discovered that this sound originated inside a sealed antenna box attached to the rear panel.  This sound is only heard when flipping the receiver upside down and the noise is believed to be a loose solder blob that is not anywhere near a circuit board or electrical component.  During operation, you will not hear or notice this odd noise..... only when moving the receiver about can it be heard.
Operationally, this receiver was tested and we discovered that there was a signal on the s-meter, but very very weak audio.  Upon having the unit serviced, we were informed that the issue was due to bad audio capacitors.  The service tech replaced these caps and now this R8 should provide many years of trouble free service to the new owner.  Upon return to us from the shop, we retested and verified that this R8 now works beautifully with no known issues and with excellent sensitivity.
This Drake R8 is supplied with:
copy of the user manual
copy of the service manual in 3 ring binder (103 pages)
Monitoring Times review - Sept. 1991
Popular Communications review - Oct 1991
Passport Whitepaper review - version 2.0
QST review - March 1992
CQ magazine review - Feb 1992
Proceedings (DX newsletter) review
Passport review - 1992 (Passport To World Band Radio)
Passport review - 1993
WRTH review - 1992 (World Radio & Television Handbook)
EEB catalog page copy - 1993 (Electronic Equipment Bank)
Universal Radio catalog page copy - 1993
Passport advertisement - 1994
Gilfer Shortwave catalog page copy - 1993
Drake R8 magazine advertisement color copy
Drake R8 product brochure copy 6 pages
Drake R8 product brochure copy 6 pages
Finally, there is a CD containing many of the above items in PDF plus many other documents....about 175 MB of material.  The CD will give you or a repair technician useful data should a repair ever become necessary and the CD also allows for for enlargement of circuit schematics that can be helpful.  The information on this CD was obtained from the generosity of others and therefore is not for sale, but given away with the sale of this R8 receiver.
Let us talk a little bit about the R8.  This receiver was one of RL Drake's last great offerings to the DXing hobby.  The R8 was considered to be a higher caliber receiver that was introduced in 1991 and was Drake's reintroduction into the SWLing market from which it had been absent for about a decade.  Through popular demand and by virtue of market analysis, Drake reasoned that the time was appropriate for jumping back into the market.  Drake then introduced several units over a period of about 9 years and then once again left the market.
RL Drake no longer manufactures high end ham and shortwave gear, but their legacy for quality equipment will live on with the likes of the R8.  This receiver has won lots of recognition from various authorities within the DXing community and rightfully so...it is one HOT receiver...offering the benefits of high sensitivity for good DXing.  Other features are:
selectivity of 6 / 4 / 2.3 / 1.8 / .5 KHz
synchronous detection
an effective noise blanker
multiple modes of reception...AM, FM, USB, LSB, CW and RTTY
two VFO's
two clock times (local and universal)
choice of antennas from the front panel
100 presets for memories
preamp for the weak signals
The R8 covers Longwave, AM, Mediumwave, Marine, Shortwave, Ham, and CB frequencies.  An optional adapter can be purchased to allow the receiver to pick up VHF frequencies and FM radio.
Currently, the Drake is configured for AC power here in North America, but can be set for AC power anywhere in the world.  This receiver was tested and works well across the full range of receiving frequencies.  It sat on my desk using several outside antennas to test performance and reception was impressive.  The internal circuitry was quiet and we were able to listen to broadcasts that some of my other equipment could not hear on some of the frequencies that we tested.
One of the outstanding characteristics of the Drake R8 is the wonderful audio that it can deliver.  Unfortunately the built-in speaker does not allow this audio to be demonstrated properly.  But connection to a good external antenna or to your home stereo will reward you with audio that you didn't know was possible with shortwave transmissions.  Most manufacturers cheat and put in a weak audio circuit.  RL Drake supplied a nice circuit with their R8 receiver and many hobbyists consider it to be one of the best receivers for delivering warm audio using the solid state circuitry.
At this point, you should get the idea that this R8 is an excellent receiver.  It is sad that  RL Drake is no longer manufacturing it as it was an excellent American product.  While some of the parts came from overseas, this was an American product in a field populated with foreign made equipment...especially Japanese.  We enjoy using foreign made equipment, but as Americans, we take special pride in something executed well in the manufacturing and made within our borders.  Here are some reviews from eHam.net that detail the receiver based on use by individual owners.  Please note that these reviews are for both the R8 and R8B:
https://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3698
(copy and paste in your browser window)
This Drake R8 comes from a smoke free and pet free environment.  You will have no surprises nor bad odors.  If you don't think that cigarette smoke can make a difference, you have not operated equipment that warms up and wafts the essence of this smoke in the air when you are trying to enjoy listening!
We love these radios and know a bit of information that may answer a question you may have so feel free to email any questions and we will do our best to assist you with them.  Usually most questions surface with regards to price quotes on shipping.  If living in the USA, you may use the shipping calculator to determine your costs to safely ship.  This cost includes cost of appropriate packing materials, shipping cost, and full insurance.
We sell many of our items outside the USA so foreign buyers are welcome and should be comforted in our experience with proper packing and shipping.  During the past 22 years on Ebay, we have shipped to 105 different countries.  If you live outside the USA, you may use the shipping calculator.
We ask you to keep in mind that the cost we provide to ship outside the USA does not include any import, duty, customs or VAT fees.  These charges, if any, will be your responsibility.  If you are not aware of what these charges may be, please contact your country's customs office and post office....thank you!
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to look at our Ebay listings!
History:  (
Note....asterisks are added to allow me to give historical detail about other makes and models and still be in compliance with Ebay's listing policies regarding keyword spamming)
The R.L. Drake Company was established in 1943 during the height of WW II and proved to be an innovative leader in the engineering and design of amateur and shortwave radio products. Mr. Robert Drake produced a unique amateur radio sideband receiver and took the plans to Hallicrafters and National Radio. When these firms showed no interest in his design and product, he built the radio under his own name.  The first order for 100 units was placed by Universal Services, now known far and wide as Universal Radio.  Thus, the R.L. Drake Company had a very modest beginning, but eventually their product line grew wider as they showed a knack for great designs.
The Drake Company discontinued their line of amateur and shortwave radios in the early 1980's when Japan flooded the market with portable units that had digital readouts (ICF*2001 and ICF*2010 to name a couple) and concentrated on the home satellite market.  However, the hunger for sturdy, well-designed amateur and shortwave equipment never went away and Drake once again entered back into the market in 1991 with the announcement of the R8 receiver.  The success of this unit was then followed by the SW8 and then upgrades to the R8 with the R8*A and R8*B.  Drake has since left the shortwave and amateur radio market and the products that they labored to manufacture stand as a testimony to the wonderful testimony to the quality of many American made products!