Drake tr4c User Manual
Drake tr4c User Manual
Drake tr4c User Manual
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Page
l-l
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
l-l.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
l-l
l-2.
MANUAL COVERAGE
l-l
l-3
INSTALLATION.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2-l
2-1.
UNPACKING .
2-l
2-2.
LOCATION
2-l
2-3.
MOBILE INSTALLATION
2-l
2-4.
POWER REQUIREMENTS
2-l
2-5.
MOUNTING
2-l
2-6.
ANTENNA.
2-l
2-7.
SPEAKER .
2-l
2-8.
MICROPHONE
2-l
2-9.
STATIONARY INSTALLATION
2-2
2-10.
POWER REQUIREMENTS
2-11.
VIEWING ANGLE
2-12.
ACCESSORIES
SPECIFICATIONS
CHAPTER II
2-2
2-2
2-2
OPERATION
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3-l
3-l.
GENERAL.
3-l
3-2.
MODE SWITCH .
3-l
3-3.
BLANKER SWITCH
3-l
3-4.
VFODIAL.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3-l
3-5.
TUNING PROCEDURE
3-6.
BIAS ADJUSTMENT
CHAPTER III
3-l
3-l
3-3
OTHER CONTROLS
3-4
3-7.
TUNE UP .
3-5
3-8.
SSB OPERATION
3-5
3-9.
CW OPERATION.
Page
3-6
3-10.
AM OPERATION
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3-6
3-11.
3-12.
3-6
3-13.
NOVICE OPERATION.
3-7
THEORY OF OPERATION.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4-l
4-l.
GENERAL.
4-l
4-2.
RECEIVER CIRCUITRY .
4-l
4-3.
TRANSMITTER CIRCUITRY
4-2
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
ii
3-6
MAINTENANCE. . . .
5-1
5-l.
SERVICE DATA. . . . .
5-l
5-2.
5-l
5-3.
5-l
5-4.
TUBE REPLACEMENT . .
5-l
5-5.
TROUBLE SHOOTING . .
5-l
5-6.
TEST EQUIPMENT. . . .
5-2
5-7.
ALIGNMENT PROCEDURES
5-2
5-8.
CRYSTAL CALIBRATOR .
5-2
5-9.
5-2
5-10.
5-11.
VFO ADJUSTMENT
5-12.
INJECTION
5-13.
RECEIVER IF
5-14.
5-5
5-15.
5-6
5-16.
5-17.
PA NEUTRALIZATION
5-18.
TRANSMITTER
5-19.
S METER ADJUSTMENT.
COUPLER
.
5-2
5-2
5-2
5-5
5-6
5-6
NEUTRALIZATION.
5-6
5-6
LIST OF ILLUSTRATlONS
Figure
l-l.
Page
l-2
2-l.
MICROPHONE
......................
2-l
2-2.
.................... .- .
2-2
2-3.
2-4.
2-5.
..........
2-5
2-6.
..........
2-5
2-7.
CONNECTIONS
A LINEAR AMPLIFIER
.......
................
.........................
2-3
2-4
2-6
2-8.
CONNECTING THE AC-4 POWER SUPPLY AND THE L-4B LINEAR AMPLIFIER
2-9.
3-l.
4-l.
4-4
5-1.
5-8
5-2.
5-9
5-3.
....................
5-11
5-4.
....................
5-11
5-5.
TR-4C SCHEMATIC
....
2-6
..................
2-7
.......................
3-2
..........................
5-l 1
...
III
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
l-l. GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
The TR-4C is a 300 Watt HF single sideband transceiver which covers the 80 through 10 meter
amateur bands. AM and CW modes are also included.
The TR--4C requires either an R. L. Drake AC-4,
120 V AC power supply, or an R. L. Drake DC-4,
12 V DC power supply. The TR-4C features a
high-stability linear permeability tuned VFO and
two 8 pole crystal lattice filters for sideband selection. Available accessories include an RV-4C
Remote VFO, a matching MS-4 Speaker, an FF-1
Fixed Frequency Adapter, a 34-PNB Noise Blanker,
l-l
SPECIFICATIONS
GENERAL:
Frequency Coverage :
3.5 to 4.1 MHz, 7.0 to 7.6 MHz, 13.9 to 14.5 MHz, 21 .O to 21.6 MHz
and 28.5 to 29.1 MHz; accessory crystals are available for the 28.0
to 28.6 MHz and 29.1 to 29.7 MHz segments of the 10 meter band.
Mode of Operation:
Frequency Stability:
Total drift is less than 100 Hz after warm up. Total frequency change
is less than 100 Hz for a +
-10% line voltage change.
Power Supply
Requirements:
Antenna Impedance:
Dial Calibration:
Better than +- 1 kHz when calibrated at the nearest 100 kHz calibration point.
Dimensions:
5.5 in. High x 10.75 in. Wide x 14.375 in. Deep. 13.97 cm. High x
27.31 cm. Wide x 36.51 cm. Deep.
Weight:
RECEIVER:
S+N
N
Sensitivity:
AGC:
Selectivity:
IF Frequency:
9 MHz.
Audio Output:
Output Impedance:
4 Ohms.
TRANSMITTER:
Power Input:
300 Watts PEP SSB, 260 Watts CW and 260 Watts PEP AM.
Output Impedance:
Nominal 52 Ohms.
Average Distortion
Products:
Microphone Input:
High Impedance.
l-3
CHAPTER II
INSTALLATION
2-1. UNPACKING.
L-_________~
S-230 CONNECTOR
MICROPHONE
Figure 2- 1.
Microphone Connections
2-l
NOTE
If the old RV-3 is to be used it must
be modified as follows: Install a 22 K,
2 Watt resistor from pin 1 of the tube
(OA2) to the terminal of the FUNCTION
switch to which the orange wire is
attached.
GROUND
ANTENNA
Figure 2-2.
2-2
POWER
EXTERNAL EXTERNAL
RECEIVER RECEIVER
ANTENNA
MUTE
CHAPTER III
OPERATION
3-l. GENERAL.
Figure 3-l illustrates and describes all front panel
controls and indicators on the TR-4C Transceiver.
Controls and connectors located on the rear and
sides of the unit are described under other
controls below. Rear chassis connectors are identified in figure 2-2.
3-2. MODE SWITCH. In the SSB position, the
receiver portion functions until the transmitter is
energized either by talking into the microphone or
actuating the microphone push-to-talk switch. The
transmitter then emits an upper or lower sideband
signal depending on the setting of the SIDEBAND
switch. In the X-CW position, the receiver portion
functions until the key is closed. The TR-4C then
goes into the transmit mode, a CW sidetone is
energized and the carrier is shifted approximately
1 kHz from the received frequency. The unit will
remain in transmit during CW keying and will return
to receive when keying is stopped briefly. NOTE:
The SIDEBAND switch must be in the X position
when the Mode switch is on X-CW or X-AM. It
should also be noted that if the relays fail to close
occasionally when the key is used, advance the
VOX gain (screwdriver adjust on the right side of
the chassis) until positive relay action is obtained.
In the X-AM position, a controlled carrier screen
modulator is incorporated for AM transmission and
a diode detector is used for AM reception. Transmit
and receive switching is accomplished by VOX or
push-to-talk as on SSB.
3-3. BLANKER SWITCH. The noise blanker may
be left on except when there is a strong signal
within 5 kHz of the received signal. A strong signal
which falls within the 10 kHz wide crystal filter in
the noise blanker, and outside the 2.1 kHz crystal
filter in the TR-4C, will operate the noise blanker
gate circuit causing distortion products. This limitation in the noise blanker is caused by the necessity
of having a bandwidth in the blanker wide enough
to minimize stretching of noise pulses before blank-
7.000 MHz
.200
.072
Operating frequency
7.272 MHz
3-l
1. S meter: Indicates relative level of received signals. Indicates transmitter AGC when transmitting.
7. VFO dial: Displays portion of operating frequency from zero to 600 kHz. Reading must
be added to BAND switch frequency setting
for complete operating frequency.
14. Mode switch: Selects the desired mode of operation. In CAL position, it switches on the 100
kHz crystal calibrator (operable in transmit or
receiver mode).
15. RCVR GAIN control: Dual control. Knob controls the receiver audio level, and provides a
power on/off control at the extreme counterclockwise position. Lever controls the maximum RF gain of the receiver.
3-3
OTHER CONTROLS
Ground terminal:
earth ground.
VOX control: Adjusts the gain of the VOX amplifier and the antenna relay release time on
cw.
NOTE
Rear chassis markings above the CAUTION notice identify external cable connectors when TR-4C VHF Modification
Kit is used.
3-4
Amperes. The reading will depend on the line voltage, antenna match, tube condition, etc. Increasing
the setting of the LOAD control beyond the point
at which maximum RF output occurs will result in
excessive plate dissipation. It should not be necessary to advance the LOAD control beyond 4.5 to
obtain maximum RF output. Further advancement
indicates that the VSWR of the antenna system is
too high and leaving the control set beyond this
point is likely to result in excessive harmonic radiation. The above procedure should be completed as
quickly as possible and the Mode switch should be
returned to the SSB position.
When the Mode switch is in the X-CW position, the
screen voltage on the final amplifier tubes is reduced
to prevent overheating. When the switch is in the
SSB position, this voltage is increased so that an
input power of 300 watts can be obtained.
3-8. SSB OPERATION.
In the following discussion, it is assumed that the
TR-4C has already been tuned up on the desired
band as described in paragraph 3-7. Preset the
controls as follows:
-On desired sideband as
shown by indicator lights.
Mode
-On SSB.
-Fully counterclockwise.
XMTR GAIN
-Fully clockwise.
RF gain (lever)
counterclockwise
RCVR GAIN (knob) -Fully
(do not turn off power).
VOX gain
-Fully clockwise.
ANTIVOX
-Fully counterclockwise.
SIDEBAND
3-5
tion, it may be depressed at any time, thus overriding the VOX system. If VOX operation is not
desired, turn the VOX gain control fully counterclockwise.
3-9. CW OPERATION.
3-6
3-10. AM OPERATION.
a. With the TR-4C connected to the linear amplifier tune the RF TUNE control as described in
paragraph 3-7 g.
b. Set the LOAD control to the setting indicated on
the chart below, for the band desired, when
using a linear amplifier with a 50 ohm input.
BAND
50 Ohm LOAD
Setting
3.5 MHz
7.0 MHz
14.0 MHz
21 .O MHz
28.5 MHz
2
3
2
3
2
3-7
CHAPTER IV
THEORY OF OPERATION
4-1. GENERAL.
The TR-4C is a 300 Watt HF single sideband transceiver which covers the 80 through 10 meter amateur bands. AM and CW modes are also included.
The TR-4C requires either an R. L. Drake AC-4,
120 V AC power supply, or an R. L. Drake DC-4,
12 V DC power supply. The TR-4C features a
high-stability linear permeability tuned VFO and
two 8 pole crystal lattice filters for sideband selection. Some of the circuits are common to both the
transmit and receive functions. Refer to the block
diagram figure 4-l and the schematic diagram
figure 5-5 as required to supplement the following
discussion.
4-2. RECEIVER CIRCUITRY.
A signal entering the antenna terminal passes
through the antenna switching contacts of the relay
and is applied to the grid of the RF amplifier V7
through the selectivity of the L/C network formed
by T9, T 10 and a section of the RF TUNE capacitor
C37. After being amplified, it is passed through an
additional L/C network consisting of T7, T8 and
the remaining section of C37, to the grid of the
mixer V3B. At this point it is combined with a signal from the premixer system of the required frequency to yield a 9.0 MHz IF. The premixer system
consists of a 4.9-5.5 MHz solid state permeability
tuned VFO, a buffer Q2, a switchable overtone
crystal oscillator Vl A, the premixer pentode Vl B
and a cathode follower V3A.
The VFO signal output is applied to the grid of the
premixer pentode through the buffer Q2 and its
associated circuitry. For 80 and 20 meter operation,
the VFO signal bypasses the premixer and is connected through the cathode follower to the mixer.
On 40, 15 and 10 meters a signal from the crystal
oscillator heterodynes with the VFO in the premixer, Vl B, to produce the desired injection
frequency. On 40 meters, for example, a 21.5 MHz
overtone crystal and the appropriate coil Ll are
switched into the crystal oscillator circuit. The
output from the oscillator is coupled into the premixer pentode where it heterodynes with the 4.95.5 MHz VFO to produce an output frequency of
16.0-16.6 MHz. This output is coupled through
the 16.0-16.6 MHz bandpass coupler, T3, and to
the cathode follower, V3A. On 15 meters, a 35.5
MHz crystal is used with a 30.0-30.6 MHz coupler,
T2, and on the three 10 meter ranges, 42.5, 43.0
and 43.6 MHz crystals are used with a 37.0-38.7
MHz coupler, Tl .
The 9.0 MHz output of the mixer, V3B, passes
through the impedance matching transformer T6
into the upper or lower sideband crystal filter. The
setting of the SIDEBAND knob determines which
crystal filter is used. From the crystal filter the
signal passes through the impedance matching
transformer, T13, and is amplified by the 9 MHz
receiver IF amplifier system, V 11 and V 12 and the
IF transformers T1 1 and T12. The output of T12 is
applied to the AGC amplifier,V13A, to the product
detector, V16, and to the diode detector, V2.
The AGC amplifier V1 3A is biased beyond cutoff
to provide an AGC delay. When sufficient RF voltage from T12 is applied to its grid, plate current
flows during part of the cycle. This causes amplified negative voltage to appear across its plate load
resistor R63, thus charging Cl 15. This negative
control voltage is applied to the grids of V7, Vl 1
and V12. Cl 15 discharges through R63 with a time
constant of approximately one second. Rotating
the RF Gain control counterclockwise applies increasingly more negative bias to the AGC controlled grids, thus limiting their maximum gain.
The product detector tube, V16, consists of a 9
MHz crystal oscillator formed by the cathode, grid
1 and grid 2. A product detector is formed by the
cathode, grid 3, and the plate. The IF signal is
applied to grid 3 where it heterodynes with the
BFO voltage in the tube. The resulting audio signal
is of sufficient amplitude to drive the audio preamplifier transistor, Q5, which drives the audio
output tube, V1 7.
4-l
CIRCUITRY.
4-2
product detector tube V16, through the SIDETONE control, to provide audio output from the
speaker for CW monitoring. Audio output from V2
is also applied to the grid of the VOX amplifier
tube, V19A, which causes relays K1 and K2 to
close. The relays turn on the transmitter, cause
the 9.0 MHz oscillator to be shifted to 9.001 MHz
and apply a variable source of DC, controlled by
half of the XMTR GAIN control, to the balanced
modulator. The DC voltage which unbalances the
modulator increases the carrier to a suitable level.
The resulting 9.001 MHz signal from the balanced
modulator is amplified by V15 and coupled into
the crystal filter. The SIDEBAND control must be
in the X position to allow the signal to pass. A
screen resistor is switched into the final amplifier
screen circuit to prevent excessive screen current in
the X-CW position of the Mode switch.
When the Mode switch is placed in the X-AM position the AM screen modulator V14 is inserted in
series with the final amplifier screen supply and a
constant voltage is applied to the balanced modula-
4-3
CHAPTER V
MAINTENANCE
5-1. SERVICE DATA.
R. L. Drake Company
540 Richard Street
Miamisburg, Ohio 45342
ATTN: Customer Service Department
Telephone (Area Code 5 13) 866-32 11
(Code-A-Phone Service after
1630 Hours E.S.T.)
WARNING
Extreme caution should be exercised
when the top and bottom covers are
removed. High voltage which is present
at several points can cause a lethal electrical shock. Repairs and adjustments
should be made only by a qualified
electronics technician. Disconnect the
Power Supply from the TR-4C before
removing covers.
5-2. TOP COVER REMOVAL.
Remove the three top screws on each side of the
TR-4C and remove the cover by first pulling up
on the rear and then the front of the cabinet.
5-3. BOTTOM COVER REMOVAL.
Remove the three bottom screws on each side of
the TR-4C and lift the chassis out of the bottom
cover.
5-l
5-2
b:
Table 5- 1.
REF
Tube
Resistance Chart
MEASURED AT PIN
DES
VI
V2
v3
v4
v5
V6
v7
V8
v9
Vl0
Vll
v12
10K
10K
v13
v14
v15
V16
v17
V18
v19
v20
0
0
10 K
250 K
8.7 K
Fil
0
7.8 K
13K
13K
0
68
2.2 Meg
55K.
2.2 Meg 22 Meg
13 K
25K
9.2 K
22K
8K
500 K
350 K
500 K
110K
450K
Inf.
0
48K
0
Fil
Inf.
3.3 K
820
-
N. C.
1.5 Meg
-
NOTE:
All measurements were made with respect to ground with the power supply disconnected from the
TR-4C. The BAND switch was on 7.0 MHz, the Mode switch was on CAL and the RCVR GAIN
and XMTR GAIN controls were fully clockwise. The VOX, ANTI VOX and SIDETONE controls
were fully clockwise and the ZERO control was set at the balance point. The accessory 34-PNB
jumper plug was in the noise blanker jack.
5-3
Table 5-2.
REF
Transistor
DES
Type
Q1
2N5950
Q2
2N3563
Q3
AT5059
2N3394
2N3877
_ Q4
Q5
MEASURED AT:
Emitter
Base
Located in PTO
Located in PTO
0
0
0
11.2
2.3
2.8
Collector
61
0
48
NOTE:
All measurements were made with an 11 Megohm VTVM and were taken from ground. RF TUNE,
PLATE and LOAD controls were set as described in paragraph 3-7. BAND switch was on 7.0 MHz,
VFO dial was at 7.250 MHz and SIDEBAND was on X. Receive measurements were made with the
Mode switch in the CAL position and the transmit measurements were made with the Mode switch
in the X-CW position, with the following exception :
On V14, both receive and transmit measurements were made with the Mode switch in the X-AM
position and with PTT line grounded.
The AC-4 Power Supply was used. Where two voltages are shown, the top is for receive and the
indicates AC voltage. The accessory 34-PNB jumper plug was in the
bottom is for transmit. An "*"
noise blanker jack.
receiver gain.
e. Adjust bias per paragraph 3-6. With XMIT GAIN
fully counterclockwise, place the Mode switch in
X-CW position and SIDEBAND switch in X
position.
f. If the plate current exceeds 0.15 Ampere, adjust
the RF TUNE for 0.15 Ampere maximum.
g. If plate current is less than 0.15 Amperes, adjust
Carrier Balance pot until plate current reaches
0.15 Amperes.
h. Peak T14 for maximum plate current. Detune
the RF TUNE control to prevent plate current
from exceeding 0.15 Amperes.
i. Alternately adjust the Carrier Balance control
and Cl 27 for minimum plate current. There
should be no difference in plate current between
the two positions of the SIDEBAND switch.
5-5
5-17. PA NEUTRALIZATION.
REF
Component
DES
Type
FUNCTION
Transmitter
Receiver
V1
6EA8
Pre-Mixer/Xtal Oscillator
Pre-Mixer/&al Oscillator
v2
12AV6
Sidetone Oscillator
v3
6EA8
Cathode Fol.
Mixer/Cathode Fol.
v4
6EJ7
Mixer
v5
6BZ6
V6
12BY7
v7
12BA6
Crystal Calibrator
Driver
RF Amplifier
FUNCTION
REF
Component
DES
Type
V11
6BZ6
IF Amplifier
v12
12BA6
IF Amplifier
v13
12AX7
AGC
v14
13DE7
AM Screen Modulator
v15
12BA6
IF Amplifier
V16
6GX6
BFO/Product Detector
v17
6AQ5A
Anti VOX
Audio Output
V18
12AX7
Mike Amplifier
v19
6EV7
VoxAmp/Relay
v20
OA2
Voltage Regulator
Voltage Regulator
Ql
Q2
Q3
Q4
2N5950
VFO
VFO
2N3563
VFO Buffer
VFO Buffer
AT5059
Neon Driver
Neon Driver
2N3394
Q5
2N3877
Dl
IN541
Balanced Modulator
D2
IN541
Balanced Modulator
D3
lN541
Balanced Modulator
D4
IN541
Balanced Modulator
D5
lN4148
V OX Detector
D6
lN4148
D7
lN4148
V OX Relay Speed Up
D8
lN714
Voltage Regulator
D9
lN4148
Dl0
lN4148
Dll
lN4148
D12
lN4148
Meter Control
D13
lN4148
Transient Suppressor
D14
lN4148
AGC Isolation
Receiver
Transmitter
Power Amps.
AGC
Audio Pre-Amp
Voltage Regulator
Transient Suppressor
5-7