DRAKE TR-4CW User manual

DRAK
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
SIDEBAND TRANSCEIVER

DRAKE
LIMITED WARRANTY
R.L. DRAKE COMPANY warrants to the original purchaser that this product shall be free
from defects in material (except tubes and RF output transistors) or workmanship for
ninety (90) days from the date of original purchase.
During the warranty period the R. L. DRAKE COMPANY or an authorized Drake service
facility will provide free of charge both parts (except tubes and RF output transistors) and
labor necessary to correct defects in material or workmanship.
To obtain such warranty service, the original purchaser must:
(1) Complete and send in the Warranty Registration Card.
(2) Notify R. L. DRAKE COMPANY or its nearest authorized service facility, as soon as
possible after discovery of a possible defect, of:
(a) The model number and serial number, if any;
(b) The identity of the seller and the approximate date of purchase;
(c) A detailed description of the problem, including details on the electrical connection
to associated equipment and the list of such equipment.
(3) Deliver the product to the R. L. DRAKE COMPANY or the nearest authorized service
facility, or ship the same in its original container or equivalent, fully insured and ship-
ping charges prepaid.
Correct maintenance, repair and use are important to obtain proper performance from this
product. Therefore, carefully read the Instruction Manual. This warranty does not apply to
any defect that R. L. DRAKE COMPANY determines is due to:
(1) Improper maintenance or repair, including the installation of parts or accessories that do
not conform to the quality and specifications of the original parts.
(2) Misuse, abuse, neglect or improper installation.
(3) Accidental or intentional damage.
All implied warranties, if any, terminate ninety (90) days from the date of the original
purchase.
The foregoing constitutes R. L. DRAKE COMPANY’S entire obligation with respect to this
product, and the original purchaser and any user or owner shall have no other remedy and
no claim for incidental or consequential damages. Some states do not allow limitations on
how long an implied warranty lasts or do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental
or consequential damages, so the above limitation and exclusion may not apply to you.
This warranty gives specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from
State to State.
R. L. DRAKE COMPANY
540 Richard Street « Miamisburg, Ohio 45342
DRAKE
PRINTED IN U.S.A,

TR-4C w_ SUPPLEMENTARY INSTRUCTION SHEET
The TR-4Cw incorporates all of the features contained in the TR-4C plus a 500 Hz
bandwidth crystal filter to improve CW selectivity.
This instruction sheet deals only in differences and additions that this feature
will add to the instruction manual supplied.
SPECIFICATIONS
Receiver Selectivity: 6 dB=500 Hz, 60 dB=2.0 kHz with Sideband Switch in 500 Hz
position.
OPERATION
The Sideband Switch selects between upper, lower, and 500 Hz filters. The side-
band being utilized is indicated by the upper/lower lights. When the sideband
switch is in the 500 Hz position, the same light will light as when the switch is
in the "X" position.
Tune Up is identical to that of the TR-4C.
Operation on CW is accomplished in the same manner as the TR-4C except that
the sideband switch can be placed on the 500 Hz position to more easily sepa-
rate stations under crowded band conditions.
It will be noted that when transmitting with the 500 Hz filter switched in, the
XMTR Gain Control will have to be advanced slightly further clockwise to ob-
tain the same plate current as obtained when either upper or lower filters are
used.
The center frequency of the CW filter is such that when a signal is tuned for
maximum S~meter reading, an audio beat note of approximately 800 Hz will be
produced. Therefore, when tuning in CW signals with the filter switch in the
"X" position, signals should be tuned for this audio frequency so they will
still be tuned in when switching to the 500 Hz filter.
SSB Operation is not recommended with the 500 Hz filter switched in since it
will narrow the bandwidth of both transmitted and received audio sufficiently
to make it virtually unintelligible.
MAINTENANCE
Alignment is accomplished in exactly the same manner as the TR-4C. No
special tuning of T6 or T13 is required.
Access to circuitry hidden by the 500 Hz filter is obtained by loosening the
two nuts holding the 500 Hz filter bracket to the upper/lower filter bracket
and lifting the filter and bracket as a unit off the transceiver.

SIDEBAND
fa ee ees
Ay 500 Hz
UPPER. =
p)
PIN ©
3S4PNB
SOCKET
S7B
FRONT
PIN 7
34PNB
SOCKET
7 oO 1e) OO
/ SIA S1A
(Rear ) (Frowt)
To Band Switch (80 meter position)

CHAPTER I
1-1.
1-2.
CHAPTER II
DECEMBER 1976
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
MANUAL COVERAGE
SPECIFICATIONS
INSTALLATION .
UNPACKING .
LOCATION
MOBILE INSTALLATION
POWER REQUIREMENTS
MOUNTING
ANTENNA.
SPEAKER .
MICROPHONE
STATIONARY INSTALLATION
POWER REQUIREMENTS
VIEWING ANGLE
ACCESSORIES
OPERATION
GENERAL .
MODE SWITCH
BLANKER SWITCH
VFO DIAL .
TUNING PROCEDURE
BIAS ADJUSTMENT
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
OTHER CONTROLS
TUNE UP
SSB OPERATION
DRAKE

DRAKE
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
CW OPERATION.
AM OPERATION
OPERATION NEAR BAND EDGES
OPERATION WITH A LINEAR AMPLIFIER
NOVICE OPERATION .
THEORY OF OPERATION.
GENERAL .
RECEIVER CIRCUITRY .
TRANSMITTER CIRCUITRY
MAINTENANCE .
SERVICE DATA .
TOP COVER REMOVAL .
BOTTOM COVER REMOVAL
TUBE REPLACEMENT
TROUBLE SHOOTING
TEST EQUIPMENT .
ALIGNMENT PROCEDURES
CRYSTAL CALIBRATOR
9.0 MHz OSCILLATOR
INJECTION CRYSTAL OSCILLATOR
VFO ADJUSTMENT
INJECTION COUPLER
RECEIVER IF
BALANCED
MODULATOR
AND
CARRIER
BALANCE
FILTER
MATCHING
TRANSFORMER
.
MIXER
AND
IF
ALIGNMENT
.
PA NEUTRALIZATION
TRANSMITTER NEUTRALIZATION.
S METER ADJUSTMENT .

Figure
DRAKE
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
TR—4C SIDEBAND TRANSCEIVER. . 2. . 1 we ee eee 1
MICROPHONE CONNECTIONS . «7 7 ww ew, 2-1
REAR CHASSIS CONNECTORS... 2 ww we ee 2-2
ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS REQUIRED FOR MOBILEINSTALLATION . . .... . 2-3
MOBILE INSTALLATION MOUNTING OPTIONS . . . . 2 2 7 ee ee ees 2-4
VIEWING ANGLE OPTIONS IN A STATIONARY INSTALLATION. . . 2. . 2... 2-5
CONNECTING THE AC—4 POWER SUPPLY AND MS—4 SPEAKER ......... . 2-5
CONNECTING THE AC—4 POWER SUPPLY, RV—4C REMOTE VFO AND
A LINEAR AMPLIFIER . . 2 2. 1 ee ee 2-6
CONNECTING THE AC—4 POWER SUPPLY AND THE L—4B LINEAR AMPLIFIER. . . . 2-6
CONNECTING
AN
EXTERNAL
RECEIVER
...
.
.
1.
ew
ee
ee
es
2-7
FRONT
PANELCONTROLS
..
.
.
1.
ew
ee
ee
3-2
BLOCK
DIAGRAM.
.
.
. 2
wwe
ee
4—4
ALIGNMENT
LOCATIONS,
TOP
VIEW.
.
.
.
2
1
ew
ew
ee
es
5-8
ALIGNMENT LOCATIONS, BOTTOM VIEW . . . ©. 2 we ee eee 5-9
AC—4 POWER SUPPLY SCHEMATIC. . . 2. 2 1. 2 we eee ee 5-11
DC—4 POWER SUPPLY SCHEMATIC. . 2. 2. 1 2. we ee 5-11
TR-4C
SCHEMATIC
.
.
2...
ee
5-11

DRAKE
CHAPTER |
INTRODUCTION
1-1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
The TR—4C is a 300 Watt HF single sideband trans-
ceiver which covers the 80 through 10 meter
amateur bands. AM and CWmodes 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 selec-
tion. Available accessories include an RV—4C
Remote VFO, a matching MS—4 Speaker, an FF—1
Fixed Frequency Adapter, a 34—PNB Noise Blanker,
an MC—4 Mobile Console, and a TR—4C VHF
Modification Kit.
1-2. MANUAL COVERAGE.
This manual provides sufficient information for
operation of the TR—4C Transceiver by a licensed
operator and for repair and maintenance by an ex-
perienced electronics technician. Chapter II provides
installation instructions and illustrates interconnec-
tion with accessories. Chapter III describes operation
procedures. Chapter IV presents theory of operation
supported by a block diagram. Chapter V provides
maintenance instructions and parts ordering infor-
mation.

DRAKE
ae
Figure 1—17.
TR—4C Sideband Transceiver

GENERAL:
Frequency Coverage:
Mode of Operation:
Frequency Stability:
Power Supply
Requirements:
Antenna Impedance:
Dial Calibration:
Dimensions:
Weight:
RECEIVER:
Sensitivity:
AGC:
Selectivity:
IF Frequency:
Audio Output:
Output Impedance:
TRANSMITTER:
Power Input:
Output Impedance:
Average Distortion
Products:
Microphone Input:
DRAKE
SPECIFICATIONS
3.5 to 4.1 MHz, 7.0 to 7.6 MHz, 13.9 to 14.5 MHz, 21.0 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.
Lower Sideband, Upper Sideband, AM and CW.
Total drift is less than 100 Hz after warm up. Total frequency change
is less than 100 Hz for a + 10% line voltage change.
+ 650 Volts DC at 300 mA average and 500 mA maximum with 10%
regulation from 100 to 500 mA and a maximum ripple 1%.
+ 250 Volts DC at 200 mA with 10% regulation from 170 mA to
200 mA. This includes the effect of the 650 Volt supply change if
both voltages are obtained from the same transformer. Maximum
ripple must be less than 1/4%.
-45 to -65 Volts DC adjustable filtered bias into 33 K Ohm load.
12.6 Volts AC or DC at 5.5 Amperes.
Nomina! 52 Ohms (VSWR less than 2:1).
Better than + 1 kHz when calibrated at the nearest 100 kHz calibra-
tion point.
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.
16 Ibs. (7.26 kg.)
S+N
Less than 0.5 uV for 10dB N
Less than 3 dB variation for 60 dB change in input signal.
2.1 kHz at -6 dB and 3.4 kHz at —60 dB.
9 MHz.
3 Watts with less than 10% distortion.
4 Ohms.
300 Watts PEP SSB, 260 Watts CW and 260 Watts PEP AM.
Nominal 52 Ohms.
The odd order products are down 30 dB below PEP.
High Impedance.

DRAKE
NOTES

DRAKE
CHAPTER Il
INSTALLATION
2-1. UNPACKING.
Carefully remove the unit from the shipping carton
and examine it for evidence of damage. If any
damage is discovered, immediately notify the trans-
portation company that delivered the unit. Be sure
to keep the shipping carton and packing material as
the transportation company will want to examine
them if there is a damage claim. Keep the carton
and packing material even if no shipping damage
occurs. Having the original carton available makes
packing the unit much easier if it should ever be
necessary to store it or return it to the factory for
service.
NOTE
Fill out the enclosed registration card
and return it to the factory. immediately
to insure registration and validation of
the warranty.
2-2. LOCATION.
The location of the TR—4C is not critical. However,
care should be taken to insure that adequate clear-
ance is provided to insure free circulation of air
around the unit and to allow access to the side
controls and connectors. Do not cover the top of
the cabinet with books, papers or other equipment
as overheating may result.
2-3. MOBILE INSTALLATION.
2-4. POWER REQUIREMENTS. Refer to figure
2-2 for rear chassis connector identification. The
TR—4C may be installed in any vehicle with a 12
volt dc negative ground system. An R. L. Drake
Model DC—4 Power Supply is required for a mobile
installation. The recommended location for the
DC—4 is on the passenger side of the firewall. Refer
to figure 2-3 for the electrical connections required.
2-5. MOUNTING. Mount the TR—4C in a con-
venient location below the dash with an R. L. Drake
Model MMK-—3 Mobile Mounting Kit. Refer to
figure 2-4 for various mounting options. Be sure
to allow adequate clearance for air circulation and
cable connections. Turn the TR—4C off. Connect
the power cable between the TR—4C and the DC—4.
Coil up any excess cable and tape it in place out of
sight. Connect the black wire from the power supply
to
a
convenient
ground.
Route
the
red
wire
from
the
power supply through the firewall and connect it to
the
positive
battery
terminal
or
the
starter
solenoid.
The fuse holder should be installed as close to the
solenoid
as
possible.
Shorten
both
of
these wires
as
much as possible.
2-6.
ANTENNA.
Install
a
mobile
antenna
as
rec-
ommended
by
the
antenna
manufacturer.
Connect
a
coaxial
cable
from
the
antenna
to
the
SO—239
connector
at the
rear
of
the
TR—4C.
2-7.
SPEAKER.
DO
NOT
connect
the
TR—4C
to
the
speaker
of
the
car
radio.
Install
a
separate
speaker
for
use
with
the
TR—4C.
The
R.
L.
Drake
Model
MC—4
Mobile
Console
is
recommended
for
this
type
of
installation.
It
includes
a
speaker
and
a
wattmeter
and
is
designed
to
mount
over
or
under
the
TR—4C.
2-8.
MICROPHONE.
Use
a
microphone
with
a
flat
frequency
response.
The
microphone
should
have
a
cardioid
pattern
to
reduce
pickup
from
the
back
and
sides.
Connect
the
microphone
as
illustrated
in
figure
2-1
to
insure
proper
performance.
S—230 CONNECTOR
MICROPHONE
Figure 2—1. Microphone Connections

DRAKE
2-9. STATIONARY INSTALLATION.
2-10. POWER REQUIREMENTS. An R. L. Drake
Model AC—4 Power Supply rated at 120 volts ac,
50/60 Hz, is required for stationary installations.
The AC—4 is designed to fit inside the MS—4
speaker cabinet.
2-11. VIEWING ANGLE. Refer to figure 2-5 for
illustrations of viewing angle options. See Chapter V
for bottom cover removal.
2-12. ACCESSORIES. Refer to figures 2-6 through
2-9 for the electrical connections required to
operate the TR—4C with the various recommended
accessories.
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
EXTERNAL EXTERNAL
RECEIVER RECEIVER
ANTENNA MUTE
POWER
Figure 2—2. Rear Chassis Connectors

TR-4C
XK
oege
D>
"*%
OC-4 Power Supply
se
O05
O
S26
O Y
O O
S%
aS
x
g
wR
,
O 4,
re,
es
+.
%
XS oe
"6;
Ss
w
625
°, .e.
4
©
Power Cable
fh Phono Gonnector
i Speaker
52 ohm coax
Fuse
30 amp
Black
— (Ground to car body.)
00 Q
Figure
2—3.
Electrical
Connections
Required
for
Mobile
Installation
£-2
Mobile
Antenna
Loading
Coil
Matching
Coil
Red: Connect
to positive term.
of bottery or
starter solenoid.
Bp Atel t

DRAKE
OPTION A
OPTION C
OPTION B
OPTION D
Figure 2—4. Mobile Installation Mounting Options

La Gd
OPTION
A
OPTION
C
OF BASE
OPTION B fe
SCREW MOUNTED STUD 4710x 24x 5/8 LONG
REAR FEET REMOVED SUPPLIED WITH UNIT
Figure 2—5. Viewing Angle Options in a Stationary Installation
RADI
OO
KOK KOO Cm;
& S50 I> 2x
TO
xxnh
22
POO
Cee.
BONO
:
KP
BOM
c@o
me
@
SPKR. CABLE
POWER CABLE
LINE
Figure 2—6. Connecting the AC—4 Power Supply and MS—4 Speaker

DRAKE
TR=4C
AC—4/MS—4
OR
RV—-—4C
LINEAR
AMPLIFIER
KS
KA?
Accessory
contacts
oH
echetss
eesece
on
a
coax
relay
can
LY
o
"
SCF
bOI?
be
used
for
linear
Retted
SHR
KKY
cut off
bias
switch
Res
eee
ing.
Hols
e
sf
TRANSMITTING ALC
Z
POWER
CABLE
—_
RV-4C
CABLE
Coax
Relays(Dow~
Key
DK60
To
Relay
G2
or
equiv.)
On
most
lin-
Supply
ears,
these
relays
are
built
Voltage
in.
—————$_—_—__—_-———_——
Figure
2—7.
Connecting
the
AC—4
Power
Supply,
RV—4C
Remote
VFO
and
a
Linear
Amplifier
L-4PS
% STK SAK
od Sen
a4 eit
>
RS
oO RF
:
zi
U
z
Ac
PwR
3
ae
mt
a
2
oe
® ®
NE
A.C.
XMTR.
PWR.
CABLE
LINE
GROUND STRAP
XMTR. R.F. OUTPUT CABLE
= GROUND
Figure
2—8.
Connecting
the
AC—4
Power
Supply
and
the
L—4B
Linear
Amplifier

TR-4¢ AC-4/MS-4
External Receiver
BOS OOO Pa a a i
Sees
NOTE:
eDmMOaa
AQAM®A,
weesscereetegestans This switch must b
PRS oe is switch must be
RS
eee
RRS
in
the
TGVR
position
TO
<> 0.0. fos
PK RIOR for transceiving and |MS-4
eeeecesasectetes
RT
es
inthe
RGVR
cocoa
MOoWa
2
RYL)
[evs
position
for
separate|
|
©
BIAS
AGC
VOX
Leak = receiver use. 20: 5. eo
Power Cable “ain an
Lead to Speaker
Speaker Cable |
Mute Line
Ant
NOTE:
Connect in parallel,
(Braid to braid etc.)
Receiver Antenna Cable
Figure 2—9, Connecting an External Receiver
4VvUG

DRAKE
CHAPTER III
OPERATION
3-1. GENERAL.
Figure 3-1 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 identi-
fied 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 limita-
tion 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-
ing. Usually this limitation is no problem under
normal operating conditions.
3-4.
VFO
DIAL.
This
dial
consists
of
2
transparent
discs
which
display
concentric
scales
and
which
rotate
at
different
speeds.
There
are
2
scales
on
each
disc.
The
upper
scale
on
each
disc
is
used
for
all
bands
except
20
meters
where
the
lower
scale
is
used.
Zero
to
100
KHz
is
indicated
on
one
disc
and
hundreds
of
kHz
is
indicated
on
the
other.
The
frequency
of
the
operating
signal
is
the
sum
of
the
frequencies
indicated
by
the
BAND.
switch
and
the
VFO
dial,
for
example:
BAND switch frequency 7.000 MHz
100 kHz dial .200
1 kHz dial .072
Operating frequency 7.272 MHz
This dial may be calibrated over a short range by
the following procedure:
a. Set the Mode switch to CAL.
b. Tune the TR—4C to zero beat with the nearest
100 kHz calibrator signal.
c. Hold the tuning knob stationary and rotate the
knob skirt until the dial displays the correct
frequency.
3-5. TUNING PROCEDURE.
CAUTION
Under no circumstances should operation
of the TR—4C be attempted until it is
connected to a proper antenna or a
dummy load. Always allow a two minute
warm up period after the TR—4C is
turned on before transmitting.
3-6. BIAS ADJUSTMENT. Before any type of
operation is attempted, it will be necessary to set
the PA bias to the correct value. Proceed as follows:
a. Turn on the TR—4C with the RCVR GAIN
control.
b. Rotate the XMTR GAIN control fully counter-
clockwise..
(continued on page 3—5)

rasa) J DRAKE
16 15 14 13 12 11 10
Figure 3—1. Front Panel Controls