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RL Drake 2-B Communications Receiver with 2-AC calibrator & 2 Optional 10M Crystal in Very Good, Working Condition S/N 10883

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  • RL Drake 2-B Communications Receiver with 2-AC calibrator & 2 Optional 10M Crystal in Very Good, Working Condition S/N 10883
  • RL Drake 2-B Communications Receiver with 2-AC calibrator & 2 Optional 10M Crystal in Very Good, Working Condition S/N 10883
  • RL Drake 2-B Communications Receiver with 2-AC calibrator & 2 Optional 10M Crystal in Very Good, Working Condition S/N 10883
  • RL Drake 2-B Communications Receiver with 2-AC calibrator & 2 Optional 10M Crystal in Very Good, Working Condition S/N 10883
  • RL Drake 2-B Communications Receiver with 2-AC calibrator & 2 Optional 10M Crystal in Very Good, Working Condition S/N 10883
  • RL Drake 2-B Communications Receiver with 2-AC calibrator & 2 Optional 10M Crystal in Very Good, Working Condition S/N 10883
  • RL Drake 2-B Communications Receiver with 2-AC calibrator & 2 Optional 10M Crystal in Very Good, Working Condition S/N 10883
$249.99
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Description

RL Drake 2-B Communications Receiver with 2-AC calibrator & 2 Optional 10M Crystals in Very Good, Working Condition S/N 10883

 This receiver comes with a first generation reproduction of the manual.

 I tested this receiver on my bench and it received signals very well on all bands that were open when tested. The 2-AC also worked fine and is included. This will save you the trouble of trying to find one. 

  The previous owner has lightly scribed his name and address on the top front of the case. It is not all the way through the paint and is not too noticeable.  

  Please see my other listings for the matching 2-BQ  Q-Multiplier.

I will include a first generation reproduction of the manual. 

  I am selling it as is, as described. Since it is over 60 years old, it may need some attention and it is always prudent to replace the electrolytic capacitors before they fail. It does appear to be working as it should.

  The R.L. Drake 2-B (often just called the Drake 2B) is a classic vintage communications receiver from the early 1960s, produced by R.L. Drake Company (a highly regarded American manufacturer of ham radio gear). Introduced around 1961-1962 as an improved successor to the Drake 2A, it's widely praised in the amateur radio community for its innovative design, excellent performance on HF bands, and compact size compared to contemporaries like Collins or National receivers.
Key Features and Specifications

  • Type: Tube-based (10 tubes), triple-conversion superheterodyne receiver (double-conversion on 80m band).
  • Frequency Coverage: Primarily designed for amateur (ham) bands, with five built-in 500-600 kHz segments covering:
    • 80m: 3.5–4.1 MHz
    • 40m: 6.9–7.5 MHz
    • 20m: 13.9–14.5 MHz
    • 15m: 20.9–21.5 MHz
    • 10m: 28.5–29.1 MHz
    • Plus seven additional crystal sockets for user-installed crystals to cover other ranges (up to ~30 MHz total capability).
  • Modes: AM (with diode or product detector), SSB (selectable sideband with product detector), CW.
  • Selectivity/Bandwidth: Switchable filters at 0.5 kHz (CW), 2.1 kHz (SSB), 3.6 kHz (AM) at -6 dB; features variable passband tuning (PBT) for shifting the passband center (a revolutionary feature at the time for fine-tuning signals and rejecting interference).
  • Sensitivity: Better than 0.5 µV for 10 dB S/N (very good for its era).
  • Other Specs: >60 dB image rejection, dial accuracy ~1 kHz, low drift (<100 Hz after warmup), S-meter, RF gain control, AVC (slow/fast), automatic noise limiter (ANL), preselector tuning, BFO, headphone jack, mute line, sidetone jack.
  • Accessories (often paired with):
    • 2-BQ: Q-multiplier + matching speaker (for enhanced CW selectivity, peaking/notching signals).
    • 2-AC: Internal 100 kHz crystal calibrator.
    • 2-LF: Low-frequency converter (for BC band and 160m).
    • 2-BS: External speaker.
  • Power: AC line-operated (internal power supply with 6X4 rectifier).
  • Size/Weight: Compact for a tube rig—about 12" x 7" x 9", ~14.5 lbs.
  • Tube Lineup (typical): Includes 6BZ6 (RF amp), 6U8 (mixer/osc), 6BE6 (multiple stages), 6BA6 (IF amp), 6AQ5 (audio output), etc.
Reputation and Modern AppealThe 2B was groundbreaking for its time due to features like precise 1 kHz dial readout, excellent stability, sharp selectivity, and effective passband tuning—making it superior for weak-signal work (especially SSB and CW) compared to many larger "boatanchor" receivers. Owners and reviewers on sites like eHam.net describe it as "stable, sensitive," and "still very good performing" even today—often outperforming expectations in pileups or noisy conditions. It's a favorite among vintage radio enthusiasts and shortwave listeners for its clean sound and build quality.Many units are still in use or restored today; common maintenance includes recapping (replacing electrolytic capacitors), tube testing/replacement, and alignment. Restorations can yield dramatic improvements in gain and noise performance.
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