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dxAce · March 25th 08, 10:47 AM posted to rec.radio.shortwave

wrote:

On Mar 25, 9:40 am, denny wrote:
Could anyone in the group who has a copy of Passport to World Band
Radio from 1991 to 1998 please give me a review and star rating (out
of possible five stars) for both the Drake R8 and R8A receivers,
including whether either one was awarded "Passport's Choice"? In
addition to the Kenwood R-5000 I asked about earlier, I might also be
interested in a R8 or R8A for a home receiver. Denny Dollahon.

I have owned all four radio's:
Kenwood R5000. Nice radio but not in the same league as the Drake R8
series. Reliability problems will haunt you and the keypad is sure to
go if it hasn't already gone. This will drive you mad and the set is
so old Kenwood no longer have keypad spares. My opinion = don't touch
it.

Drake R8 is a serious and reliable radio with excellent backup service
from Drake. A great buy. Much better than the Kenwood 5000.

Drake R8A - substantially better than the R8 and with much better SSB.
Still the standard for many of my serious DX buddies. Sadly the sync
detector hardly works on this model, a big minus if you are an AM
program listener.

Drake R8B - a superb radio with outstanding synchronous detector. You
will be supremely happy with this fine radio if you can find one at a
reasonable price. It will do serious DX with the best of radio's and
AM program listening to SW concert's is unbeatable.

I have also owned the '5000 and sold it shortly after the R8 was introduced. I
still have an R8, which is my everyday 'workhorse' radio.

I do have an R8A and an R8B which get occasional use as does the R7.

I agree that getting an R-5000 might be iffy these days due to failures of
various bits, though when working properly they are a good radio.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

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