We have offered and sold around 180 of these R8B units on Ebay and have a lot of experience in testing and in verifying proper operation. This particular receiver is categorized as "used". However, in looking over the receiver, we could not spot a single mark or scratch on it. And even though we can't guarantee that you won't find a tiny mark that we've missed, we can tell you that if you spot such, it will be tiny tiny. In fact, we believe that it is the nicest looking R8B that we have offered here on Ebay. That is to say that you can find other lower priced R8B units, and we have sold dozens at such a price, but we doubt that you will find a unit that looks virtually new in appearance.
Electronically, we have fully tested this R8B and sensitivity and overall performance are outstanding. We did not detect any issues or shortcomings with the receiver's operation. If you are a person who prefers an extraordinary receiver both operationally and cosmetically, this unit should appeal to you.
This R8B receiver has been further enhanced with the VHF
converter that allows the user to pick up the additional frequencies of 35 to
55 MHz and of 108 to 174 MHz. These frequencies are additional public
service, aeronautical, weather, and amateur frequencies that greatly expand the
strengths of the Drake.
Originally RL Drake offered this VHF feature for an additional cost of $269. This converter is no longer available new and is much sought after. In testing this VHF unit, we were startled to discover that it seems to be a bit more sensitive than the other Drake VHF modules we have tested over the years. For an example, in our area, we can typically get 1 strong NOAA weather station on 162.400 MHz (using a handheld telescopic whip that we can move about the room). Then we can get two other stations strong enough to copy clearly, but not primary stations on 162.475 and 162.550. This is customary on all of these Drake VHF units. However, with this module, we could even hear weaker signals on 162.425 and 162.475 and this is most uncommon.
We also want to point out that this R8B is a later serial number of 0B12940003. From our experience, about 90%+ of the R8B's carry a serial number from 1997 to 1999 and then sales for the R8B dropped off greatly after this time when the majority of serious buyers had already acquired their receiver. This unit was the 3 unit manufactured in February of 2000. Serial number code ..... 0 = (year 2000) B = (February) 1294 = (Drake Model #) 0003 = (3rd unit manufactured in that month of 2000).
The Drake comes with:
The price of the Drake receiver is set at a selling price based on its desirability, condition and availability. The R8B is no longer manufactured, but the receiver is so highly regarded that the selling price on used R8B's have remained at an elevated level due to interest and demand.
Let us talk a little bit about the R8B. This receiver was one of RL Drake's last great offerings to the DXing hobby. Drake began its foray into shortwave receivers with the nice, but modest SW4 receiver. Now 25 years later, Drake brought out the R8 receiver in 1991. It was well received by the market, but did have its shortcomings...some were ergonomic issues and others were functional issues. Eventually Drake introduced the R8A in 1995 and then a couple of years later, they hit the nail on the head with the R8B which was introduced in 1997 and was produced until 2005. Here is a list of improvements of the R8B over the R8:
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 R8B. 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, choices of selectivity, synchronous detection, passband tuning, 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, 1,000 presets for memories, and a preamp for the weak signals. The R8B 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.
In Passport's White Paper review of this receiver their final evaluation is that the R8B deserves an overall rating of 5 stars or superb. We will quote from their summary:
"The Drake R8B receiver, a revised version of the now discontinued R8A and R8, offers superior performance for hour-after-hour listening to news, entertainment, and music from afar. It is one of the relatively small number of radios on the market with both selectable sideband synchronous detection and a wide choice of bandwidths--both major pluses in enhancing fidelity. The R8B offers worthy audio quality that can be even more fully appreciated when listening through headphones or a suitable outboard speaker.
The R8B eliminates virtually all our performance and ergonomic concerns about the R8 and R8A. This new and presumably final version combines unusually capable program listening performance with excellent DX capabilities within it's price class. This flexibility, along with attractive pricing, has propelled the Drake R8 series into a position of overwhelming market dominance among world band receivers.
Bottom Line...The sensibly priced Drake R8B is a nicely rounded receiver with nearly everything done the way it should be. It is equipped with five well-chosen bandwidths, selectable-and double-sideband synchronous detection, passband offset, variable notch filtering, and a wealth of other goodies that perform as they should...along with appropriate ergonomics and superior factory service.
While there are other receivers that are a skooch better for program listening or DXing, or have comparable ergonomics, there is no other receiver that does quite so nicely in all three categories, much less at the R8B's price. Little wonder, then, that this is the world's best selling world band tabletop receiver."
Here are some reviews on the R8B in case you really want to research this unit:
https://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/494 (copy and paste link into your internet browser)
This unit works on multiple voltages so can be connected to AC in a variety of other countries other than the USA and Canada.
At this point, we believe that we have given you what info we have on this receiver. Feel free to email with any other questions and we will do my best to try to help out with them. Most questions will likely be with regards to shipping cost. Those buyers living in the USA may use the Ebay calculator for their cost. About $17 of this cost is for the purchase of insurance that is expensive, but necessary. Shipping may be via either USPS parcel post or by FedEx depending on your location and the shipping cost.
Please use the Ebay shipping calculator to determine your shipping cost. This cost includes proper packing materials for safe delivery and insurance cost against damage or loss.
Those buyers living outside the USA are also welcome to purchase from us. We have shipped to 113 countries during the past 26 years on Ebay and we are happy to ship virtually anywhere in the world as served by Ebay's Global Shipping Program. You may use the shipping calculator to determine your shipping cost.
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