r/ShortwavePlus

The SSB De Luxe was Kraco's "Top of the Line" in the mid-1970's. By the time I got a hold of this pristine example in the 2000's a 23 Channel SSB CB Radio was pretty useless. I added a Tuneable VFO/Digital Readout that allows using the SSB De Luxe on the 10 Meter Amateur Radio Band.

It was a fun project that worked well...

I added the colorful LEDs too.

There are 9 Images in this post.

• Courier "Chief 23" for the Chief of Police/Fire Chief Needing a CB/VHF Tunable Monitor
• Lafayette HA-450 Battery Portable uses D Cells
• Realistic TRC-47 early 23 Channel SSB+AM CB Radio from Radio Shack. Expensive New
• Midland 77-113 Saving Grace is that it Offers Many Channels from 26-28 MHz
• DynaCom Cobra 98 Early Cobra 23 Channel CB
• Top: Sonar BR-2906 Linear Middle: Telsat-50 Lo-VHF/CB Bottom: Telsat-150 Hi-VHF/CB
• Mizuho 10 Meter 10 Watt Amplifier

There are 7 images in this post

The frequency range 6800 - 7000 KHz has become a favorite place for me to hunt signals. In the early evenings Pirate Radio dominates this band. By 2 o'clock AM, local time, data signals begin to show up from the Pacific and Asia. Here are a few I heard this morning at around 0930 UTC.

Station

• Name/Call: Unknown Data and NSS Annapolis, MD US Navy RTTY
• Location: Pacific, Asis, and USA
• Language: Data
• Target: Worldwide

Time

• 0230 UTC | 23 APR 2026

Receiver and Receiving Location

• Radio: AirSpy HF+ R.4.0.8-CD
• Antenna: K-480WLA | 35' AGL
• Software: SDR# Studio v1.0.0.1921 64-Bit
• Location: Portland, Oregon | CN85qn

Signal

• RS(T) = Varies

As shipped from the R.L. Drake Factory, the Drake 2B was a Ham Bands Receiver. Open crystal positions were supplied for addition crystals to cover 600 KHz segments of the shortwave bands. Nowadays it is impossible to find enough extra crystals to add decent coverage. So I built a DDS Synthesizer/VFO. The Drake is very sensitive and makes an excellent receiver.

• Completed DDS Synthesizer/VFO on Top of the Cleaned Drake 2B
• Drake 2B Ad
• Dirty 2B Purchased from eBay
• Completed DDS Synthesizer/VFO
• Homemade Sheet Metal Case Using Bending Brake
• Homemade Sheet Metal Top Painted Black
• Homemade Sheet Metal Case Drilled and Painted
• Keypad
• Interior DDS Module, Voltage Regulator, and Keypad
• Interior DDS Module, Voltage Regulator, and Keypad Side View
• Bandswitch
• Rear View
• Interconnecting Cables Keep the 2B Stock
• Completed DDS Synthesizer/VFO
• Completed DDS Synthesizer/VFO on Top of the Cleaned Drake 2B and FT-707

There are 15 images in this post

I have my Dell Laptop connected to the Icom IC-M700 through a Mixer to facilitate Digital Modes. I tested it out this morning on 20 Meters FT4. I managed to contact a station in Norway and a station in Russia. I attached images of the contacts.

The interface requires switching from Transmit to Receive using a toggle switch. I will remedy this in the near future by either using an interface that I've already built -- a Darlington Transistor does the switching via audio transmitted from the laptop, or I will use an Optoisolator - which is preferable. The Darlington Transistor method is touchy to get just right.

I've included schematics for both methods in the attached images.

The Icom Transceiver is ideal for digital modes because it lacks a Tuneable VFO. Any frequency between 1.6 - 24 MHz can be entered and saved into a fixed channel. Digital Modes do not require tuning via the radio once set on an operating frequency. The fine tuning is done through audio via the computer. Change the audio frequency and you change the transmit and receive frequencies in small steps due to the fact that you are modulating the radio in USB (Upper Side Band). So changing your audio pitch raises or lowers the Transceiver frequency in small increments.

I will post more about this if interest warrants.

**There are 9 Images in the Article**

Station

• Name/Call: Military Radio Western USA
• Location: Western USA
• Language: Data/English
• Target: North America

Time

• 0300 UTC | 23 APR 2026

Receiver and Receiving Location

• Radio: AirSpy HF+ R.4.0.8-CD
• Antenna: K-480WLA | 35' AGL
• Software: SDR# Studio v1.0.0.1921 64-Bit
• Location: Portland, Oregon | CN85qn

Signal

• RS(T) = 57

Radio Nikkei 1 in 8 KHz DSB Bandwidth. North Korean Jamming 7 KHz below the frequency.

Station

• Name/Call: Radio Nikkei 1
• Location: Japan-Chiba Nagara
• Language: Japanese
• Target: Far East

Time

• 1000 UTC | 23 APR 2026

Receiver and Receiving Location

• Radio: AirSpy HF+ R.4.0.8-CD
• Antenna: K-480WLA | 35' AGL
• Software: SDR# Studio v1.0.0.1921 64-Bit
• Location: Portland, Oregon | CN85qn

Signal

• SINPO = 43344

https://www.dxmaps.com/spots/mapg.php?Lan=E&Frec=50&ML=M&HF=N

This is a great resource to check on band openings by frequency. It is also applicable to International Shortwave Broadcasts

Audible Direct Western North America or the following KIWI SDRs:

KPH Point Reyes, California

KFS Northern Utah

Edmonton Alberta

Station

• Name/Call: MWV Radio Feda
• Location: Madagascar-Mahajanga
• Language: Arabic
• Target: Middle East

Time

• 1939 UTC | 22 APR 2026

Receiver and Receiving Location

• Radio: AirSpy HF+ R.4.0.8-CD
• Antenna: K-480WLA | 35' AGL
• Software: SDR# Studio v1.0.0.1921 64-Bit
• Location: Portland, Oregon | CN85qn

Signal

• SINPO = 33223

Station

• Name/Call: Radio Havana
• Location: Havana, Cuba
• Language: English and Spanish
• Target: N. America

Time

• 0250 - 0340 UTC | 18 APR 2026

Receiver and Receiving Location

• Radio: AirSpy HF+ R.4.0.8-CD
• Antenna: K-480WLA | 35' AGL
• Software: SDR# Studio v1.0.0.1921 64-Bit
• Location: Portland, Oregon | CN85qn

Signal

• SINPO = 34334

The broadcast is of a Brasileirão B (Brazilian Serie B Championship) football (soccer) match played today.

- Target: Brazil

- Lang: Portuguese

- TX: Belo Horizonte, Mato Grosso 🇧🇷

- RX: Asunción, Paraguay

- Radio: AirSpy HF+ Discovery

- Antenna: MLA-30+

- Software: SDR# v.1922 (beta)

- D/T: 18 APR 2026 - 2123 UTC

Station

• Name/Call: Travis Air Force Base
• Location: Fairfield, California
• Language: English
• Target: Fairfield, California

Time

• 0830 UTC | 20 APR 2026

Receiver and Receiving Location

• Radio: KIWI SDR KPH California
• Antenna: Varies
• Software: KIWI SDR
• Location: California

Signal

• RS(T): 55

A 90 Watt AM/CW Transmitter, produced from 1959 - 1962 by World Radio Labs. The Globe Scout Deluxe sold new for $159.95, which is equivalent to $1,800 USD in 2026. This is a very heavy piece of gear due to a massive Power Transformer, Modulation Choke, and Power Supply Choke.

The RF Output tube is a 6146. It's Modulated by a 7027A (6L6GC) using Heising Modulation for 100% modulation on positive peaks.

This transmitter is in good electrical condition, although it will need replacement of the filter capacitors. The worst part is the condition of the front panel. I'm hoping to restore the front panel, avoiding repainting it.