Got mine last October (2010). The price was $400 pluse $125 for the remote VFO. Plus, the guy threw in an MN-7 tuner....like, I reallly needed another tuner...already had 5! But it's pretty next to the other 7's, especially the wattmeter.
That radio has become my radio of choice. Like everybody else says about it, the receiver is a dream! It's got a really, really nice, velvety smooth sound, great AGC action and it's QUIET!!!! Finally, I've learned about phase noise, I think. Guess I was just used to hearing it. That is, intil I spent some time listening to the Drake (all of 5 minutes worth). Like I said in the other thread, the sound of that receiver is indescribably sweet.
The transmitter is totally bulletproof. You can't break it and it won't crap out. The heat sink (internal...not hanging outside) is MASSIVE and HEAVY. It's also over-built. It'll do more than factory spec output...but it's derated for reliability.
I haven't noticed any drift, but then I haven't really listened closely to notice what it does. It's always been just fine from turn-on.
The knobs are big and feel great. No menus. Built in forward/reflected power meter.
It's easy to work on, if needed. Mostly conventional parts (no SMD's!!!) on circuit boards with nice, big pads and traces.
The receiver is general coverage* and what's more, it's easy to have a "no filter" position (one resistor). That gives extraordinary AM sound.
*If you get a '7, make sure it's got the digital readout. That was an option in the early days of the radio, so there may still be some out there without it. They're probably unobtainium now, so unless the price of a TR-7 w/o the readout is next to "free", it's probably not worth it. Plus...without the digital readout, you don't get general coverage.
My radio has a serial no. < 600...must have been a very early one. But it's still cranking along like it just came from the factory. There's plenty of info and support available on the web and that, plus the way the radio's built makes servicing them a sweet, fun experience.
I don't have the noise blanker, but I understand that the NB-7 is one of the best out there.
Guess you can tell, I'm madly in love with that radio and when I head out on the road it's ALWAYS my rig of choice. It's big and heavy -- but in my application there's plenty of room on the passenger side for it to sit on top of a carry-on bag leaning against the seat. That makes the "heavy" part a plus...keeps it sitting there and it doesn't move around. The only hard part of taking it mobile is it needs LOTS of juice. It's rated at needing 25 Amps and that dictates AT LEAST 8 ga wire to the battery. I made up a cable of 10 ga & it's only marginal (but usable).
Thinking of all the possible mobile radios, I can't think of one that I'd rather have. There's the KWM-2, of course, and there's one of them in my future (I hope)...but it won't do general coverage. There's all the solid state synthesized radios that perform phenomenallly well, but...somehow....subjectively, anyway...don't really "feel" like a radio. (Yea....lot of "OF-ness" in that...guess I'll always like turning a cap or coild slug to tune...feels more connected, somehow.)
I've got a TR-3 that I'm restoring...also have a couple of DC supplies for it. I'm going to love comparing the two radios. They're bookends -- Drake's first and last "TR"!
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