MultiHub Forum

I've inherited my grandfather's old, solid-state ham radio transceiver from the late 1970s, a Drake TR-7, which was supposedly working when stored decades ago. My problem is I want to integrate it into a modern digital logging and contesting setup, but I'm completely stumped by the interface. The rig only has basic mic, key, and speaker connections—no CAT control or data ports of any kind. I have a modern computer, a basic USB sound card interface, and a SignaLink USB, but I can't figure out how to properly handle the PTT switching and audio level matching without risking damage to the radio's vintage circuits. I need to get this working for the upcoming state QSO party in three weeks, operating mostly digital modes like FT8, but every wiring diagram I find assumes more modern rigs and I'm terrified of frying something irreplaceable.

Nice project. Treat the TR‑7 as a simple audio path and use a separate PTT trigger. Build a small opto‑isolated relay to key the radio from the SignaLink, not by tying voltages into the radio. Add a simple attenuator or a 600Ω audio transformer to match TX audio to the mic input. Test at low power, then run FT8 with WSJT‑X.