[Premium-Rx] WJ-8716 vs WJ-8718 Receivers

[Tim Shoppa]

John Hafele <jhafele at optonline.net> wrote:
> I am a new member to the group and have had an interest in premium quality
> receivers since the 60s when in the service. I worked on the best of them at
> several major U.S.Army signal depots during that time and have possessed
> countless numbers of prime goodies over the years. I presently own a Mackay
> RF-5050A and a Racal RA-6790/GM, along with, a WJ-9040 Rack Frame unit with
> a WJ-8626A-4 HF Receiver. That is just about enough of an introduction that
> I am sure that you all want to know. Therefore, I will now pose a question
> that I have been unable to answer even though I have researched this subject
> for a while now. I am sure that a large number of members  more
> knowledgeable than me can provide an answer to my inquiry.
> I read or hear that the WJ-8718 receiver is more desirable than the WJ-8716
> because it is newer. I have read where the WJ-8716 was the old workhorse and
> it`s offspring was the WJ-8718. After a lot of research, I came upon a
> Watkins Johnson manual supplement that states the following :
> The WJ-8716 HF receiver is a modified version of the WJ-8718 HF receiver.
> The modifications mainly involve EMI filtering and screening of the front
> panel meter, etc. If this is the case ? then ? which model was the latest
> production version ? the 8716 or the 8718 ? Am I missing something here ? or
> what ?  Maybe it`s old age setting in !

It's a floor wax! No, it's a dessert topping!

Only real difference:
The 8716 has BNC's on the back for everything, RF IF and audio. 
The 8718 has barrier strips for the audio outputs and BNC's for RF and IF.

And non-differences:
Either the 8716 or 8718 may have come with any number of various internal
options. Either may have had the MFP option.

I have seen nothing to indicate that one came beforet the other
chronologically. Some 8716's are earlier than some 8718's, other 8716's are
later than other 8718's. Other than the nameplate and the back panel they are
all built with the same subassemblies. When I've compared date codes on
semiconductors there is differentiation.

Tim.