[Premium-Rx] R1451A

[Robert Nickels]

On 1/1/2013 12:04 PM, Michael O'Beirne wrote:
> submarine receiver
I have several of these receivers, designated R-1451(V)/ WLR-6(V) made 
by GTE Sylvania Electronic Systems Group of Mt. View, CA. They are very 
well engineered and constructed but complex with many interconnects and 
prone to all the usual symptoms of aging.   I've had few problems with 
the receiver section but the digital frequency display counter has been 
problematic.   Fortunately since they are single conversion below 8 mhz 
and double above, it would be simple (and tempting!) to just replace the 
counter assembly with a modern display that would take up maybe 5% of 
the space.   But I hate to give up the very cool nixies!

According to a Google online book, WLR-6 (Waterboy)  "This Sylvania 
manual ELINT set was originally designed for SSNs; about 40 were made.   
It survives mainly onboard surface ships.  Users:  Brazil (Garcia 
class).  Japan (a ruggedized Watkins Johnson commercial version of 
WLR-6, covering the range from VLF to 40 Ghz, equips four (ultimately 
ten) Japanese submarines of the Yushio class).

I've also got the VLF receiver from this system, the  R-1449/ WLR-6(V), 
a partial clone of the CEI 357, covering 1-600 khz that was designated 
the 350A by CEI.  I've used both extensively and never could tell much 
difference between the two - both are excellent receivers.  More 
information on the R-1449 can be found at:  
http://watkins-johnson.terryo.org/CEI-Receivers/357.htm

They are great time-sinks, as troubleshooting requires ingenuity and 
lots of page-flipping if you don't happen to have a WLR-6 bench test 
setup ;-)   But they are great examples of Cold War era communications 
technology and fun to use.

73, Bob W9RAN