[Premium-Rx] Watkins Johnson 8711A Repairs after 10 Years

[Raymond Boute]

Dear Steve,

I am not the happy (?) owner of a WJ-8711A, but your observations 
raise questions that may be relevant to other receivers as well.

At 00:17 2013-07-30, Steve Pappin wrote:
>It is not the same as a MIL-STD radio manufactured pre 1985. Why so 
>many issues? Compare the 8711A to a fully optioned radio that cost 
>$80,000 to manufacture in 1983.

Would it not rather be the development cost that make/made prices high?

>We are going to run out of sources for viable parts. Many of the NOS 
>parts that come in are compromised.

How is the situation for the "mil-spec" receivers from the 1980's?

>2) One suggestion: If you are a hobbyist buy an organ donor 8711A in 
>good cosmetic shape and use it for parts. That's what many people are doing.

This seems reasonable for the front panel.  However, for the other 
parts, is it not usually the same parts that go first? If so, an 
organ donor may be likely to have those parts defective as well.

>6) What can I do? The best solutions if you don't have an unlimited budget:
>1) Don't use the front panel. Run the radio from the serial 
>interface to reduce wear and tear.

Part of my hobby is making Rx user interfaces, with the special 
feature of having analog dials (an unexpectedly large difference in 
ease of use).  I can help by making SW for those interested (in 
return for feedback only, not money).
    The only problem I have is with IEEE488 (GPIB): since I don't 
have a IEEE488 analyzer, if the connection doesn't work right away, I 
have to proceed by guesswork.  This limitation has to be kept in mind.
    Perhaps an interested WJ-8711A user nearby can contact me to 
start a little project.

One thing is clear: SDR has taken over.  This raises entirely new 
problems: knowlege transfer, software documentation, modification and 
experimenting, programming environment etc., but that is another subject.

73
Raymond ON4DBV