[Premium-Rx] WJ-8615 Tracking Pre-Selector

[Steve Pappin]

re: WJ-8615 Tracking Pre-Selector Installation - General - Not Model 
Specific

This topic comes up every year and it is not the same for each radio. This 
discussion is about 8615 tracking pre-selector basic requirements.

I have 3 radios that I am restoring. 2 have tracking pre-selectors and now 
both are working. Many owners install the tracking pre-selector and expect 
it to work right out of the box. It's not that simple. At the risk of 
repeating myself, these are custom radios. Many were built for customers 
such as the USAF and some of those radios were meant to operate above 1000 
MHz with IF BW's greater than 1 MHz. They were never meant for voice 
reception.

Common questions:
1) I installed it and my signal strength dropped, what's wrong?
a. Have you configured the radio to work with the PRE?

2) How do I get it to work?
a. Did you read Appendix F?

3) Why doesn't it work below 20 MHz?
a. Did you configure the by-pass mode properly?

4) I have a stock 8615, why doesn't it work?
a. Are you sure or just guessing?

First: The radio has to have the minimum prerequisites to take option 
796324. The PRE might fit in slot A1A14 and do nothing. The radio has to 
have the right firmware, 30V DC-DC converter, and switch configuration. WJ 
radios are custom and some are not capable of running the PRE.

Basics:
1) Read Appendix F
2) Install the PRE p/n 796324 in A1A14
3) Install the 30V DC-DC converter in A1A5 position U15
4) Open switch position 8 at S-2 on A1A2
5) Select the PRE mode from the front panel and test each band

The PRE provides four bandwidth selections from 20 to 500 MHz, and a by-pass 
selection from 2 to 500 MHz. Operation below 20 MHz requires by-pass to be 
enabled. If it does not work you may have the wrong combination or a 
failure. As an example some 8615P's do not work with the tracking 
pre-selector because they have custom firmware. There are many variables. 
Before you install an option be sure that the radio is capable of running 
it. Read the manual.

Best Regards,
Steve