[Premium-Rx] Receiver, WJ-8617B(S1)-6, for sale

[Terry O']

I've moved enough books and manuals to get back at a pile of equipment 
and have another WJ receiver I'd like to move along to a good home..  
Here's your chance for a nice holiday present to yourself.


WJ-8617B(S1), serial no.  486  -  This is one of several 8617s I set up 
for myself back when I was seriously into configuring and restoring 
these radios.  Back then, I had enough of them around to pick and choose 
what I wanted for features.  The radio has AM/FM/CW/PLS/SSB and 
bandwidths of 20/50/100/500/8000 kHz (plus 3.2 kHz via SSB).  It covers 
20-1000 MHz and has extended memory and a 488 interface.

The rear panel sticker also shows PKC and LOC as installed.  I 
breadboarded a PKC controller years ago and tested the PKC on this radio 
and it works.  The controller schematic can be found here: 
http://watkins-johnson.terryo.org/documents/manufacturers/WJ/Technical%20info/WJ%20PKC%20option.jpg 
WJ manufactured versions pop up on eBay ever so often.  Direct keypad 
entry is a handy feature on these radios.

This is an S1 receiver which is the last version of the series.  It uses 
the MC6809 processor and was designed so most of the available options 
can be swapped in and out without reprogramming the ROM. For more more 
information on the versions of this radio, you can read here: 
http://watkins-johnson.terryo.org/documents/manufacturers/WJ/Version%20guides/WJ-8617%20versions.pdf

The SSB option has separate LSB and USB detection and converts the 21.4 
MHz IF down to 455 kHz.  It has separate 3.2 kHz filters for LSB and USB.

I fired it up yesterday for the first time in 8+ years (it's been in 
storage since my divorce) and it runs just fine.  The battery was still 
good and it came up on the old analog cell frequency.  I operated it for 
many hours and it works great.  Picks up an NOAA weather station from 75 
miles away with a whip antenna in my basement. Signal monitor display is 
clean and sharp.

The DIP switches are currently set for tuning in any decade, but this 
can be changed back to match the front panel buttons, which list tuning 
by 100 Hz, 10 kHz or 1 MHz steps only.  Details on the DIP switches can 
be seen here: 
http://watkins-johnson.terryo.org/documents/manufacturers/WJ/Technical%20info/WJ%208617(S1)%20or%208618(S1)%20option%20switches.jpg 
<http://watkins-johnson.terryo.org/documents/manufacturers/WJ/Technical%20info/WJ%208617%28S1%29%20or%208618%28S1%29%20option%20switches.jpg>

This is the best looking 8617 I've owned.  The front panel is a 9, 
mainly because of some chips to the gray/beige paint on the edges of the 
rack panel and two minor dings on the edge of one rack handle. The 
carcase is clean and shiny but with enough scuffs to rate it an 8.  The 
back panel is also shiny and sharp looking.

The original battery has been replaced with a cordless phone battery 
pack.  The battery compartment is shiny except for a 1/8" dia spot on 
the foil shield for the wiring harness under the original battery 
holder.  The rest of the inside is clean and shiny, albeit a little dusty.

The radio is sold without warranty.  It's been ten+ years since I was 
fluent in these models and I don't have time to relearn them enough to 
offer a warranty.  Price is $1400 plus shipping.  If you want to come to 
Wisconsin and try it out and/or pick it up, that can be arranged.  
Pictures available on request.  Please note I will not ship out of the 
US.  My last overseas sale ended up with the radio stuck in NYC and US 
Customs wanted me to spend $2200 just to start developing an export 
license.  Therefore, no overseas sales.

If you want to pay the additional shipping charges, I'll throw in a 
shock mount shipping container from WJ, that they used for shipping 
radios like these (I posted it for sale here yesterday).  The case 
measures 14 x 26 x 32 inches.  Shipping the radio in this case will cost 
$170+ via UPS ground, but the radio will be riding cross country in a 
fortress.  If you are not interested in that case, I know how to pack 
and ship these radios properly by other means.

Best,
Terry O'
http://watkins-johnson.terryo.org
http://BlackRadios.terryo.org