[Premium-Rx] WTB: Watkins Johnson 8940 Tempest Rx System

[David Schofield]

http://www.kongsfjord.no/data_sheets/Watkins-Johnson/Watkins-Johnson%208940B%20data%20sheet.pdf


On 25/05/2018 13:29, W2HX wrote:
> Fascinating. I would love to see a picture of this and know its basic details like frequency range.  My other hobby is ruining some PDP--11s so i wonder if this would be a cool system to acquire to combine two interests for me
>
> Eugene
>
> ________________________________________
> From: Watkins-johnson at terryo.org <Watkins-johnson at terryo.org>
> Sent: Friday, May 25, 2018 1:54 AM
> To: W2HX
> Cc: Jeff Kruth; ka2ivy at verizon.net; Premium-Rx at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Premium-Rx] WTB: Watkins Johnson  8940 Tempest Rx System
>
> The 8940 is an interesting part of WJ history.  The first version was
> produced under extreme duress.  Based on interviews I've done it was
> pretty ineffectual, but satisfied the urgent contract under which it was
> developed.
>
> The A version, which was a major redesign, worked better.  It was designed
> to work with a PDP-11 but they weren't a smooth coupling.  A test engineer
> for GTE who used one extensively on crypto machines told me he had to
> reboot the PDP often because they would stop working together.  I had one
> of these with all the manuals and basically gave it away.  A lot of space
> and too much work for too little return.
>
> The B version worked out many of the kinks and expanded the capabilities.
> It worked well and was apparently well liked.  It still leaves a lot to be
> desired as a standalone receiver because it was also designed to be
> computer controlled.
>
> The TSU and some modules of the B version were redeveloped into another
> receiver system as part of a larger contract with Iran but was never
> delivered.  A multipoint monitoring system was also developed for Germany
> that was delivered.
>
> The 8940 was third wide spectrum analysis system that WJ developed.  The
> first two systems were even more cumbersome in size and operation.
>
> I have a lot of information on all of these systems and iterations. My
> websites are way behind my research because the digging is going so well
> that posting is way down the priority list.
>
> Terry O'
> http://Watkins-Johnson.terryo.org
> http://BlackRadios.terryo.org
>
>
>> Sounds fascinating. Where can one findany photos of such a system? Google
>> didn't help.
>>
>> Sent from Nine<http://www.9folders.com/>
>> ________________________________
>> From: Jeff Kruth via Premium-Rx <premium-rx at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 4:35 AM
>> To: ka2ivy at verizon.net; Premium-Rx at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: Re: [Premium-Rx] WTB: Watkins Johnson 8940 Tempest Rx System
>>
>> Hi Bruce!
>>
>>
>> I have two of them and would part with one.  They cost me a bit back in
>> the day. Complete system, desk and all, cables etc.  I may even have some
>> documents for loan to copy. We can discuss the price. Shipping would be by
>> freight or you could pick it up.  These were functional units when I
>> bought them, and have been in storage (in my lab) ever since. Never got
>> around to using them, so they have sat in the corner. Not many were made,
>> and at one point WJ had a sale for one of mine to Denmark, as WJ did not
>> want to build a one-off. It was from this that I learned they were $300K.
>> Did not come through. This was back just at the time the Clinton Admin
>> killed the Tempest requirement.
>> They are really quite the thing!
>>
>> 73
>> Jeff Kruth
>> WA3ZKR
>>
>> In a message dated 5/22/2018 8:29:15 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>> ka2ivy at verizon.net writes:
>>
>>
>> I happened upon a brochure for the Watkins-Johnson WJ-8940 receiver in
>>
>> the desk console. Has anyone seen one of these, and even more important,
>> does anyone have a project one they are willing to part with? It looks
>> like a neat rig, restoring one would be quite a project but that's the
>> kind of puzzle and challenge I would like.
>>
>>   Bruce Gentry, KA2IVY
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Premium-Rx mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/premium-rx
>> Help Page: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Premium-Rx at mailman.qth.net
>> Help Contact eMail: radio at 8zo.com
>> Home Page: http://www.premium-rx.org/
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Premium-Rx mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/premium-rx
>> Help Page: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Premium-Rx at mailman.qth.net
>> Help Contact eMail:  radio at 8zo.com
>> Home Page:  http://www.premium-rx.org/
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Premium-Rx mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/premium-rx
>> Help Page: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Premium-Rx at mailman.qth.net
>> Help Contact eMail:  radio at 8zo.com
>> Home Page:  http://www.premium-rx.org/
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Premium-Rx mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/premium-rx
> Help Page: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Premium-Rx at mailman.qth.net
> Help Contact eMail:  radio at 8zo.com
> Home Page:  http://www.premium-rx.org/
>