Watkins Johnson BAE Unboxing of NIB WJ 8711A

Dan unboxes a Watkins Johnson (BAE) 8711A receiver obtained New in Box from a seller in China.

[@alquaglieri2940]

Always lusted after one of these back in the days there was anything worthwhile left to listen to.

[@vener6]

Nice score Dan ! Nice manual .We don't see those often following the radio. Seeing what seem to be a cat post behind you at 9:00, i am amazed that your cat is not trying to get into this new box yet :) Mine would be participating in the unboxing right away. ;)

[@KennethWheeler-cm5ey]

OUTSTANDING VIDEO DAN. I READ THAT RADIO IS THE BEST OF THEM ALL. AND BRAND NEW CONDITION. THANKS FOR POSTING.

[@knst777]

Wow, really nostalgic. The WJ8711A was first DSP (SDR) receiver manufacturing by WJ (BAE) Gaithersburg plant. Also they releaced commercial model of this receiver called HF-1000. I was worked in a Japanese exclusive distributer of WJ in long time ago.

[@andylinton2798]

Wow! What a great find!

[@jman51]

Good ebay score! I've got to get around to making a front panel for my 8712 and installing the pre-selector

[@steveedwards90]

Wow absolutely beautiful I want one

[@videosuperhighway7655]

I remember using those for work. Now everything has moved to FPGA based SDRs

[@MrVishalarwade]

Wow ! That's ALL INDIA RADIO (AIR) & i stay very close to this radio station 🙂 also your radio is absolutely beautiful 👌🏻 73 !

[@vu3mes]

And that's an AIR broadcast...❤

[@volodyacanuke]

I'd say it's the solid state equivalent of the venerable Collins R390A! Had a few of the former, but missed the WJ line. Before SDR days, there was a well known (and presumably well-off) DXer on the west coast, who used to bring down, perhaps 6 or 8 WJ, all rack mounted, and each fed to a then, very modern, mini disc recorder and each WJ also with an additional Sherwood SE-3. We estimated that he had at least $20k worth of equipment. Rather than the full-size WJ, his were the 1/2 sized units, so 2 would fit in each 19" slot, and were apparently as good as the full-sized versions. I sure lusted over his set-up! He was very private, and did not like/allow anyone taking pictures of his setup! He's no longer active in the SWL hobby, having moved over to the ham radio side, I believe.

[@deanbianco4982]

You have grossly underestimated the value of that man's equipment. If he had a half-dozen wj-8712's--- the half-rack equivalent of the 8711A---each with their own SE-3's, then I estimate it to be close to $55,000!!

[@DCDura]

Does your Wife know?

[@jorgeberrios8797]

Dan Robinson, Thanks for sharing this piece of history 👏, Enjoy your Radio 📻, "73" WA4489SWL from Clermont, Florida, USA 🇺🇸

[@dieselten01]

Awesome!

[@mauriziolored6123]

Dream radio

[@ATOMSHAMRADIO]

Holy sweetness

[@vu3mes]

Any radio man's dream machine. But same package comes in a handy sdrs these days, thanks to the technology.

[@martinryan5069]

You so right you'll get the same porformance out of an 200 dollor radio

[@deanbianco4982]

@@martinryan5069 WRONG. You don't know what you're talking about. If you DID, you wouldn't have said that.

[@alcampbell]

Makes a splendid addition to the living room, I don`t care what the wife says.

[@gw4pjq]

These are / were used by the BBC monitoring service at caversham. They are fabulous receivers. You could "love" a signal out of the air. I suppose it might have had something to do with the rhombic, curtain and beverage antennas at the site lol. RIP shortwave radio 😰

[@chansetwo]

Sounds like a sexy radio.

[@maritzafuentes7834]

Very nice Dan, a jewel. This receiver will keep you busy for a while reading the operating manual and going through the modes. I noticed some zero digits on the frequency and memory scan display blinking often and on, I think it is because it has been so long since the receiver was last turned on and it should go away as the electrolytic capacitors among other things charge completely, I am surprised how well it functions after two decades in the off mode. I have read that a variac could be used to safely power on a receiver that hasn't been in operation for an extended period of time, I not sure if this is the case.

[@dxace1]

That is normal operation for the receiver, selected readout increment has blinking digit

[@maritzafuentes7834]

@@dxace1 You are right!

[@raymondmartin6737]

BAE has offices nearby here in Nashua, NH.

[@martinryan5069]

You have to tell the price please dying to know 🙏

[@arthurpozner7701]

They seem to have more of them ! Some are used. It popped up on e-bay today.

[@dxace1]

No comment on the price😁

[@kevmichael2064]

Is Watkins Johnson made in Germany!!!!...I never had any radios from that maker

[@dxace1]

WJ was a Maryland USA based company