Watkins-Johnson
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OT here, but I recently got a Watkins-Johnson 8709 and wow do I ever
love it! OK so the bottom case sheet metal is missing, gonna have to replace that with something, and one of the pushbuttons came off and fell on the floor this morning (I pushed it back onto its post) and it's idea of a narrow filter is 2.5kHz, this thing can really dig 'em out. Two questions - #1 do you think this is about as good as a K2 as a reciever, better, or worse, or what? Just curious. And #2, how well do audio filters, or even audio DSP like SGC sells, for narrowing things down for listening to CW? Man this thing is the bees knees. 73 Alex NS6Y _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Alex,
The 8709 was probably another in their line of surveillance receivers. It has Wide IF filter, so is not as selective and good in crowded bands as a K2. There are few receivers in the world that beat the K2 specs, if any. The WJ is a fine commercial EMC or military type receiver for its monitoring purposes. It however, was never intended to be competitive in a ham contest operation on phone, and of course does not have the filters to acquit itself on CW or narrow modes. But, they surely look great, like a radio should look. I am sure it is sensitive, and is more compact than its brother full rack model. I bet you did not pay full price for it, either? ;-) (It cost uncle more than most ham stations combined). 73, Stuart K5KVH old EMC/RFI user of WJ products _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Alexandra Carter
Alex,
Have you read the reviews of it on eham and the companion full rack width radio? There is a chance of blowing the front end, as these were used in listening posts, not near transmitters. Another reviewer mentioned the back up battery being prone to leaking and has posted the substitution of a back panel battery on pigtails to circumvent this problem. He used a RS battery of 2.4 volts as a replacement. I think that was on the 8718A full rack model, but likely yours will also have a battery back up. Good luck with the radio, Stuart K5KVH _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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I do not intend to use this near transmitters, so that should solve
that, I hope! As for that batt, you have a point and thanks for the reminder. I need to get in there and see where that batt is, and see if it's ok. I need to make a replacement bottom panel for it too! 73 de Alex NS6Y. On Jun 21, 2006, at 10:05 PM, Stuart Rohre wrote: > Alex, > Have you read the reviews of it on eham and the companion full rack > width > radio? There is a chance of blowing the front end, as these were > used in > listening posts, not near transmitters. > > Another reviewer mentioned the back up battery being prone to > leaking and > has posted the substitution of a back panel battery on pigtails to > circumvent this problem. He used a RS battery of 2.4 volts as a > replacement. I think that was on the 8718A full rack model, but > likely > yours will also have a battery back up. > > Good luck with the radio, > Stuart > K5KVH > > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: Watkins-Johnson
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In reply to this post by Alexandra Carter
Alex NS6Y wrote: And #2, how well do audio filters, or even audio DSP like SGC sells, for narrowing things down for listening to CW? ------------------------------------------------------------------ IF, and that can be a big IF sometimes, all the signals getting through the 2.5kHz IF filter do not overload anything between the IF filter and an added audio filter, and the circuits between the two do not generate detectable intermodulation products i.e.crud, the audio filter will help in two ways. (1) Prevent you hearing the signals blocked by the filter. (2) Improve the 'sensitivity' of the receiver because its noise floor is reduced. How much the noise floor is reduced depends in this case on the ratio IF Bandwidth / Audio Filter bandwidth, so a 250Hz Audio filter should reduce the noise floor by a factor of 10, or by 10dbm. This is an approximate but very close figure, the actual amount depends on the 'shape' of the response of both filters. 73, Geoff GM4ESD _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Alexandra Carter
Idiom Press sells a filter called the SCAF-1 which acts as a bandpass
filter with a variable high end. With one you could narrow things down for a CW signal quite well. More information and demo .wav files are available at: http://www.idiompress.com/scaf-1.html The standard disclaimer does NOT apply... 73, - Rob W7GH On Wed, 21 Jun 2006 20:56:50 -0700, Alexandra Carter <[hidden email]> wrote: > And #2, how well do audio filters, or even audio DSP like SGC sells, for > narrowing things down for listening to CW? _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Alexandra Carter
Alex,
I recently built an Idiom Press SCAF-1 audio filter and it was a vast improvement for my Icom-706IIG (it doesn't do much if anything for the K2). The kit runs about $100. Remember that being at audio it doesn't make up for a lot of that receiver's deficiencies. I've used several versions of that WJ receiver and similar Racal products and though they are very good for what they were designed for, IMHO they leave a lot to be desired as a communications receiver. 73, Doug W6JD -------------- Original message -------------- From: Alexandra Carter <[hidden email]> > OT here, but I recently got a Watkins-Johnson 8709 and wow do I ever > love it! OK so the bottom case sheet metal is missing, gonna have to > replace that with something, and one of the pushbuttons came off and > fell on the floor this morning (I pushed it back onto its post) and > it's idea of a narrow filter is 2.5kHz, this thing can really dig 'em > out. > > Two questions - #1 do you think this is about as good as a K2 as a > reciever, better, or worse, or what? Just curious. > > And #2, how well do audio filters, or even audio DSP like SGC sells, > for narrowing things down for listening to CW? > > Man this thing is the bees knees. 73 Alex NS6Y > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: Watkins-Johnson (now audio filters)
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> Alex, > > I recently built an Idiom Press SCAF-1 audio filter and it was a vast improvement for my Icom-706IIG (it doesn't do much if anything for the K2). > > 73, > Doug > W6JD > ====================================== I built the SCAF 1 and agree with one exception: I don't have good communication headphones and use Sony stereo 'phones. These are hifi and I get serious thumps from the K2, even with the AF 1 turned on. This is true with other rigs as well. The SCAF 1 removes this noise. I just need to make sure I don't overdrive the SCAF 1 as it is very sensitive to this. The filter really cleans up less than pure sidetone audio, too. I would like to get some good communication 'phones, without the microphone thingee. Any recommendations. I like the kind that seal out external noise. I like to use a bug but the damper clacking is distracting to me. 73 Rick Dettinger K7MW _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
Re: Watkins-Johnson (now audio filters)
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That SCAF sounds fine business. I might well go with one of those
when I can. My radio earphones are old WWII "can" jobs, they work great, they do take some of the noise out. 73 de Alex NS6Y. On Jun 22, 2006, at 1:46 PM, Rick Dettinger wrote: > >> Alex, >> >> I recently built an Idiom Press SCAF-1 audio filter and it was a vast > improvement for my Icom-706IIG (it doesn't do much if anything for > the K2). >> >> 73, >> Doug >> W6JD >> > ====================================== > I built the SCAF 1 and agree with one exception: I don't have good > communication headphones and use Sony stereo 'phones. These are > hifi and I > get serious thumps from the K2, even with the AF 1 turned on. This > is true > with other rigs as well. The SCAF 1 removes this noise. I just > need to > make sure I don't overdrive the SCAF 1 as it is very sensitive to > this. The > filter really cleans up less than pure sidetone audio, too. I > would like to > get some good communication 'phones, without the microphone > thingee. Any > recommendations. I like the kind that seal out external noise. I > like to > use a bug but the damper clacking is distracting to me. > 73 > Rick Dettinger > K7MW > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
K2 for sale in Italy-Europe
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In reply to this post by Alexandra Carter
Hi guys,
this is just to inform you that I've an Elecraft K2 for sale: it's complete with SSB module, 160 m module and internal ATU included. The rig is in great condx, functioning and well tuned. I'll ship worldwide, but Europe could be better.... :-) Please direct contact for negotiating. 73 to all Alessandro Santucci I0SKK I QRP C #305 INORC # 536 ARI Telegraphy Club Honorary Member #62 email: [hidden email] Web: www.eco-lavoro.com/i0skk -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.9/382 - Release Date: 04/07/2006 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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