WJ-CET banner

Black Radios - Home Page

Radio Manufacturers Index

Black Radios Document Index

Historical Roots in Brief

Watkins-Johnson - Home Page

Supporting this Research

WJ & CEI Document Index

Sales & Clearance
WJ-CEI Home Page My Publications Research Material Donations Bio and Contact
    Collector Corner
(Articles by collectors on how-to, repairs and projects)

Communication Electronics Technology
division of Watkins-Johnson
WJ-CEI Receivers & Tuners WJ-CEI Signal Monitors WJ-CEI History WJ-CEI Catalogs
WJ-CEI Surveillance Systems WJ-CEI System Accessories WJ-CEI Related History WJ-CEI Resources

Microprocessor Front Panel (MFP)
Option for the WJ-8716 and WJ-8718

Front

Inside

Back

Front left

Front middle

Front right

WJ-8716, WJ-8718 and AN/URR-74(V) comparison

Feature options tag

Spectrum Monitor Output options

WJ-8718A data sheet (includes MFP)

WJ-8716/MFP

The Microprocessor Front Panel (MFP) option radically changes the nature of the WJ-8716 and WJ-8718. The front panel is completely different with numerous features not available on the plain version. The MFP adds keypad entry, 99 memory channels, search and scan functions. The functionality and ergonomics are very well thought out and the radio is a joy to use. The MFP option can be found on both the WJ-8716 and WJ-8718. These are my favorite shortwave radios.

For close-ups of the front panel - left - middle - right

back to top

WJ-8716/MFP inside

The inside of this WJ-8716/MFP is almost identical to the inside of the rest of the radios in the series. The extensive front panel controls of the MFP option require the addition of the two long cards in the microprocessor bay (second from bottom) and a special front panel card in the narrow bay behind the front panel.

There are two very different versions of the MFP option. The difference can only be identified by looking at the the MFP cards in the microprocessor bay. The older MFP has an A3 card # 796032 and an A4 card # 796029. The newer MFP has an A3 card # 796308 and an A4 card # 796275. The cards in the different versions are radically different. For example, the microprocessor in the older version is on the A3 card. The newer version has the microprocessor on the A4 card.

The MFP manual only covers only one version. Check the numbers on your A3 and A4 cards in your MFP radio before you order a manual. The MFP manual also includes manuals for the 232M and 488M options, which are often found in MFP radios. This unit has the 488M option, which is the third card in the processor bay (shorter, in between MFP cards, with cable running to rear panel).

A closer look at the top bay reveals a bulge on the input converter. This is the special 100 kHz wideband input filter for the special WB SMO option.

back to top

WJ-8716/MFP rear panel

The rear panel reveals absolutely nothing to identify this radio as an MFP option. The radios sometimes came with an option tag (under handle on right edge). The options on this radio are given away by the connectors for the 488M and the WB SMO option. These options are not exclusive to the MFP and can be found in any version of the series.

back to top

WJ-8716/MFP front panel left

 

The left side of the front panel contains the scanning functions. ISB is listed as an option, but I have never seen an MFP version without it. The headphone jack is stereo, with USB on one ear and LSB on the other in ISB mode.

 

 

back to top



WJ-8716/MFP front panel center

 

Modes, bandwidths and memory entry are handled in the middle buttons. The stock BFO is controlled to 100 Hz. 10 Hz BFO control is an option (B10).

 

 

back to top

WJ-8716/MFP front panel right

The keypad is for direct frequency or memory channel entry. The tuning speeds are fast - 1 kHz, med - 100 Hz, slow - 10 Hz. The 1HZ option added high resolution 1 Hz tuning. The fault LEDs are a simple form of Built-In Test Equipment (BITE). For example, if the RCVR LED flickers when you are not tuning, your phase-lock loop circuits are probably out of alignment - often a relatively simple thing to correct.

 

back to top

WJ-8716/MFP receiver option tag

These radios sometimes came with an option tag on the rear panel. Do not trust this tag. It only lists what was installed in the radio when it left the factory. These radios are often cannibalized for options or reconfigured in the field. Always check to make sure the proper cards and modules are present for the options when purchasing one of these radios.

 

 

back to top