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[Specification]
[Reviews]
[Firmware]
[Leaflet]
[DRM]
[Cabinet]
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The TEN-TEC
RX-340 is a multi-mode, general coverage synthesized receiver utilizing
extensive Digital Signal Processing. DSP brings the performance and
repeatability of expensive military grade communications receivers into
the price range of top end commercial receivers for short wave listeners.
Tunable from 5 kHz to 30 MHz, it provides tuning steps and display
resolution of 1 Hz. All three displays are blue/green vacuum fluorescent
and provide unparalleled contrast and readability.
Five star awards
in both WRTH 2003 and Passport to World Band Radio 2003.
Professional receiver of the year 2003 in WRTH 2003. |
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The
performance level of receivers in this class is possible only through
extensive use of Digital Signal Processing. These designs utilize fewer analogue
circuits than traditional receivers. Powerful, specialized DSP
microprocessors replace many of the discrete circuits with intensive
software containing over 60,000 lines of code. High dynamic range analogue
stages provide 1st , 2nd and 3rd I.F.s (and 80 dB of AGC) where signals
then pass through analogue to digital converters. Everything else is
accomplished in DSP including all mode detection, I.F. filters, AGC
(remaining 40 dB), adjustable BFO, passband tuning and noise
blanker.
An astounding
57 I.F. bandwidths from 100 Hz to 16 kHz are included. All filters have
shape factor of 1.5:1 or better (6 to 60 dB). USB, LSB, ISB, CW, AM,
Synchronous AM and FM are built-in. Four AGC modes are provided.
Conventional Fast, Medium and Slow modes are familiar but the
"Programmable" mode is groundbreaking. User may build their own
personal AGC characteristic by selecting attack, hang and decay rates.
Manual control from front panel is also adjustable over 120 dB range. A
tunable Notch filter rejects unwanted signals in the passband. Receiver
front end incorporates built-in preselector with eight ½ octave bandpass
filters. Switchable 10 dB preamp and 15 dB attenuator are also provided.
Signal strength meter is calibrated in both s-units and dBm.
Little known
to most short wave listeners, TEN-TEC has been a supplier of
commercial/government grade receivers for some years now. Our RX-331 was
previously available only in a "black box" version for remote
control. That model is used in government/military applications worldwide
where multiple units run 24 hours/7days per week without interruption.
RX-340 uses these field proven circuits (the PC boards are identical)
brought together in a new cabinet with a comprehensive front panel. This
provides conventional operation from the panel while retaining all of the
remote control aspects of its’ predecessor. A built-in multi-drop RS-232
interface permits remote operation at baud rates from 75 to 38,400.
Accessed from rear panel DB-25 connector, the interface can be configured
for single or multiple receiver applications. The complete command
language is published in the manual so enterprising users can write their
own remote control software. RX-340 also includes Built-in Test or
"BITE". This self-test capability will identify virtually all
faults to the board level.
Memory and
Scan features fall into four categories: a scratchpad memory, 100 memory
channels, memory scan and F1 to F2 scan. Each memory channel retains the
frequency along with mode, I.F. bandwidth and BFO setting. Dwell time is
programmable, Channel lockouts are provided and a Pause feature lets you
interrupt scan momentarily. Squelch works in all modes and adjusts over a
150 dB range.
RX-340 has
built-in TCVCXO to provide +/- 1 ppm frequency stability across the entire
operating range of 0 to 50 degrees C. Audio is delivered to built-in
speaker on the top panel, external speaker jack on rear and front panel
headphone jack. Separate volume controls provided for speaker and
headphone. Fixed level 600 ohm audio is also provided on rear panel. Front
panel is a Lexan graphics overlay designed to last a lifetime. Chassis is aluminium
with alodine plating on all parts to protect finish in less than ideal
environments. Measuring 5.25"x19"x12.5"(HWD), RX-340 mounts
in standard 19" (U3) rack and weighs 12.5 lbs.
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DRM
Several receives with
455kHz I.F. outputs have been successfully employed for DRM demodulation
by down-converting the I.F. to 12kHz and Fraunhofer PC software via a
sound card. However, TenTec USA has found that successful results
can be obtained WITHOUT any hardware modification at all... you just
need to set up the RX340 appropriately:
Select
USB mode on the RX-340, and set the bandwidth control to 16 kHz.
Turn the PBT control to +2 kHz. Offset the receiver -12 kHz from
the nominal carrier frequency. Example: there are currently test
broadcasts of DRM on 9660 kHz. After setting the above, tune the
receiver -12 kHz to 9648 kHz.
Load
the DRM software, connect a line level audio output on the RX-340 to the
sound card on your PC, and you're ready to decode the transmissions.
The audio output is
fed into a PC sound card and Fraunhofer software is used to demodulate
the data into audio via the PC sound card and speakers. The
software is available as a download from the DRMRX
web site and costs around £ 40 / EU 60 / US$ 60.
For further
information regarding DRM and obtaining
the Fraunhofer software, take a look to the following page http://www.aoruk.com/drm.htm
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| COMPUTER CONTROL
Computer programming
information is given in the RX340 operating manual, TenTec cannot
supply software packages. However, software is available from
3rd party authors, the following has been lifted from their web sites:
N4PY
Software for your Ten-Tec Pegasus, Jupiter, RX-350, RX-320, RX-331,
or RX-340 http://www.ralabs.com/n4py/
First time Registration $100.00, Annual
renewal registration $35.00 This software marries the RX-331
or RX-340 top of the line receivers with a Pegasus or Jupiter to
allow full transceive operation. The RX-331/RX-340 becomes the main
receiver with the Pegasus/Jupiter receiver following VFO B to allow
full dual receive. This is a dynamite set-up representing the
ultimate transceiver configuration. The software will also allow the
RX-331 or RX-340 to be used standalone without a Pegasus or Jupiter.
There is a small modification required to the Pegasus/Jupiter to
allow the two receivers to share the same antenna. Also, a fairly
simple interface box must be constructed for the software to control
muting between the two radios. There is a review of this software at
www.eham.net under HF Transceivers
"Ten-Tec RX340/Pegasus System". For any questions, send me
an email at n4py@earthlink.net
DXTra's
WorldStation software
supports the RX340
http://www.dxtra.com
Ergo V4 supports
the RX340
http://swldx.com/ergo42.htm |
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RX-340 SPECIFICATIONS
All specifications are typical (taken
from the manufacturers data, subject to change):
| Receive mode |
USB,
LSB, ISB, CW, AM, Synchronous AM, FM - all standard |
| Frequency coverage |
50kHz - 30 MHz at
typical sensitivity. Tuneable down to 0 MHz with degraded
performance (see sensitivity tables) |
| Tuning
resolution |
1Hz steps |
| Frequency stability
& accuracy |
using
built-in TCVCXO, provides +/-1 PPM over entire operating range 0 -
50ºC.
All internal oscillators are locked to either internal or external
frequency standard |
| External
frequency reference |
1,
2, 5, or 10 MHz ( +/- 1 PPM, 200 mv p-p into high impedance load).
Receiver automatically switches to this reference upon application,
at power up or after any serial link activity. |
| Operating
temperature range |
0
- 50ºC @ full specification.
-10 to 60ºC with degraded
performance. |
| Spurious
responses |
all
spurious less than -119 dBm equivalent input - preamp on |
| Image
rejection |
90
dB typical, 80 dB minimum |
| BFO |
tuneable
in CW mode only, +/- 8 kHz. Tuning in 10 Hz steps. Fixed frequency
in SSB/ISB, disabled in AM and FM |
| Synthesizer
lock time |
10 msec
typical |
| Selectivity |
57 IF-DSP bandwidth filters built-in.
Selectable from .1 kHz - 16.0 kHz. Shape factor 1.5:1 or better.
(6 to 60 dB) Bandwidth is fixed at 3.2 kHz in ISB mode, and at 4 kHz
- 16 kHz in SAM mode. Minimum bandwidth is 600 Hz in FM mode |
| Group delay |
no more
than .1 ms variation over passband of 300 Hz to 3050 Hz |
| Ultimate rejection |
70
dB minimum regardless of filter selected. L.O. |
| Phase noise |
-120
dBc/Hz @ 20 kHz offset typical, -110 dBc/Hz maximum |
| I.F. rejection |
90
dB typical, 80 dB minimum |
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| SENSITIVITY |
Preamp off |
Preamp on |
| Mode |
BW |
SINAD |
Typical
dBm/uV |
Min
dBm/uV |
Typical
dBm/uV |
Min
dBm/uV |
| AM (50% mod @ 400Hz) |
6.0kHz |
10dB |
-103/1.6 |
-101/2.0 |
-112/0.56 |
-108/0.9 |
| FM (6kHz dev @ 1kHz
mod) |
16.0kHz |
16dB |
102/1.8 |
-100/2.2 |
-108/0.9 |
-104/1.4 |
| USB/LSB/ISB |
3.2kHz |
10dB |
-112/0.6 |
-107/0.7 |
-119/0.25 |
-115/0.4 |
| CW |
0.3kHz |
16dB |
-116/0.35 |
-114/0.45 |
-124/0.14 |
-120/0.22 |
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|
SENSITIVITY: LOW
FREQUENCY RANGE (PREAMP OFF) |
|
Mode
|
Frequency
|
Typical
dBm/uV
|
CW
@ 300 Hz BW
SINAD - 16 dB |
>500
kHz |
-116 dBm/0.35 |
| 100 kHz |
-115 dBm/0.4 |
| 50 kHz |
-114 dBm/0.45 |
| 20 kHz |
-107 dBm/1.0 |
| 15 kHz |
-104 dBm/1.4 |
| 10 kHz |
-94 dBm/4.5 |
| 5
kHz |
-82 dBm/18 |
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|
DYNAMIC RANGE |
|
Mode
|
Noise Figure (dB)
Typ
Min
|
3rd Order
Intercept (dBm)
Typ Min
|
| 10 dB PREAMP ON |
10 |
14 |
20 |
15 |
| PREAMP
OFF |
17 |
19 |
30 |
25 |
| 15
dB ATTEN |
32 |
34 |
45 |
40 |
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| 2nd order intercept |
75 dBm
typical, 60 minimum |
| I.F. output, post DSP |
455
kHz centre frequency, bandwidth determined by filter selection |
| Signal monitor output,
delayed AGC |
455
kHz, 16 kHz bandwidth, AGC delayed 40 dB |
| Signal monitor output,
2nd mixer, no AGC |
455 kHz,
16 kHz bandwidth |
| AGC |
Fast,
medium, Slow, Programmable. Manual gain setting is provided in all
four modes, adjustable over 120 dB range. DUMP feature provided in
all modes. |
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| MODE |
ATTACK
(dB/ms) |
HANG
(sec) |
DECAY
(dB/sec.) |
| FAST |
0.8 |
0 |
1200 |
| MEDIUM |
0.8 |
0 |
100 |
| SLOW |
0.8 |
0 |
25 |
| PROGRAMMABLE |
0.01-1.0 |
0.01-99.9 |
0.01-99.9 |
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| Aerial |
50
ohm, unbalanced, BNC connector. 2.5:1 VSWR max @ receiver's tuned
frequency |
| Memories |
100
memory store and recall |
| Passband tuning |
+/- 2kHz in USB, LSB
& CW |
| Squelch |
all mode |
| Mute |
for
use in transmit/receive applications, mutes audio and IF outputs.
(revised 3/6/00) |
| PC interface |
Industry standard serial interface
DB25 (RS232)
connector, 3 wire hook-up |
| Audio line output |
0 dBm
(+/- 3 dBm) Two 600 ohm outputs (one for each sideband in ISB mode )
to DB-15 connector, ungrounded center tap. In all other modes,
signal is mono. Terminals may be grounded or shorted together
without damage. Two additional mono outputs are provided, one AC
coupled, one DC coupled |
| Headphone
output |
1/4"
(6.3mm) stereo phone jack. Stereo in ISB mode, switchable to LSB,
USB or both. Mono in all other modes. 10 mw maximum into 600 ohms.
Front panel volume control |
| Digital
data output |
provides
post DSP IF and audio information in both serial and parallel data
streams |
| Power requirements |
a.c.
90V to 264V with frequency range of 48Hz to 440Hz (30 Watts
nominal), IEC power lead supplied |
| Size (HWD) |
133.3mm x 482.6mm x
317.5mm - 5.25"H x 19"W (3U), chassis depth
12.5" (including front panel knobs, handles and rear panel
connectors ) |
| Weight |
5.675kg, 12.5 lbs |
The rear panel AUX connections are listed in a UK
workshop generated WORD format file (24kb) - click
here.
The operating manual for the RX340 is NOT formally
available in electronic format. The manual doubles up as the technical file, it is 149 page in length. As several customers
have requested a copy, all 149 pages have been scanned to TIFF Images and
converted to three ZIP files (to keep download file size reasonable).
The RS232 command list starts at page 53, section two of the zips. A
PDF has been produced by combining all the files:
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Firmware:
The firmware is contained in three
socketed EEPROMs. Revisions may be made to code located in any one of the
EEPROMs without necessitating upgrade of all three.
The firmware is displayed at power up in the two sub displays on the
front panel of the
RX-340, this unit is fitted with the latest version of firmware in all
three locations:
Front panel (FP) : 1.10A
Logic (LB): 1.10A
DSP: 1.10A
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Independent reviews of the
RX-340:
Short Wave Magazine (UK), October
2001 RadCom (UK), March 2002
WRTH 2003
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Desktop cabinet for
RX340
TenTec discontinued a 'purpose built cabinet' some
time ago when their extrusion stock depleted (the company who produced it
went out of business along with the tooling).
Several customers have reported picking up
ex-commercial-use cabinets at radio shows for GBP 10 or so. However, they
are usually rather bulky and do not always have adequate ventilation.
The RX340 is not very deep, so ideally a 2/3 depth
cabinet should be employed. We can supply such a cabinet 'kit' of all
parts for GBP 200.00 inc VAT (carriage extra). It is procured from one of
our UK suppliers but the cabinet is manufactured in Germany.
The specification can be viewed at http://web.schroff.de
look for article number 24572-005 EMC/CE is not an issue as the
RX340 is already adequately cased.
Height = 3U Width = 84 HP Depth = 315mm
The cabinet includes handles, feet etc.
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