Orion Model 565

High performance HF transceiver, analog + IF-DSP. Dual 32-bit ADI SHARC processors. Optimized amateur bands transceiver plus general coverage sub-receiver.

The Orion began production shipment in March 2003. The very first serial numbers were 09C10XX2, indicating September 2002 manufacture date. The Orion was gradually phased out in late 2005 as the Orion II began to ship.

• eHam
• Comment to RSGB & ARRL Reviews by W4ZV
• A review is available on the ARRL Members Only Web site

• RF / AF Gain Operating Recommendation by KG6TT - a MUST read - (applies to v2 and v3 firmware)
• Hi Cut / Low Cut Explained by W4PA and John Henry
• Questions Answered About the Orion When the Orion II Was Announced by W4PA
• Is the 565 BETTER than the 566?
• UCW and LCW
• Resetting AGC to Default Values
• RAM-CLEAR SEQUENCE: Hold Down VFOB LCK button at power-up. Added in Version 1.363
• MASTER RESET SEQUENCE: Hold Down MAIN RX/TX button in the ANT 1 column at power-up.
• MENUS-RX-PWR to access S-meter calibration menu

• John Henry's comments about the RX366 subreceiver & info on poor performance of 9MHz IF output
• Precisely matching the RX366 and main rx frequencies
• Annotated close-up photo of RX366 cabling
• Signs that the RX-366 is installed:

1. On power up, Orion screen displays "RX-366 Receiver Installed"
2. With SUB RX button enabled, you can turn on PREAMP and ATTN
3. In MENUS-Filtr, the bottom 3 displayed lines are Sub-Rx Slot 1-3

These rigs were manufactured 2002-2005 and the following issues are now often seen:

• LCD screen losing contrast and/or brightness
• Malfunctioning of encoder connectivity: RIT, MULTI, Tuning
• Electrolytic capacitors on A9 power distribution board need replacement
• Battery needs replacement

• Schematic Index & Download
• Internal rx ant cables
• Orion s-meter scale adjustment - only works for firmware versions after 2.064x11 (thanks VE7TK)
• Orion V2 Sweep Mod - only needed if you use the sweep with v2 and v3 firmware
• Orion Battery Replacement
• Fan Cooling
• Torx case screw source
• Front Panel knob removal
• Replace 1000 Hz Filter with Inrad 762 Filter
• Fix for Arc Fault Errors when using Orion with Acom amplifiers
• Orion Synthesizer Alignment Procedure
• Frequency Calibration Procedure by K6SE PDF Version
• TCXO Calibration Procedure by N6IE
• John Henry's comments about buying NOS DragonBall replacement CPUs
• Thermostatically Controlled External Fan
• 28 MHz Noise Fix or Don't Use a "Y" Cable on the Accessory 12 volt Jack.
• Mic Hook-up
• DRM Mod
• Low RF Output when first powered on
• VFO Tuning Encoder - replacement sources
• small encoders - replacement sources and install tips

• (click on above once and then again to see the beautiful panadapter provided by the Clifton Labs/VE7TK mod, LP-PAN and NaP3 software)
• 9 MHz IF Output Mod by VE7TK
• Clifton Labs Z10000B Buffer Amp
• LP-PAN
• NaP3 software
• Configuring MicroHam USB Router to share Orion CAT port with NaP3

Note: The only truly acceptable 9MHz i.f. output is from the Clifton Labs/VE7TK mod. The 9MHz i.f. output from the RX366 subreceiver does NOT work well. Many late Orion II's were supplied by the factory with this output wired to the SPARE connector unfortunately.

Update: The Clifton Labs Z10000 Buffer amp board is now available through DX Engineering.

• Orion 565 LCD saturation fix orion_lcd_current_reduction.pdf by PA1AP - mod at own risk -
• Orion 565 LCD replacement steps orion_lcd_replacement.pdf by PA1AP - use at own risk -
• Orion 565 various replacement displays Various LCD Replacement Displays by PA1AP - use at own risk -
• Orion 565 LCD replacement pinlayout etc. connecting_orion_565_alternative_display.pdf by PA1AP - use at own risk -

• Orion 565 LCD replacement addendum
• LCD Contrast & Power Distribution Board
• Internal Contrast Control
• LCD screen photos - normal and dark
• Possible New Haven Display replacement Dec 2016

* RF Feedback and grounding by PA1AP -

* Using front or rear microphone connector by PA1AP -

• RIT-XIT Intermittent Encoder Fix (you should read this together with the next link)
• rit_cond_grease_fix.doc K4ZNO's Conductive Grease Fix (that actually works)
• Changing Out the RIT Encoder - but it's much more likely that it's not the encoder itself that's the problem - read the previous two links

• Internal Power Adjustment
• Adjusting AM Output Power
• orion565txalcv2.pdf Unofficial IC / ALC / PWR adjustment procedure for Orion 565. July 17 2021: please note that it might be easier to align ALC before adjusting the AM carrier through the potentiometer marked PWR.
• ten_tec_orion_565_pa.pdf Unofficial PA adjustment procedure for Orion 565 / 566
• Power Distribution Board Capacitor Repair - Dark Screen, Panel Lamps Dim, No Receive, Spontaneous Reboots
• Intermittent Power Connector Fix
• Replacing the Memory Backup Battery
• Replace Molex Connector with PowerPoles by N2FQ

Original and Optional 315 Trim Rings - optional rounded trim rings are MUCH more comfortable - purchase directly from Ten-Tec

• Version 1
• Version 2
• Version 3

• Archived Ten-Tec Web Page
• Technical Explanation of the Design of the ORION SYNTHESIZER, by Lee Jones, WB4JTR
• Technical Explanation of the Design of ORION, by Doug Smith, KF6DX
• Programmable Digital AGC System Utilized in ORION, by Doug Smith, KF6DX
• CW Transmit Occupied Bandwidth and ORION, by Doug Smith, KF6DX
• 32-Bit DSP: A Digital Radio Performance Advantage?, by Doug Smith, KF6DX
• Orion Rear Panel Mirror Image
• Orion Yahoo Group
• PowerPoint on Orion by W4PA
• How Did the Orion Get the Name "Orion"?
• N4PY Rig Control Software

• Frequency Range: Sub Receiver- 100 kHz - 30 MHz, Specifications apply > 1.8 MHz; TX & Main RX- 1.8-2.0, 3.5-4.0, 5.25-5.40, 7.0-7.3, 10.1-10.15, 14.0-14.35, 18.068-18.168, 21.0-21.45, 24.89-24.99, 28.0-29.7.
• Tuning Step Size: Selectable 1, 10, 100, 1k, 10k and 100 kHz
• Frequency stability: +/- 3 ppm. TCXO equipped.
• Antenna impedance: 50 ohms nominal.
• Antenna connectors: 2x SO-239; 1xRCA female.
• Modes: USB, LSB, AM, FM, CWUSB, CWLSB, AFSK; advanced Panoramic Stereo™.
• IFs: IF1=9 MHz, IF2=450 kHz, IF3=14.0 kHz main; IF1=45 MHz, IF2=450 kHz, IF3=14.0 kHz sub.
• Display: 320x240 graphic LCD, transflective, white LED backlight, adjustable brightness and contrast. Reversible for black background, white lettering.
• VFOs: Receivers operate on any two bands simultaneously; either VFO may be assigned to transmitter using the A/B system.
• Supply voltage: 13.8 Vdc nominal; reverse-polarity and over-voltage protection standard.
• Operating temperature range: 0-50 deg C
• Dimensions (HxWxD): 5.25" x 17.0" x 18.75" (13.3 x 43.2 x 47.6 cm)
• Weight: approx 20 lbs. (9.2 kg)
• Construction: Al chassis, steel cabinet, glass-epoxy printed-circuit boards.
• PC control port: EIA-232 standard, DE-9F.

• Digital AGC system: Programmable AGC threshold; programmable hold and decay times, fixed attack. Independently selectable on each receiver.
• RX audio equalizer: In addition to passband tuning, bass/treble boost/cut up to 6 dB/octave.
• RX audio output power: 2 W into 4 ohms, < 3% THD.
• Line-level output: 0 dBm into 600 ohms.
• RX notch filter: IF DSP, adjustable width, depth > 50 dB, notch reflected on S-meter; multi-tone auto-notch, adjustable 0-9.
• RX noise reduction: IF DSP, adjustable 0-9.

• SSB sensitivity: <0.18 uV for 10 dB SINAD at 2.4 kHz BW, pre-amp on typical; <0.5 uV for 10 dB SINAD at 2.4 kHz BW, pre-amp off typical.
• AM sensitivity: <1.50 uV for 10 dB SINAD at 6.0 kHz BW, 30% modulation, 1 kHz, pre-amp off.
• FM sensitivity: <2.50 uV for 12 dB SINAD at 15 kHz BW, 3-kHz deviation, 1 kHz, pre-amp off.
• Selectivity: 590 built-in DSP filters from 100-6000 Hz, SSB, CW; 4 & 6 kHz AM, 15 kHz FM (-3 dB points, typical). Four 9-MHz-IF crystal filters standard, 15 kHz, 6 kHz, 2.4 kHz, 1.0 kHz; three others optional, 1.8 kHz, 500 Hz and 250 Hz.
• IP3: +25 dBm typical, 20-kHz spacing at BW=2.4 kHz, pre-amp off; +24 dBm typical, 5-kHz spacing, BW=500 Hz, pre-amp off.
• IMD3 dynamic range: 101 dB typical, pre-amp off, 20-kHz and 5-kHz spacing.
• IP2: +75 dBm typical.
• LO phase noise: -136 dBc/Hz typical from 0.5-20 kHz.
• Image rejection: >70 dB.
• IF rejection: >70 dB.
• Other spurious response rejection: >90 dB, dF>1 MHz.
• Internal birdies: None stronger than specified sensitivity.
• Current drain: 2 A typical, audio reduced.
• RIT range: +/- 10 kHz.
• S-meter: S-9=50 uV.
• Recovery time: < 20 ms
• Noise blankers: Hardware, on/off and software, adjustable 0-9; operate together or separately.

• Sensitivity: 0.35 uV typical for 10 dB SINAD at 2.4 kHz BW, SSB mode.
• Selectivity: 590 filters built in from 100-6000 Hz, SSB, CW; 4&6 kHz AM; 15 kHz FM (-3 dB points, typical).
• IP3: +5 dBm typical, 20-kHz spacing.
• IP2: +71 dBm typical.
• Image rejection: > 70 dB.
• IF rejection: > 70 dB.
• S-meter: S-9=50 uV
• Recovery time: < 20 ms.
• Noise blanker: Software, adjustable 0-9.

• Power output: Adjustable 5-100 W, +/- 1 dB, ALC controlled.
• Duty cycle: 100% intermittent service; continuous with user-supplied cooling fan.
• Microphone input impedance: >10 kohms at 1 kHz.
• Microphone sensitivity: 5 mV for full power output; internal gain adjustment; dc available for electrets.
• Speech processor: RF compression 0-9.
• Line-level input: -6 dBm into 600 ohms for full output.
• TX bandwidth: 100-3900 Hz in 10-Hz steps.
• TX frequency response: 50-3900 Hz max -6 dB points, adjustable.
• TX equalizer: Up to 6 dB/octave bass/treble boost/cut.
• TX speech monitor: Audio taken after filtering, processing.
• SSB carrier suppression: > 50 dB.
• Unwanted sideband suppression: > 60 dB at 1 kHz.
• Harmonic and spurious outputs: > 50 dB below 100 W; > 40 dB below 5 W.
• T/R switching: PTT or VOX on SSB, AM, FM, AFSK; adjustable QSK on CW; adjustable rise and fall times on CW 3-10 ms;
• CW keyer speed range: 5-50 wpm; adjustable weighting.
• CW offset: Programmable 300-1000 Hz in 10 Hz steps. Sidetone pitch automatically matches selected offset.
• XIT range: +/- 10 kHz
• FM deviation: +/- 5 kHz peak nominal.
• Current drain: 25 A max.