Ten-Tec's RX-320 PC Radio - only $295.00 factory direct

The introduction of the Ten-Tec RX-320 HF DSP "PC Radio" in 1998 marked the first time that the power of a personal computer could be harnessed and dedicated to superb quality shortwave listening. Instead of traditional discrete electronic components inside the radio, the RX-320 uses digital signal processors inside the 'black box' and uses your personal computer for the horsepower to run the radio. Replacing components with software code results in less cost to manufacture the radio, and vastly better receiver performance than could be afforded at the same price point with a traditional component-based shortwave radio. Reviews of the radio (some referenced below) have been outstanding on their commentary for value vs. performance for RX-320. If the referenced reviews aren't proof enough, we encourage you to pick an Internet search engine like Google and search under 'Ten-Tec RX-320', 'RX-320 reviews', or similar to see even more feedback.

Shortwave listening is no longer the exclusive domain of dedicated enthusiasts.

A wealth of fascinating and enjoyable worldwide listening is a mouse click away on your PC. Starting with local AM broadcasts (same as the AM dial in your car), this band is more active than it has been in decades offering in-depth news, sports and talk radio. After dark, this same band takes you half way across the country!

This is only the beginning.

Most countries broadcast programs around the globe on nearly a dozen international shortwave broadcast bands. In English, and nearly every other language, you can hear both world and local news from their viewpoint. Programs also include cultural and political topics and even music you may never have heard before. These bands also provide a wealth of information during times of international crisis. Ham radio operators are spread out across nine bands, sometimes talking across town to friends, and often to other hams 1000's of miles away. To round out the listening choices you will hear military operations, commercial airlines and even CB radio.

This product was designed for two types of people: the PC user who has never listened to shortwave and the experienced listener who appreciates the powerful marriage of PC and the shortwave hobby. The manual includes a phenomenal beginner's guide written by respected author and columnist, Joe Carr, K4IPV.

The PC Radio is a standalone, black box that only requires access to a serial port and one megabyte of free hard drive space for the software. It runs on either Windows � 3.1 or Windows ® 95/98. No need to go inside your PC or tie up an accessory slot. PC Radio includes a built-in telescoping whip antenna or listening range can be significantly extended with a simple external wire antenna.

As with most Windows ® programs, you can launch the PC Radio, tune in an interesting station and then put it in the background while you do other PC tasks. In fact, you could surf the Web and listen to shortwave at the same time!

Like conventional shortwave receivers, the PC Radio tunes from 100 kHz to 30 MHz. But the similarity stops there. This is a true Digital Signal Processing or "DSP" based receiver. This cutting edge, software based technology dramatically reduces the number of individual electronic components inside. This makes it possible to provide features only dreamed of in previous receivers in this price class. Even the most experienced shortwave enthusiasts will marvel at the basic performance.

Included with the RX-320 are a detachable, collapsible whip antenna, the RX-320 software on a 3.5 inch floppy disc, serial port cable for connection to your PC, wall transformer for connection to 110 VAC mains, and an operation manual that includes the shortwave guide written by Joe Carr.

MODEL RX-320 SPECIFICATIONS

MODES: AM, LSB, USB, CW

FREQUENCY RANGE: 100 kHz - 30 MHz

FREQUENCY ACCURACY: +/- 100 Hz at 25 degrees C.

MEMORIES: Limited only by available RAM in PC, virtually any PC will store 1000's of stations.

SENSITIVITY:     

MODE	B/W	Sensitivity
AM (80% mod @ 1 kHz)	6 kHz	.64 uV for 12 dB S+N/N
CW/SSB	2.5 kHz	.3 uV for 10 dB S+N/N

SELECTIVITY: 34 IF-DSP bandwidth filters built-in. 300 Hz, 330 Hz, 375-750 Hz in 75 Hz steps, 750-3000 Hz in 150 Hz steps, 3000-6000 Hz in 300 Hz steps, 8 kHz.

THIRD ORDER INTERCEPT: + 10 dBm  

DYNAMIC RANGE: 90 dB @2.4 kHz bandwidth at 50 kHz spacing

I-F FREQUENCIES: 1st I-F 45 MHz, 2nd I-F 455 kHz, 3rd I-F 12 kHz

I-F REJECTION: > 60 dB  

IMAGE REJECTION: > 60 JB  

ANTENNA: 50 ohm unbalanced for external antenna. High impedance at telescoping whip connection, automatically switched out of line when external antenna connected.

PC INTERFACE: Industry standard serial interface on DB9 connector

CONNECTIONS: + DC input, DB9 for serial port, external antenna, line output to sound card, external speaker.

POWER REQUIRED: < 500 mA at 13.5 - 15 VDC, wall transformer supplied

AUDIO: 1 watt at 4 ohms. > 1 v p-p output into 600 ohms (typical to drive a sound card).

CONSTRUCTION: 2 epoxy glass PC boards, aluminum chassis, steel top and bottom

SIZE: HWD 3 "x 6.25 "x 6.5"  

WEIGHT: 2.5 lbs (1.14 kg)

 All specifications are typical, degraded performance below 500 kHz

For independent reviews of the RX-320, click the links below:

December 1998, Journal of the North American Shortwave Association

North American Shortwave Association Review

See the RX-320 review in the February 1999 issue of Popular Communications magazine.

Paper reprints are available from the Ten-Tec sales department courtesy CQ Communications, Inc.

See the RX-320 review in QST magazine, March 1999

Paper reprints are available from the Ten-Tec sales department courtesy of American Radio Relay League, Inc. An Adobe Acrobat (tm) .PDF file of this article is also available via the ARRL web site at www.arrl.org for ARRL members only.

The SWBC DX and Listening web page review

www.r390a.com/html/ten_tec_rx-320.html

Yahoo(tm) Groups located at http://groups.yahoo.com/ has two active email discussion groups regarding the RX-320 receiver, comprised of thousands of email messages dating back to March 1999.