Tentec/Globe Wireless RX-321/RX321

SW radio DSP Tentec rx321 rx-321 ten-tec shortwave

This is a work in progress. Corrections/additions are welcome!

The RX-321 SW radio

Frank "K0BRA" Gentges has put together
" The RX321 User Guide, The Manual That Never Was.pdf" (3.8MB PDF link)

In his words:

After looking over all the materials that everyone provided for this web page I realized a lot of information was there that would make up a nice little instruction manual.

The manual would not meet mil specs but would be very useful. I spent several evenings putting together all the information. A little rearrangement here, some image tweaking there and presto, a user's guide that TenTec or Global Wireless never wrote and never was.

I have uploaded it to the RX320 group files so everyone with an RX321 can download it, print it out and have a manual to go with their receiver. Take the printed out sheets down to Kinko's and have them put it in a GBC binding if you like. Your RX321 deserves a nicely bound manual.

This is the first round on the manual and do point out any errors etc. and I can make changes. The mechanics were that I prepared the text with OpenOffice and finally generated an Acrobat file. OpenOffice was a real help and trooper throughout the effort. If you have not used it go to www.openoffice.org and download it.

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Here is TenTec's Technical Manual for the RX321, thanks to G. L. Duff.

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Background on the RX-321:

Correspondence between GW & Ten-Tec shows that development of the RX-321 started in 1999. This seems to coincide with the beginning of GMDSS useage:

"The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) is an international system which uses improved terrestrial and satellite technology and ship-board radio systems. It ensures rapid alerting of shore-based rescue and communications authorities in the event of an emergency. In addition, the system alerts vessels in the immediate vicinity and provides improved means of locating survivors."

"GMDSS was developed through the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and represents a significant change in the way maritime safety communications are conducted. While it is mandatory for all ships subject to the International Convention for the Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) (cargo ships 300 gross tons or greater and all passenger vessels, on international voyages), GMDSS will impact on all radio-equipped vessels, regardless of size. The global implementation of GMDSS services became effective on February 1, 1999."

"Ships fitted with GMDSS equipment are safer at sea - and more likely to receive assistance in the event of a distress - because the GMDSS provides for automatic distress alerting and locating when ship's staff do not have time to send out a full distress call. The GMDSS also requires ships to receive broadcasts of maritime safety information which could prevent a distress from happening, and requires ships to carry satellite Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs), which float free from a sinking ship and alert rescue authorities with the ship's identity and location."

GW put these up for auction as surplus equipment on Septemtber 17, 2002. A scan of this original offering is on the photo page.

The first public notice of the RX-321 I could find was from September 2003:

RX-320 users:

If you were wondering if Ten Tec was ever going to issue a model RX-321, be curious no longer. Globe Wireless contracted with TT a couple of years ago to produce a modified version of the RX-320 for shipboard use as a secondary receiver in our shipboard communications system, and Ten-Tec designated it the RX-321. GW was able to do this as GW is one of Ten-Tec's single largest customers. GW uses the RX-330(A&B) and the RX-331 receivers at their shore side stations of their global HF digital maritime communications network. They have well over 300 of them in use worldwide with great success.

TT will not be releasing the model RX-321 for sale to the general public.

Essentially, it's a repackaged RX-320 in a slightly larger, better ventilated cabinet, using a barrier strip for speaker audio output and DC power input (12-28VDC), a DB9-M for low-level audio and "remote" features, and an SO-239 for RF input. Internal modifications include slightly different firmware and a higher-stability reference oscillator.

Internally, the RF/audio PCB is different, larger than the RX-320, hence the need for a larger case. There is also an added voltage regulator subassembly affixed to the top of the cabinet to deal with the higher allowed power supply voltage.

The RX-321 utilizes the same serial control interface as the '320. TT control software (and others, including the Palm OS version) works exactly the same. Receiver parameters available (as observed) are the same.

There is a difference in receiver performance that is immediately obvious when compared to the 320.

When changing synthesizer frequency, there is significant "chuffing" (short noise bursts as the synthesizer steps in frequency) at times, enough to make VFO type operation (many steps over a short time interval) somewhat annoying to the listener.

The RX-321 is intended for use in a channelized system without the need for frequent retuning. The "chuffing" is probably a result of lengthened PLL loop filter time constants to improve the phase noise characteristics of the synthesizer, and the chuffing noise is generated as the PLL unlocks temporarly upon a frequency change.

There is a compromise in PLL design between lock time and VCO phase noise, and apparently TT chose to favor decreased phase noise over lock time in their design, which is acceptable in this application. This keep costs down by eliminating the need for a higher-performance, i.e. more complex and expensive synthesizer.

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Details:

The RX-321 was based on the RX320 and was built to their specifications for Globe Wireless for a shipboard GMDSS project.. Globe Wireless abandoned the project and sold off the unused units - best guess as to quantity is around 100 units.

The RX-321 is slightly larger and more robust than the RX320 to accommodate a larger RF front end board that is different than the RX320 RF front end. It includes a removable mounting bracket to facilitate mounting on a bulkhead or table.

The intermod specs are improved. The RX320 is spec'd at 3rd order at +10 dBm while the RX-321 is spec'd at +15 dBm. The second order intercept of the RX-321 is spec'd at +60 dBM while the RX320 is not specified.

The two oscillator cans on the RF board are not "ovenized" but are TCXOs (Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillators) built most likely by Fordahl and are spec'd at +/- 10 Hz over 0 to 40 degrees C. These TCXOs bear the part number of "DFA 14 KHV".
From Fordahl's "Generic Ordering Codes" sheet this part number translates as:

DFA = TCXO
14= DIL 14 (dual in-line 14 pin)
K= -30 to +60 degrees C
H= HCMOS logic level output
V=external control voltage.
That final V suggests the little pots (R104 and R106) next to the oscillators create a trimming voltage to put each on its frequency.

RF board: 7 front end filters added. switched by pin diodes. Doubly balanced (4 JFETS) first mixer

Extra serial data chip to provide filter choice voltages. Different 1st mixer, looks like double-balanced quad fet mixer for higher IP values. AGC injection on 3 points, extra gain controlled dualgate fet right after 45 MHz IF filter. Pindiode AGC after preselection/after 45Mhz filter. Firmware diff: don't know but extra serial data for frontend filtering.

The active antenna circuitry inside the RX320 is gone with the RX-321. That circuit could have been a source of intermods.

The antenna connector is an SO-239 on the RX-321 instead of the RCA plug on the RX320.

The DC power is shown as 12-28VDC on the RX-321 instead of the unspecified power on the RX320. Power supply: seperate board for voltages. Also a step-up voltage regulator for higher voltages for frontend ? I measured 18V to front end. Low ripple and noise.

DC power and the speaker connect via a terminal strip on the RX-321 while the RX320 uses phone plugs and DC coaxial connectors. TCXO's for 2nd and 3rd LO oscillators.The RX-321 is dead on within 10Hz cold or warm.

RS232 device is a ADM232AARN instead of max232 type.

Remote audio line out on the RX-321 is a balanced, center tapped transformer. Linelevel audio output through seperation transformer, balanced audio out.

The RX-321 has a mute connection.

The RX-321 comes with a nice little 120 VAC to 12 VDC switching power supply.

The RX-321 has a power LED and a more rugged power switch.

The RX-321 runs on RX320 software and it seems to work just fine with all functions doing what they should. The DSP board is slightly different with a different part number and different EPROM identifier.

The IF is not brought out like on the RX320D for digital radio. The cable can be spliced and an IF output added.

It works down to 100 kHz. Apparently it does not require a mod like the RX320 does to perform well at lower frequencies.

Temperature: with an ambient temp of 65F, the case interior runs at 80F whether on a fixed frequency or scanning.

Case dimensions: 7-9/16"D x 7-13/16"W x 2-15/16"D. PSU: 4-5/8" x 3-7/8" x 1-1/4".

Reported specs on the original RX-320 are:

The receiver’s IF bandwidths are 8, 5, 2.5, 1.8 and 0.5 kHz (shape factor 1.5:1 or better)

AM sensitivity is rated as 0.64 uV with the wide filter (80% modulation, one kHz tone, 12 dB S+N/N).
SSB sensitivity is 0.3 uV with the 2.5 kHz filter.
Third order intercept is specified as +10 dBm with a 90 dB dynamic range with the 2.5 kHz filter with 50 kHz signal spacing.
The radio is a triple conversion design with intermediate frequencies of 45 MHz, 455 kHz and 12 kHz-the final conversion being for the DSP circuitry.

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RX-320 vs. RX-321:

The RX-321 has the following physical differences from the RX320:

1. There is NO Line Out.
2. There is NO whip antenna.
3. An external antenna is required, via the UHF connector.

The RX-321 has the following Performance Improvements:

1. TXCO oscillators w/ +-10 Hz frequency stability. (0 to 40 C) versus +/- 100 Hz at 25° C on the RX320.
2. 2nd order intercept +60 dBm.
3. 3rd order intercept +15 dBm, versus +10dbm on the RX320
4. Seven front end filters.

RX-321 REMOTE (Db9-M) connector pinouts (as reverse engineered from pcb...)

Pin 1 Line audio (balanced)
Pin 6 Line audio (center tap)
Pin 2 Line audio (balanced)
Pin 5 Mute (?) (ground to mute?)
Pin 9 Ground

The line transformer is a standard feature of remote site receivers for 600R balanced lines.

As delivered to the customer there's a hardware remote control, with volume and on/off controls, two GMDSS modules, as well as a speaker and LED indicators all in a machined box. Also included is a spool of coax cable, and a huge weatherized metal enclosure.

As far as I can find out, no 12KHZ outputs were originally installed but were added by various owners, either wired to a separate jack or to an unused pin (pin 3 or pin 4) on the remote connector.

If you would like to compare these specs to some other Ten-Tec radios, here are reviews of the RX331, RX340 & RX320D

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RX-321 Serial Numbers: Links go to submitter's Yahoo profile or email. Reformatted at the suggestion of Jason Garcia!

					removed
			03C1014O	01C1015O	01C1016O
		01C1023O			01C1026O	01C1027O	03C1028O
03C1019O								03C1039O
		03C1043O				01C1035O
			03C1054O	03C1055O			03C1019O	03C10590
01C1061O
		03C1073O	03C10740			03C1077O

	01C10920	01C1093O		01C1095O		03C1097O	01C1097O		01C1100O

TEN TEC SERIAL NUMBER DECODING - from the archives at lists.contesting.com. Also found on the Ten-Tec Wiki.

Example: Serial Number 06A10108
06 at the front is month of manufacture, or scheduled production run month. If we were scheduled to build a run of a particular model in June, and for some reason we were delayed to July or August for that particular run, we'd still put "06" at the front of the serial number. "A" is a separator between the groups of digits. "1" is the production run # for that particular month. "010" is the unit number. "8" is the year of manufacture.

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N1LF

Rating: 5/5

Apr 22, 2006 10:57

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Great value!

Time owned: more than 12 months

I use this receiver primarily for MW DXing, and find that the RX-321 compares very favorably to my Drake R8B, and my Icom 746Pro for this purpose.

Connections are simple. 50 Ohm Antenna, Ground, 12 Volt DC, serial cable for the PC, and a shielded audio cable that runs to your soundcard.

Lots of software, (freeware and otherwise) available...virtually anything that works with the RX-320 works fine with the RX-321.

Best features? Lots of bandwidth options, Passband tuning...etc. I also often feed the 8khz wide audio signal to the DReaM software, which requires a 14khz IF signal, but works fine using the 8khz wide audio signal as an IF...this then allows you to customize any filter shape and see the spectrum. Amazing combination for MW DXing, at a very affordable price.

If you're serious about MW DXing and on a budget, you'll find it hard to beat the RX-321. Also use it to monitor secondary frequencies during Hurricane Season, and it works great as a SW-HF receiver too.

SWL377

Rating: 5/5

Aug 2, 2005 10:32

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Great rcvr but a Ten Tec orphan

Time owned: 0 to 3 months

I own both a Ten Tec 320 and, finally succumbing to the chat group pressure, a 321. The 321 has considerably better front end and freq stability specs than the 320, but I have yet to see any real world difference in performance. Maybe in a strong signal environment the 321 would outshine the 320, but at my location they seem to be about the same performance wise. Remember if you buy a 321 you are on your own, Ten Tec will NOT service them or even answer any questions about them. The otherwise nice folks at Ten Tec snarl and snap if you even ask about support for non standard radios like the SP 325 they made for the US Navy (yes, I have one of these too).

Globe Wireless apparently had the 321 custom engineered by Ten Tec as the heart of a GMDSS rcvr system that as far as I can tell never made it to market. My guess is that there were less than 100 of these made.

Do I enjoy using my 321? Well, actually not so much. I just don't like the computer user interface. I like knobs and switches. There are some aftermkt knob and switch kits for these rcvrs, but they still don't give you the feel of a full panel of knobs like you'd find on an old Hammarlund or Hallicrafters.

Should you buy a 320 or a 321? If you are worried about service, get a 320 definitely. If you must have the better specs in a 320-like radio and are willing to risk breakdowns without any service availability, then get a 321. Both are fine rcvrs and truly AMAZING values when you examine price vs performance. Nothing else comes close, not even the Sony 2010 which for years was the value leader.

Either the 320 or 321 will outperform non DSP rcvrs costing perhaps ten times their price. Would a 321 stand up against the holy Collins R 390 A? Don't know. Synthesizer noise in the 321 could be an issue, but the DSP magic might gain back the advantage lost by the synth. Would be an interesting SW rcvr shootout indeed.

VA3TY

Rating: 5/5

Jul 16, 2005 06:16

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Excellent commercial upgrade to the Ten-Tec RX-320

Time owned: 6 to 12 months

Globe Wireless had the specifications of the RX-320, with which I already owned and am quite pleased, upgraded for maritime use.

-Frequency stability is rock steady. Accuracy is ALWAYS within a hertz or two of WWV/CHU Standards. This is due to the temperature compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO). (Hint, you can use this receiver to align your other equipment in the shack)

-Sensitivity has been improved from the already great RX-320 model from which it was modified. Actually the sensitivity is most likely the same as the RX-320, but because of better front end design, the receiver doesn't suffer from desensing due to nearby strong signals.

-Automatic Pre-Selectors prevent out of band blow-through of very strong locals.

If you see this radio come up on eBay for the same of less price of a new RX-320, buy it!

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KC0PPA

Rating: 5/5

May 1, 2005 23:18

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The software makes it.

Time owned: 0 to 3 months

I found out that the RX-321 is as good or better than my Drake R-8.
What makes the computer controled RX-321 great is the control software. I have been trying many of the programs out there. I have not decided on the best one yet. Each has it pluses ond minues.
I like the ability to download the station lists from the internet. From this you can quite easily id or find a station. The way you can run down the list one by one is a nice way to see whats on. The band scan function lets you see at a glance what is on that band. It is also easy to make your own list. With the ability to make more than one list it is like having unlimited memories. Just a click of a button and it is added. Many regular radios have this function. But with the list on on the software it is much easier to pull up.
Like I told a fellow radio friend, "It is better then sliced bread"
It got my interest back into the shortwave hobby.

TUBESAREKING

Rating: 5/5

Apr 21, 2005 07:14

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Superb

Time owned: 0 to 3 months

Just bought this for $220 US on eBay. The seller was 1st class all the way. The product is spectacular.

I'm using it with a 1996 era Toshiba laptop [Pentium 1]running Windows 98 and that ancient combo works just fine with this hi-tech black box receiver.

Sensitivity is the equal or better to my Drake R8. Selectivity is much better on the Ten-Tec than the Drake. The RX-321 can handle my two local MW 10KWers even with my 70 foot V antenna, 6 foot ground rod, and SWL1G balun. The poor Drake gets images of these stations everywhere unless I really pad the antenna down.

Audio quality is very good at 8 KHz BW. For DX, there is a wide choice of narrower BWs to choose from.

I am primarily a MW DXer, and was pleased to see that it pulled in 530 KHz from the Turks and Caicos solidly and free of noise. The Drake pulled in the same station but with moderate background noise.

A local beacon prevents reception of Ireland on 252 KHz on the Drake, no matter how much you use BW options, USB/LSB, PBT etc. Simply impossible. With the Ten-Tec RX-321, all you do is choose the 3.1 KHz BW and presto, Ireland 252 coming in clear as a bell.

France 1377 - audible but noisy on the Drake. Noise free on the Ten-Tec. the Ten-Tec is great for TA MW DX.

The Ten-Tec RX-321 is simply the best LW, MW, SW receiver I have ever experienced. Period.

It looks like the last of these may be gone. Perhaps Ten-Tec will introduce this for regular sale. It is a winner. Since it was a custom project, they may have to revise it somewhat for regular sale, but it is a winner. Just add the Ten-Tec logo to the front, and a 12 KHz IF output jack to the back, call it the RX-321D and watch the orders roll in.

Clearly superior to the Drake R8. That is not to knock the Drake, which in my opinion is a very good receiver. It is just that Ten-Tec has made a PC based black box which runs circles around virtually anything else. The Drake R8 family is very high end consumer grade. The Ten-Tec RX-321 is commercial/military grade.

The Ten-Tec has a real case, unlike the thin material on the Drake.

The only thing it lacks is the "feel" of a conventional receiver.

Kudos Ten-Tec!

Prince Edward Island Canada

K8SWL

Rating: 5/5

Mar 20, 2005 16:04

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Great Receiver

Time owned: months

Having had an RX-320 for about 6 years, I didn't hesitate to buy an RX-321 for $200. I wasn't worried about factory service as the RX-321 has been running without shutting sdown since new without a failure. The RX-321 has more stability and a much stronger front end compared to the RX-320. An outstanding receiver.

K6YC

Rating: 5/5

Mar 12, 2005 21:39

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Excellent Receiver

Time owned: 0 to 3 months

This is a custom version of the Ten-Tec RX-320 made for Global Wireless. It is functionally very similar to the RX-320 and uses the same control interface software. The receiver is very sensitive and very good in a high RF level environment. I modified mine to bring the 12 Khz IF out for my DRM demodulator. The DSP works great and the frequency is dead on. I picked this receiver up on e-Bay for $200 and it is a great buy. There is no tech support for these from either Ten-Tec or Globe Wireless but it is well made and should last for a long time.

Check the links/controllers section of the Yahoo RX320 group for these and more. See the Monitoring Times article on the RX320 for more information.

For much Ten-Tec information, check out their Wiki.

Shortwave Log Natively supports the RX-321 & allows remote control via web page.

SCAN320 Designed for scanning Utes, modified for general purpose

RxPlus Swiss Army Knife. it does it all with DSP.

Michael A. Newell's software for the Palm OS

George Privalov's Synchronous AM Controller

Ten-Tec OEM software

TRX Manager

Clifton Turner's RX320 & DB320 The first and still among the best.

Gerd Niephaus' GNRX320 Can use the Klingenfuss database.

N4PY

Radio320 Designed for function.

RXWings

Dos programs by Tom Cooper and David Wilson

Ham Radio Software Links (Also here) (And more here)

DXTRA

ERGO

RXtra320

SCANCAT

Scopestation The Ham controller.

RX320 software for Linux

Click here to install xclass for above Linux program

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RxPlus, for utility listening/decoding & tough conditions:

RxPlus is much more than a simple receiver controller

- A full featured Receiver Controller.
- An Audio Processor.
- A Digital mode Decoder
- A Shortwave and User's Data Base Manager.

It's main features are:
- An Exclusive Chat System for exchanging in real time with other RxPlus users.
- A Unique Visual Band Explorer for easy band selection and scanning.
- A powerful Scanning Engine with distinctive features like Strong Signal Highlighting and Automatic Squelch
- An exclusive DSP Audio Processing module with:

Audio Wave form Display
Spectrum Display
Waterfall Display
Audio Filters (VERY effective Noise Reduction filters, BandPass, Notch, Compressor / Expander)
No less than 12 ways to Tune your receiver !
- Tuning Knob, KeyBoard, KeyPad (NUM+/-), Mouse, Mouse Wheel, Visual Band Explorer
- Memories, Quad VFOs, BookMarks, ClipBoard, "Fast Tuning" Slider and Data Base Lookup !
Digital Mode Decoding with currently RTTY, PSK31, HF FAX, SSTV !
Exclusive 12 KHz IF Software Decoder for AM / LSB / USB with 10 new Software FIR Filters.

Extended ILGRadio and HFCC Shortwave Database support with:

- Sort Entries By Frequency, Country, Language, Target, Power etc.
- Data Base Filters for Language, On Air (Currently Broadcasting)and Hi-Power Only
- Automatic DataBase Lookup when tuning the Short-wave Broadcast Band.
- Direct Frequency selection by clicking an entry in the data base display.
- Data Base Scan with popular .320 DataBase format support.

Exclusive Automatic ECSS / AM Tuning !
Calibration Wizard / Full Coverage Frequency Error Correction/strongstrong uses FFT analysis to provide very precise calibration with ONE mouse click.
strong /strongstrong- IF PassBand Tuning/strong
12 Khz IF AM/LSB/USB Decoder
ECSS Support
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Shortwave Log, for BCB & general listening:

SWLog is a comprehensive logging and radio control program. While designed for shortwave and medium- wave listening, the program is quite adept when listening to longwave, utility, or amateur radio. The logging features of the program are quite extensive. When adding a log to the logbook, Shortwave Log will search eleven databases to find matches. When a match is found, the station name, location, country, power, and language are automatically entered into your log. No other program makes it so easy to identify stations.
(If the site is having problems, you can download a recent build here.)

Eleven Databases

* ADDX (Association of German DXers)
* AOKI/Nagoya DXers Circle
* Canadian Amateur Radio Callsign
* ClassAxe Beacon List
* Custom Schedules
* DRM Schedules
* EiBi
* Euro-African Mediumwave Guide [no longer offering an electronic version]
* FCC AM Engineering
* FCC Amateur Callsign
* FCC FM Engineering
* FCC Seasonal Operating Frequency Schedules
* HFCC
* ILGRadio [now defunct]
* IOCHAM
* NIMA Non-directional Longwave Beacons [defunct]
* Prime Time Shortwave
* Shortwave Broadcasting Schedules (SWBC)
* Existing logbook entries
* Community logs from other Shortwave Log users

A very cool feature of Shortwave Log is its "What's Playing Now" form. In this form, all the current transmissions are plotted on a world map. Transmissions beamed to your location are highlighted in yellow and all other transmissions are marked in blue. Tun- ing to one of these transmissions is as simple as right-clicking on the location and selecting the desired frequency. The broadcasts can also be filtered by language, so that you can view only those broadcasts in English, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and so forth.

Key features:

Database-driven logbook
Remote control of receiver via TCP/IP
Eleven databases to identify stations
QSL generation in ten languages
Propagation prediction
Sunrise / sunset calculation
Custom reports for DX clubs
Real-time, multiuser, shared logbook
Forty-two distinct reports
Multi-lingual user interface

USB/serial adaptor cables known to function with the RX320/RX-321:

TenTec is now selling the Model #316 USB-Serial adaptor for $19.95 plus shipping. Vista-compatible Windows software drivers are included. This should be the first choice as it is guaranteed to work with the radio.
Belkin Usb To Serial Portable Adaptor, Part # F5U409v1, the Belkin F5U103 and F5U109 usually work well also.
Tripplite Usb/Serial Converter Cable
Keyspan USA-19QW or USA-19W
Cables To Go USB To Db9 Serial Adapter USBa/db9m Rs-232
The RadioShack 9 pin Serial to USB adapter cat#26-183 works well through both USB 2.0 ports and through powered USB hubs.
IOgear GUC232A works great with the RX-320D. It also has drivers for Vista (not with the hardware; you have to download new drivers).
Mac OSX users find the SerialIO adaptor and drivers work well.
SABRENT 1 ft. USB to Serial db9 Male RS-232 Converter cable Model SBT-USC1M, $8.99 at NewEgg.
Adaptor Update:
Prolific is not providing support for their USB adapters under Vista. This includes the radio shack adapter.
"Cyber Serial" makes some real serial IO cards that work well with Vista.
Laptops can avoid this problem by getting a PCMCIA serial adapter. like that made by "Serial Gear". It is an RS-232C, has a single COM port and will support up to 921.6 KBaud.
GoldX & Keyspan make USB to Serial adapters that work with Vista.
FTDI adaptors support Vista, XP & CE.

Installing usb to serial adaptors:

In 'Device Manager' under the category 'Ports', the old style RS232 serial ports were called Comm Ports and were usually (but not always) numbered from 1 to 4 and there would also be a 'Printer Port' or 'Parallel Port'
If you have neither a printer port nor a serial port then the category 'Ports' won't be there.
As soon as you attach/install a 'USB-to-Serial Comm Port' adapter - either by plugging it in to a USB port for a self-install or by running the software included with the cable - RTFM! - 'Device Manager' will now list 'Ports'. When you click on that category you will see the your adapter listed as a Comm Port with an assigned number (e.g. Com5).
In the 'Options' menu of the control program you use, select a Com Port number that matches the information in 'Device Manager' 'Ports'. Your radio and computer should now communicate properly.

Problems with usb to serial adaptors:

Callsign Software posts this caveat on USB adaptors:
"USERS WITH USB to SERIAL Adapters: Some of our users have had many problems with these devices because most cannot keep up with the duty cycle rates of a NULL Modem or the supplied software driver does not properly comply with the Microsoft Windows(c) Driver model. NULL Modem compliance means that they MUST be capable of sustaining a continuous data stream much like that encountered when downloading files. They must also support modem controls for data flow control which we use on all the radio products that support this. Failure of the USB/Serial Adapter to comply with this will result in improper operation of the software. These capabilities must be stated on the product. We recommend the RadioShack 9 pin Serial to USB adapter cat#26-183. It is less than $50.00, comes with an XP and 2000 driver, and is widely available. We have been using this adapter (four of them) and have had no problems with them on Window's 2000, XP PRO, and XP Home. We have been using them with a USB 2.0 port and a four port USB 2.0 hub. We have also tested the software with PCMCIA (Serial Gear RS-232C) to serial adapters. We have thoroughly tested the software with the previously mentioned adapter(s) and found no problem with them for the past three(3) years. These adapters have software drivers that are well behaved in Windows and do not interfere with the operation of Window's, or other drivers, as some VERY POORLY written drivers do from some of the other vendors."

These groups support the RX320 & RX-321

Subscribe to Yahoo RxPlus Users Group

Subscribe to Yahoo RX320 Users Group

Yahoo group for Shortwave Log

Yahoo group for TRX Manager

Yahoo group for N4PY software

Yahoo group for Ergo

Yahoo group for Bonito Radiocom

Yahoo group for Callsign software

Yahoo group for Dxtra Worldstation

Yahoo group for Frequency Manager

Errata: Updates, corrections & comments:

I have confirmed that the pinout on the schematic is wrong. The DB-9 pinout on the web site is correct. It says that it was confirmed by reverse engineering and appears valid. I am bringing out audio and the 12 kHz IF signal. The 12 khz IF signal has the voltage divider and the output is tack soldered to pin 4 of the DB9 without removing the board or using a seperate jack.

My current use is:

pin 1 Balanced audio out
pin 2 Ground. the other balanced audio out
pin 3 No connection
pin 4 12 kHz IF output
pin 5 Mute
pin 6 No connection. Audio center tap
pin 7 No connection
pin 8 No connection
pin 9 Ground

I see no effect on the receiver when the mute input when grounded or taken to a positive voltage. If anyone has figured this out, please post the info.

Out of the DB9 connector, I bring out two lines (audio and IF) on a shielded cable. One or the other is plugged into the line input of the sound card.

I can't think of how to bring both to single stereo connector and have the mixer distinguish one or the other.

Marsh, NC7V

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Possible noise sources (RFI/QRM): Remember that turning off the computer leaves any powered USB hubs running - and some of them generate RFI.

APC 7-port and Compaq 4-port hubs have been known to cause problems, The Gigaware (Radio Shack brand) 7-port is perfectly quiet. (Bob, thank you for the added information)
Ac cables running parallel to audio cables
antenna rotators
automotive devices
broadband over power line
cable TV
cat5 networking cable
computers
dimmer switches/rheostats
dsl Modems
dvd players
electric fences
electrical wiring
garage door openers.
Gps units
linksys products
monitors - birdies from horizontal scanning rate.
Packet tnc
power lines
power transformers
routers
switching power supplies
televisions
traffic signals with light emitting diode ("led") lamps
tropical fish tank thermostat
wall wart power supply adapters
washing machines

Contact: jhh@blacktailbooks.com

=============================================================================

Past & present RX320/RX-321 Control programs, add-ons, mods, etc:

Check the links/controllers section of the Yahoo RX320 group for these and more. See the Monitoring Times article on the RX320 for more information.

Shortwave Log Natively supports the RX-321 & allows remote control via web page.

SCAN320 Designed for scanning Utes, modified for general purpose

Michael A. Newell's software for the Palm OS

George Privalov's Synchronous AM Controller

Ten-Tec OEM software

TRX Manager

Clifton Turner's RX320 & DB320 The first and still among the best.

Gerd Niephaus' GNRX320 Can use the Klingenfuss database.

N4PY

RXWings

Dos programs by Tom Cooper and David Wilson

DXTRA

ERGO

RXtra320

SCANCAT

Hamsoft Linux Controller

PDA Cogwheel

**A hardware controller & case for the RX32* radios**

RX-321 DRM modification

=============================================================================

=============================================================================

These groups support the RX320 & RX-321

Subscribe to Yahoo RxPlus Users Group

Subscribe to Yahoo RX320 Users Group

Contact: jhh@blacktailbooks.com

Top

=============================================================================

Past & present RX320/RX-321 Control programs, add-ons, mods, etc:

Check the links/controllers section of the Yahoo RX320 group for these and more. See the Monitoring Times article on the RX320 for more information.

Shortwave Log Natively supports the RX-321 & allows remote control via web page.

SCAN320 Designed for scanning Utes, modified for general purpose

Michael A. Newell's software for the Palm OS George Privalov's Synchronous AM Controller Ten-Tec OEM software

TRX Manager Clifton Turner's RX320 & DB320 The first and still among the best. Gerd Niephaus' GNRX320 Can use the Klingenfuss database. N4PY

RXWings

Dos programs by Tom Cooper and David Wilson

DXTRA ERGO RXtra320 SCANCAT

Hamsoft Linux Controller

PDA Cogwheel

A hardware controller & case for the RX32* radios

RX-321 DRM modification

=============================================================================

=============================================================================

These groups support the RX320 & RX-321

Subscribe to Yahoo RxPlus Users Group

Subscribe to Yahoo RX320 Users Group

Contact: jhh@blacktailbooks.com

Top

Michael A. Newell's software for the Palm OS

George Privalov's Synchronous AM Controller

Ten-Tec OEM software

TRX Manager

Clifton Turner's RX320 & DB320 The first and still among the best.

Gerd Niephaus' GNRX320 Can use the Klingenfuss database.

N4PY

DXTRA

ERGO

RXtra320

SCANCAT

**A hardware controller & case for the RX32* radios**