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RF-230 Series, the fixed site technology for the commercial market Updated: August 2025 The Harris RF-230 series is a late 1970 to early 1990 High Frequency radio system. The primary use was in in the commercial HF Radio networks area. It was used extensivily around the world in the various aviation and maritime fix and shipboard services. The RF-230 series technology was not deployed in remote sites normally as it did not offer the technology for allowing for remote control of the mode and frequency of operation. Generally large sites could be configured as a composite site or as split sites with separate transmit and receive functions. The RF-2305 is very similar (I am including it for that reason) but is was only to be used on stations with an external power amplifier and with local control. Later technology would replace the RF-2305 with far more agile equipment. Note: The RF-230 can be used for F1 (FSK Data) and F4 (facsimile) modes if you add the filters. The RF-2305 came with those filters as standard. Finding those filters today would nearly be impossible. Basic Radio models: RF-230 Transceiver, 100 Watt Channelized (up to 96 channels) RF-230-01 Cable Kit (RF-230 to the RF-236) RF-230-03 Continous Duty Fan Kit RF-230M Transceiver, 125 Watt RF-230S Transceiver, 125 Watt, frequency is set on the front of the unit with thumb switches RF-231 Antenna Coupler (very handy) RF-232 Antenna Coupler Modification Kit (receiver bypass function) RF-233 1 KW system (Radio, Power Supply, RF-103 1 KW Amplifier) RF-234 Mobile Remote Control Kit RF-236 Power Supply, AC RF-236-04 Continous Duty Fan Kit RF-249 150 Foot Long Wire Kit RF-230S Transceiver, 100 Watt outputi Thumbwheels for frequency selection RF-2305 Receiver-Exciter (100 mw output). THis unit is AC powered only. Other Accessories RF-242 Stack Mounting Bracket RF-243 Rack Mounting Bracket RF-244 Shock Mounting Bracket RF-245 Mounting tray for the RF-231 (coupler) RF-247 Filter kit for FSK Use (Bandwidth is 300-3000 Hz, with CF being 2000 Hz and 425 Hz shift) RF-248 CW kit (provides a key and the required cable) RF-250 Wall Mounter handset unit with speaker mute function RF-251 Desk mounted Handset unit. Similar to above. RF-252 Frequency Controller, very useful but very rare (note: In section 3.4 of the operations page in the manual, it seems the RF-252 unit is just basic switches) RF-253 Auto Alarm Module (installs in the RF-236 Power Supply) RF-254 Remote Couple Control (factory option) RF-255 Power Meter (factory option) RF-256 Telephone Patch (factory option) RF-257 FSK Modem (factory option) RF-258 Remote Audio (no other description available) Related Products RF-350 Transceiver, 100 Watt, ALE capable using a ALE controller (RF-7110 or RF-7210) RF-351 100/500 Watt Antenna Coupler RF-355 500 Watt Linear Power Amplifier (LPA) Basic Specifications: Frequency Range: 1.60000 Mhz to 29.99999 MHz (100 Hz steps) Modes: AM/CW/SSB (LSB/USB), channel bandwidth depending on what filters were installed Data capable: Yes - but you need the right filters. Important! Full duplex capable: Sort of - but depends on the site installation (separate transmit and receive capable) Split site capable: Yes (this was a common event) ALE Operation: No Transmit Power: 125 watts Peak for SSB 40 Watts for AM 125 watts Average for CW Receiver Sensitivity: 0.5uV for SSB 3.0uV for AM Harmonic Supression: Greater than 50 db IF Filters: 300-2400 Hz for SSB (2.1 Khz Bandwidth) 6 KHz for AMa (5.8 Khz Bandwidth) Note: Standard filers are LSB, and AM. The optional filter can be USB or CW, or a data filter. Image & IF rejection: 70 db or greater External freq. Std: No (this would have been very useful however). Note: The RF-230S drawing shows the ability to have 13 MHZ external standard but there is no marketing text about this feature. The onboard clock on all series of radios looks easy to adjust however. The adustment is on the 1A1A10 Circuit board. Audio Interface: 600 Ohm, 0 dBm balanced audio (4 wire) Receiver RF: 50 Ohm, BNC on the RF-2305, otherwise it is an "N" connector Transmitter: 50 Ohm, "N" Connector Exciter RF: 50 Ohn, BNC, 250 Milliwatt (nominal), (RF-2305 unit) Power Requirement: 100-240 VAC, 50-400 Hz normally but the RF-230 units can be run off 12 VDC with ~40 Amp power supply. RX: 1.5 Amps TX: 32 Amps Note: Standard IF filters for not useful for high data or modern FSK at standard offsets. Use of the FSK filter (RF-247) is highly recommended. It is recoomended to use a filter that will allow a 300-3100 hz bandwidth as modern high speed data modems are DSP based. |