====== JRC NRD-345======
Manufactured by [[Japan Radio Co.]], Tokyo.

With its semi-professional receivers, Japan Radio Co. Ltd. (JRC) got an excellent reputation among many shortwave listeners and also professional monitoring services. With the NRD-345 model, JRC designed an entry-level receiver with excellent reception performance and a price range that somewhat meets the needs of the ambitious amateur. Unfortunately, that was all, no further receivers of the NRD-3xx series were released.

{{:images:jrc-nrd345.jpg?400|JRC NRD-345}}
===== Technical data =====
  * [[Principle]]: [[Double conversion superhet]], [[IF]] 44.855 MHz, 455 kHz
  * [[Operation modes]]: [[A1]], [[SSB]], [[A3|AM (A3)]], [[AM sync.]]
  * [[Frequency range]]: 100 kHz - 30 MHz
  * [[Frequency display]]: [[digital display]], 10 Hz
  * [[Frequency memory]]: 100 memories (incl. Operation mode)
  * [[Signal strength indicator]]: [[S-meter]]
  * [[Signal processing]]: Attenuator, [[AGC]] x 2, [[Noise Blanker]]
  * [[Features]]: Scan]] functions
  * [[Sensitivity]]: 1.8 - 30 MHz [[AM]] <2μV, [[SSB]] <0.3 μV / [[Selectivity]]: [[AM]] 4/10 kHz, [[SSB]] 2.2/6 kHz, CW (optional, filter can only be installed with additional board) (-6/-60 dB).

==== Power supply ====
  * [[Mains operation]]: 12 V = from mains adapter
==== Dimensions ====
  * 250 x 100 x 238 mm, weight 3.5 kg

==== Accessories ====

===== Operation =====
With its dimensions of 250 x 100 x 239 mm and its weight of approx. 3.5 kg, the station receiver has turned out to be quite compact. Unfortunately, an external mains adapter is required, but the waste heat from the mains supply does not cause the set to heat up.

As a semi-professional set, the receiver does not have a built-in telescopic antenna; a PL / SO-239 antenna socket, a long-wire antenna and an earth connector are located on the rear face of the receiver.

On the front panel, next to the main switch, you will find the analogue S-meter, the LCD frequency display with a display accuracy of 10 hertz and the keypad for direct frequency input.

To the left of the large tuning knob with a finger recess are the keys for programming the internal clock and timer, buttons for operating the memory options and a switchable noise blanker with adjustable efficiency.

To the right of the tuning knob are the buttons for the second VFO (you can quickly jump to this alternative frequency channel) and the electronic lock function for the main tuning, and below the buttons for the attenuator and the AGC decay time, the AF gain / volume and the tone control. Unfortunately, the receiver does not have discrete operation mode pushbuttons, the operation modes are changed by repeatedly pressing the MODE key, a little faster by pressing MODE and UP or DOWN, especially if in SSB mode you want quickly switch back to the other sideband. 
 
As a tabletop receiver, the NRD-345 offers excellent shortwave performance at a price in the middle to upper price range - a good way to enter the circle of NRD users, if the necessary "change" for the more expensive receivers of the NRD-5xx series is not quite in your purse. However, there are quite a lot of second-hand NRD-525 and NRS-535 receivers in Switzerland - especially if their owners have switched to a DSP receiver NRD-545 - so that the small NRD could probably not achieve high sales figures. Unfortunately, JRC did not pursue the concept of a "basic" shortwave receiver at a more affordable price.

===== Technical principle =====
The antenna signal first passes the switchable -20 dB attenuator, a corresponding low pass filter in the long and medium wave ranges and electronically switched sub-octave filters in the short wave ranges. Then it is converted to the first IF of 44.855 MHz, after amplification and the noise blanker it is converted to the second IF of 455 kHz. Two filters (AM 4 kHz / SSB 2.4 kHz) are installed as standard; only with an additional board you can fit an optional third IF filter, e.g. for CW reception. After another IF stage, the signal is fed to the AM demodulator and to the product detector for SSB reception. JRC has also not provided a manual mode for controlling the [[RF gain]] in its junior receiver.

==== Components ====
The set is solid state.

===== Technical documentation =====

==== Development ====
{{gallery>:images?jrc-nrd345*.jpg&0&80x80&lightbox&showtitle&titlesort}}
==== Further information ====
  * [[https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/jrc_communications_receiver_n.html|JRC NRD-345 on the website of www.radiomuseum.org]]