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Is a TNC still required for digital?

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John

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Jul 26, 2001, 6:50:24 AM7/26/01
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My GHz computer has more processing power than any TNC I've seen. Does
someone make software that can do everything a TNC can do? If so, who? I'm
ready to buy.

John


Bill Turner

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Jul 26, 2001, 8:37:49 AM7/26/01
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_________________________________________________________

There is some amazing software available that all but replaces a TNC.

Some places to check out:

http://www.qsl.net/wd4ngb/telnet.htm for Telnet (uses the internet to
replace VHF DX Packet Cluster

http://iz8bly.sysonline.it/ for several new digital modes such as
MFSK16

http://www.geocities.com/mmhamsoft/ for MMTTY, an excellent freeware
program for RTTY

http://bipt106.bi.ehu.es/psk31.html for PSK31, several programs
available (my favorite is DigiPan)

http://www.qsl.net/wm2u/interface.html for interfacing your rig and
computer

That should get you started. Have fun!

73, Bill W7TI

Alexander Kurpiers

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Jul 26, 2001, 12:02:30 PM7/26/01
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No need to buy... Check out http://www.afthd.tu-darmstadt.de/~flexnet

Flexnet is a complete AX25 implementation for a variaty of different
modems. It runs under DOS and Windows (9x/ME/NT/2000). And it is free
for HAMs.

73' Alexander DL8AAU/AB0CF

--
Alexander F. Kurpiers | Voice: +49-6151-162369
Institut fuer Nachrichtentechnik | Fax : +49-6151-165545
Merckstrasse 25 | EMail: a.kur...@nt.tu-darmstadt.de
D-64283 Darmstadt (Germany) | Hamradio: dl8aau@db0ais.#hes.deu.eu

John Douglas

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Jul 26, 2001, 1:55:38 PM7/26/01
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On Thu, 26 Jul 2001 10:50:24 GMT, "John" <johnf...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>My GHz computer has more processing power than any TNC I've seen. Does

No, Not all things a TNC can do, but most. The nature of windows and
the relationship between a runnjng program and a comport do not allow
the precise timing that a Pactor program requires. For PSK31, RTTY
and all the others it will work fine. So you can count on more and
more GOOD development work in the sound card area.

Should you dump your TNC now, NO. there will be a lot of demand for
them for years to come. Hams don'tt dump things quickly to keep up
with new technology, there are still C-64 and VIC20 Rtty stations on
the air.

Reminds me of that old joke, Who invented copper wire? Two old hams
fighting over a penny ))) jk

73
John Douglas
NØISL
<http://www.timeave.com>

John

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Jul 26, 2001, 6:56:09 PM7/26/01
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Thank you VERY much for the links.

Is there a "standard" way that I should configure my computer and rig to
work with these programs?

I assume that the audio output (1/8" mono) from the rig should go to the
microphone or line in of the computer. What is the best/standard way to get
audio from the computer into the rig? Also, what technique do all these
programs use for keying the rig? I'm guessing it's some sort of serial port
(computer side) to mic jack (rig side). Is that right?

I've got an Icom 756 Pro. Is there a cable I can buy from MFJ that will make
this process easier? Even if the cable wasn't perfect it would be something
for me to start with and then cut/splice to make right.

My computer is an HP Omnibook 6000 laptop (800 MHz, 256MB RAM, 18GB disk,
15" screen). I have both Windows 2000 Pro and RedHat Linux 7.1 installed
(with the Maetro3 sound card working with both OSes).

Thanks for all the advice!

John

"Bill Turner" <w7...@dslextreme.com> wrote in message
news:ea30mt8dgh3e7plv8...@4ax.com...

Beerus Maximus

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Jul 27, 2001, 10:29:43 AM7/27/01
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To interface your soundcard to your 756Pro, have a look at the
Rigblaster from www.westmountainradio.com. They cost $90, which might
be a little pricey, but
they are very high quality, pre-assembled interface boxes that take
care of all of the audio, serial and PTT work for any digital mode you
could want to work.
Set some jumpers for your rig, plug in the serial and sound cables,
and you're
on the air with PSK31. This is the "easy" way to get on the air. I
ordered mine and had it two days later. Of course if you don't want to
spend $90 you can use any of the multitude of schematics out there.

Beerus


"John" <johnf...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<de187.46182$Ek3.16...@news1.rdc1.md.home.com>...

John

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Jul 27, 2001, 8:12:18 PM7/27/01
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Thanks to everyone for the recommendations. I ordered a RigBlaster Plus from
WestMountainRadio.com today. Hopefully it will be here on Tuesday.

I wish they sold a connector for my Icom 758Pro ACC1 port, but they don't.
I'll have to use the speaker output.

Thanks!

John

"Beerus Maximus" <bee...@hushmail.com> wrote in message
news:dc394f1e.01072...@posting.google.com...

Sergei Podstrigailo

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Jul 28, 2001, 4:23:15 AM7/28/01
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"On Thu, 26 Jul 2001 10:50:24 GMT, John
>My GHz computer has more processing power than any TNC I've seen. Does
>someone make software that can do everything a TNC can do? If so, who? I'm
>ready to buy.
>

See some software at http://www.dxsoft.com

WBR,
Sergei


Windows HAM radio software at http://www.dxsoft.com

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