roskos@IDA.ORG (Eric Roskos) (05/26/90)
rlscon@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Robert Sillett) writes: >What exactly is needed to view the various RTTY and FAX modes on my >IBM PC? I know this question can't be properly answered in the >framework of this newsgroup. However, I would greatly appreciate any >suggestions for books and articles. Also a list of the bare >essentials would be nice so that I can extimate the cost and start >looking for parts. Any information would be very helpful. I'd recommend you buy an AEA PK-232 rather than one of the "budget" devices, since it doesn't cost a lot more and will allow you to receive most of the modes in use on HF. (Note that it will not work with FAX images transmitted directly from weather satellites, however, since they use an AM rather than FM subcarrier.) But be aware that most of the RTTY you hear when tuning around on HF is encrypted. Most of what you can receive is weather, ham radio, and a very small number of foreign news services. It is hard to receive RTTY without a lot of garbling due to noise and fading, also. In my opinion, it's much more productive to invest in equipment to receive weather satellite transmissions unless you are interested in ham radio communications, since the cost is similar and since you get more information that is of long-term interest -- for most of the RTTY stations, once you've seen what's out there, it's not too interesting to receive it regularly. If you plan to become a ham, on the other hand, the various RTTY modes are of interest since they are heavily used (particularly the packet radio modes) by radio amateurs. Look at one of the magazines such as Monitoring Times or Popular Communications, at the information people log, and you'll get a good sense of what is out there on RTTY. It's not all that interesting. Obviously, this is my own personal opinion. Your opinion may differ. -- Eric Roskos, IDA (roskos@CS.IDA.ORG or Roskos@DOCKMASTER.ARPA) "He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies must carry the wealth of the Indies with him." -- Union Station
paulf@jessica.stanford.edu (Paul Flaherty) (05/30/90)
In article <1990May26.002343.4090@IDA.ORG> roskos@IDA.ORG (Eric Roskos) writes: >I'd recommend you buy an AEA PK-232 rather than one of the "budget" >devices, since it doesn't cost a lot more and will allow you to receive >most of the modes in use on HF. (Note that it will not work with >FAX images transmitted directly from weather satellites, however, since >they use an AM rather than FM subcarrier.) I'd like to offer a second opinion on this. Buy an MFJ 1278. The filters are very good, and it does have grayscale for FAX, something that the 232 doesn't have. This makes a big difference for photographic stuff, like press photos and sat pix. Above all, the 1278 is about 30% cheaper. It also fits under the bottom of a Macintosh, which is where my unit sits. -=Paul Flaherty, N9FZX/VK2WYX | "Unix could use a more user-friendly front ->paulf@shasta.Stanford.EDU | end. Does anyone have a card punch handy?"
wwm@pmsmam.uucp (Bill Meahan) (05/30/90)
In article <1990May29.172419.27230@portia.Stanford.EDU> paulf@jessica.stanford.edu (Paul Flaherty) writes: >In article <1990May26.002343.4090@IDA.ORG> roskos@IDA.ORG (Eric Roskos) writes: >>I'd recommend you buy an AEA PK-232 rather than one of the "budget" >>devices, since it doesn't cost a lot more and will allow you to receive >>most of the modes in use on HF. (Note that it will not work with >>FAX images transmitted directly from weather satellites, however, since >>they use an AM rather than FM subcarrier.) > >I'd like to offer a second opinion on this. Buy an MFJ 1278. The filters >are very good, and it does have grayscale for FAX, something that the 232 >doesn't have. This makes a big difference for photographic stuff, like >press photos and sat pix. Above all, the 1278 is about 30% cheaper. >It also fits under the bottom of a Macintosh, which is where my unit sits. > >-=Paul Flaherty, N9FZX/VK2WYX | "Unix could use a more user-friendly front >->paulf@shasta.Stanford.EDU | end. Does anyone have a card punch handy?" And I'd add the Kantronics KAM to the list - excellent performance and excellent support from the company that makes it. -- Bill Meahan WA8TZG uunet!mailrus!umich!pmsmam!wwm I speak only for myself - even my daughter's cat won't let me speak for her!