I was in a similar boat Rick. Still have the P38 card sitting around
somewhere, I found the instruction book as well the other day. B-)
73, John de VK2XGJ
One of the reasons politicians try so hard to get themselves re-elected,
because they couldn't live under the laws that they have passed!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <digitalradio@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 2:26 PM
Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Re: Report on RFSM2400 vs. OFDM
> It is ironic you should mention the P38, Les.
>
> Quite some years ago I was one of the early adopters of new technology.
> Not usually the bleeding edge, but close to it. Tried a number of boxes,
> including the Kantronics UTU, plug in card for Pactor for the C-64
> computer, AEA CP-1 with BMK Multi (early non Pactor version for around
> $100 for DOS).
>
> Then I had to make the big decision on which modes were going to be the
> future winners, particularly Clover II or Pactor. The AEA PK2232 and
> similar costly modems became available. Pactor and Clover II had the
> support from the Winlink BBS system and the RTTY Digital Journal group.
> Specialized software such as Peter Schulze TY1PS's clever Windows based
> Clover II Express software became available that did something that was
> a first ... it would automatically send a thumbnail picture to other
> stations equipped with this software. However, the legal aspect remained
> questionable for us in the U.S. (Perhaps it was only because of Mark
> Millers past petition that the FCC finally corrected this in very recent
> time). Today it would be close to impossible for Peter to sell this kind
> of software. Peter also sent perhaps the first digitized ham message
> that included a recorded song. Another interesting issue since some
> comments at the time seemed to suggest this might be legal here in the
> U.S. but I suspect further review made it not so.
>
> I bought the P38 for my (at the time) fairly advanced 286 IBM computer
> (ISA architecture bus and VGA graphics) and it never worked properly on
> Pactor. Even after claims by HAL that it would be corrected. They just
> could not get the programming right. It would connect with a Pactor
> station and then drop the link. Completely useless product for Pactor.
>
> Even when having Clover II QSO's with Ray Petit, W7GHM, the inventor of
> several early digital modes (Coherent CW, Clover, and then Clover II) we
> had a difficult time maintaining much data throughput between our
> locations with our mediocre antennas. Eventually, I returned the
> pathetic modem to HAL but had to pay a restocking fee. I made the
> decision at that point to abandon hardware modems and I am very
> fortunate that I did.
>
> It was not until the sound card modes became popular that I returned to
> digital modes again. And what a refreshing change it has been. And it is
> constantly getting better with 2007 as the big year of change with ARQ
> sound card modes becoming available.
>
> I would expect a number of other OT group members have had similar
> experiences.
>
> 73,
>
> Rick, KV9U
>
>
> Leskep wrote:
>> Rick
>> Doesnt only apply to software - I have already been down that same path
>> with the P38 modem - got one going cheap if anyone wants it
>> Les VK2DSG
>>
>
>
>
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