Sure, it's a possibility they could go under, but not one that I really think we need to worry about.
Most people don't realize how much sole sourcing they do. Your cell phone technology is owned by QualComm. Your car radio uses Dolby Noise Reduction. The list is endless. If SCS was ever in trouble, they could always license the PactorIII technology to other hardware vendors. That would be a very likely scenario UNLESS there is a new technology that replaces PactorIII. It has to have value to be sold. You can bet that if Qualcomm when under, that their cell technology would be on the auction block. If they did go under, their patent portfolio would be a valuable asset for the debtors to go after. (That's IF the inventors don't actually own the patents individually and license them to SCS.) I'm just trying to say that the PactorIII technology has a broad non-ham customer base and it is worth enough to be sold if the company has problems. Unless there is a better and cheaper technology which supplants PactorIII, I don't think a company failure will eliminate it. Charlie Crizer, KF4MNE Fairfax County (Alexandria) Virginia, US QTH: 38-47.96N / 77-05.17W - FM18kt [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Winlink2000/Airmail Charles, your wrote..."If they went under, then the Pactor patents would be sold. They could even find there way into the public domain. But I doubt it. They seem to be doing pretty well. " Because a firm "goes under" does NOT mean that the patents would be sold. In fact there have been many hardware and software firms that have, for one reason or another, ceased doing business and their patents and other intellectual property has NOT been sold nor was it released into the public domain. Walt/K5YFW -----Original Message----- From: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 6:38 PM To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [digitalradio] Re: ARQ sound card modes - SCS TNC I was trying to suggest that they could arrive at the PC with a DSP from the other direction. Have a DSP and add the computer. If they went under, then the Pactor patents would be sold. They could even find there way into the public domain. But I doubt it. They seem to be doing pretty well. I was looking at the PCTIINet. Looks interesting. I have an SCS-PTCIIpro with 2 DSP Packet modules and a Pactor license. It is one nice box. Remember, the SCS line is a commercial modem built for commercial use. If you want something that good, it costs. I have Yaesu and Vertex in my shack. Which is the more professional radio? The commercial Vertex. Charlie Crizer, KF4MNE Fairfax County (Alexandria) Virginia, US Home QTH: 38-47.96N / 77-05.17W - FM18kt [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Winlink2000/Airmail -----Original Message----- From: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 18:31 To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [digitalradio] Re: ARQ sound card modes - SCS TNC > > Look at this way: An SCS TNC _IS_ COTS hardware. > > > But it also has another plus, support. Not just tech support but product > upgrades. People wanted APRS and now it is available. I wouldn't be > surprised to see an SCS product that had a PC104 computer inside to run > winlink or packlink/telpac. They have TCP/IP built in, what does one need a computer or Winlink for? The only real issue with SCS is that it's a single source product. If, heaven forbid, things went bad for the company - what happens then? 73 Bill Need a Digital mode QSO? Connect to Telnet://cluster.dynalias.org Other areas of interest: The MixW Reflector : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themixwgroup/ DigiPol: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Digipol (band plan policy discussion) Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Need a Digital mode QSO? Connect to Telnet://cluster.dynalias.org Other areas of interest: The MixW Reflector : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themixwgroup/ DigiPol: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Digipol (band plan policy discussion) Yahoo! Groups Links Need a Digital mode QSO? Connect to Telnet://cluster.dynalias.org Other areas of interest: The MixW Reflector : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themixwgroup/ DigiPol: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Digipol (band plan policy discussion) Yahoo! Groups Links Need a Digital mode QSO? Connect to Telnet://cluster.dynalias.org Other areas of interest: The MixW Reflector : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themixwgroup/ DigiPol: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Digipol (band plan policy discussion) Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digitalradio/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/