Re: [digitalradio] PSKMAIL ?

[Rick]

I am genuinely surprised that there are PSKmail servers here in the U.S. 
It shows that there is some interest. I can not get Linux OS to work 
with my equipment at this time, but keep hoping that as it improves, 
particularly the X11 support for wide resolution monitors, that it will 
become possible to use it successfully.

There is not enough movement toward Linux at this time by the average 
person, nor by hardly any other hams. Maybe a few percent, but that is 
not enough to make it practical to use for emergencies. If PSKmail was 
cross platform, it might even be somewhat competitive with other e-mail 
platforms on amateur HF frequencies. I know that I would be extremely 
interested. I would be even more interested though in something that 
would work more robustly on the lower bands, would be perhaps a bit 
wider, but kept under 500 Hz in width.

73,

Rick, KV9U


Darrel Smith wrote:
> Rick,
>
> Check here  for the list 
> of servers. I have VE7SUN running on 10.148Mhz on the west coast.
>
> Darrel
>

Re: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use?

[Dave 'Doc' Corio]

Andy, I got an Acer AL2016W 20" widescreen LCD monitor for $188. I 
expected junk, but have been pleasantly surprised. Very important to me 
is the fact that the interference I used to have from the CRT on HF 
completely disappeared - or at least moved out of the ham bands! Even 
more important is the fact that I can now fit all of my DXLab windows on 
one monitor! It also has inputs for analog or digital video, although it 
doesn't have built in speakers, or TV input. It was also the only one in 
my price range that had a 3-year warranty.

If you do decide to get one, a couple of tips.

Get the fastest refresh rate you can afford. This one is 5 ms, and I 
get no streaking or smearing with video or games. I hear that 8 ms 
refresh rate can do that, but haven't seen it for myself.

Also, as soon as you get the monitor hooked up, download a 
pixel-checking program, such as "Dead Pixel Buddy". Some LCD monitors 
will have dead pixels in varying quantities. A few scattered around the 
display may not be noticeable, but several clumped together can make an 
obvious "hole" in your display. Find out in advance what the return 
policy is for dead pixels! Some manufacturers hide the fact that they 
won't allow an exchange unless there is a certain number of dead ones!

Lots of sizes and makes out there now, and prices keep dropping. Have 
fun shopping!

73
Dave
KB3MOW


Andrew O'Brien wrote:
> 
> 
> Any thoughts on a wide screen PC monitor versus a standard screen?
> I'm thinking of adding a 21 inch wide screen.
> 

Re: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use?

[Andrew O'Brien]

Thanks for the tips guys.  Like Dave KB3MOW, having DX LAB suite nicely
displayed is one of my goals.The one I am leaning toward has a 5MS
rating.

Andy K3UK

On 9/1/07, Dave 'Doc' Corio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>Andy, I got an Acer AL2016W 20" widescreen LCD monitor for $188. I
> expected junk, but have been pleasantly surprised. Very important to me
> is the fact that the interference I used to have from the CRT on HF
> completely disappeared - or at least moved out of the ham bands! Even
> more important is the fact that I can now fit all of my DXLab windows on
> one monitor! It also has inputs for analog or digital video, although it
> doesn't have built in speakers, or TV input. It was also the only one in
> my price range that had a 3-year warranty.
>
> If you do decide to get one, a couple of tips.
>
> Get the fastest refresh rate you can afford. This one is 5 ms, and I
> get no streaking or smearing with video or games. I hear that 8 ms
> refresh rate can do that, but haven't seen it for myself.
>
> Also, as soon as you get the monitor hooked up, download a
> pixel-checking program, such as "Dead Pixel Buddy". Some LCD monitors
> will have dead pixels in varying quantities. A few scattered around the
> display may not be noticeable, but several clumped together can make an
> obvious "hole" in your display. Find out in advance what the return
> policy is for dead pixels! Some manufacturers hide the fact that they
> won't allow an exchange unless there is a certain number of dead ones!
>
> Lots of sizes and makes out there now, and prices keep dropping. Have
> fun shopping!
>
> 73
> Dave
> KB3MOW
>
> Andrew O'Brien wrote:
> >
> >
> > Any thoughts on a wide screen PC monitor versus a standard screen?
> > I'm thinking of adding a 21 inch wide screen.
> >
>  
>

[digitalradio] GE DL-100 data radio

[barry whittemore]

Has anyone used one of these radios for 440 data use? anyone have a users 
manual? i have the maintenance manual but not a user manual. i am trying to use 
these for an ares data link.
it is a GE Ericson also labled LXE
thanks
Barry
WB1EDI


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Re: [digitalradio] A Beginner's Look at Ham Radio's Digital Future with Jeff Reinhart, AA6JR

[Rick]

Pasternak's claim of ham radio capabilities in only 20 to 25 years seems 
to be based on fantasy. There are physical limitations to power levels 
and antenna size that would make a wrist audio/video communications 
device impossible for long range use such as we do with amateur radio.

What likely will happen is that commercial systems will have audio/video 
with broadband but will operate for very short distances via RF and then 
mostly operate through the internet.

The parallel here is that once this is available, hams are not going to 
try and duplicate such a system, just like what happened with packet 
radio once the internet e-mail system proved to be so superior. Even 
with the potential for emergency use, the packet systems are mostly shut 
down with very little interest except for a few who do APRS.

Reinhart's claim that the soundcard voice is not equal to vocoder chip 
quality seems not that true from what I have heard. I have heard canned 
tests of AOR and have heard actual on the air use of DV with WinDRM and 
it seemed about the same. Some claim slightly better performance with 
WinDRM over AOR in terms of the critical S/N issue.

Where he is on target is the need to develop standards. If each digital 
protocol can not communicate with other similar digital modes, then it 
will be hard not to have separate islands of activity.

I appreciated his comment that during emergencies,  simple works best.

He did admit that DV is not a weak signal mode and need lots of signal 
to work. He claimed an S5 signal might be needed but that can be very 
misleading on a noisy band and what you really need is a good S/N ratio.

He did take the position that there would be a very slow transition to 
digital and that we needed more sunpots for better propagation. Ideally, 
new technology should work better than existing technology for it to 
replace the old and what better time than when you have the most 
difficult propagation?

My take is that unless there are breakthroughs in physics, digital voice 
will not become popular on HF since the analog technology works so much 
better for weak signal. And most of what we do on HF tends to be weak 
signal. It is possible that the legacy mode on HF voice in 25 years, 
could be DV, not unlike what happened with ACSSB in the past on VHF 
voice. Just because something is new does not necessarily make it 
competitive with existing modes.

I would have preferred that the presenters give a fair assessment of 
where we are now and what was feasible with what we know now, rather 
than the pie in the sky approach that they chose to use. Especially 
since they were targeting new hams who may now be expected to have very 
high, but likely very unrealistic, expectations.

73,

Rick, KV9U





Mark Thompson wrote:
> A Beginner's Look at Ham Radio's Digital Future with Jeff Reinhart, AA6JR
>  
> http://www.therainreport.com/rainreport_archive/rainreport-8-30-2007.mp3
>  

Re: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use?

[Rick]

I have seen some multi screen shacks. In fact, I think one ham has 5 
screens for various functions, some of which are dual screens with one 
computer. My idea was to keep things a bit simpler so I wanted only one 
screen that was at the "right" distance for my limited eyesight 
accommodation. In fact, I have some "computer" glasses which have a 
large upper area set to the screen distance and the lower for reading 
distance. It makes a huge difference for me compared to trying to see 
the screen with the center of my trifocals. Progressive lenses have a 
very small sweet spot for a given distance so I have not gone that route 
either.

My 22" Samsung 225BW works well with either Windows XP or Vista as long 
as you insure that the screen is connected to and turned on when you 
boot up the computer as it has to detect and set the screen parameters. 
Otherwise, it can look as bad as it does with Linux OS and that is 
completely unacceptable to me.

Other advantages of a large widescreen is the ability to play widescreen 
movies to match the screen size (larger) and it makes it easier to bring 
up two documents you are working between and drag and drop as needed. 
The one downside is that you don't necessarily have more real estate to 
work with, it is just wider and because of that, you make not see as 
many lines of text in a document as you would with a 4:3 monitor. As you 
probably have noticed, almost all the monitors sold now are widescreen. 
Same trend with notebook computers.

73,

Rick, KV9U


Andrew O'Brien wrote:
> Any thoughts on a wide screen PC monitor versus a standard screen? 
> I'm thinking of adding a 21 inch wide screen.
>
> Andy K3UK
>   

Re: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use?

[AA0OI]

Hi Rick and Andy:
I have a Olevia 37" wide screen HD that I use in the shack. Res is wonderful 
and can watch HD tv and HD videos on it as well.. will work on xp and vista, 
and they have gotten very cheap ( compared to when I bought this one -- it was 
1300 dollars now, I look around and can find same one for 699). Have never 
regretted the large HD screen New ones have HDMI input as well,, make sure if 
for the shack monitor has DVI input ( and computer has DVI out) or res will not 
be as good ( and can even be poor).
Use mostly for Digital SSTV ( EZPal and MMSSTV) but these are just a few.. MixW 
and all the digital modes. If you get a large screen you'll wonder how you ever 
lived without it.

Garrett / AA0OI



- Original Message 
From: Rick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, September 1, 2007 1:37:04 PM
Subject: Re: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use?

I have seen some multi screen shacks. In fact, I think one ham has 5 
screens for various functions, some of which are dual screens with one 
computer. My idea was to keep things a bit simpler so I wanted only one 
screen that was at the "right" distance for my limited eyesight 
accommodation. In fact, I have some "computer" glasses which have a 
large upper area set to the screen distance and the lower for reading 
distance. It makes a huge difference for me compared to trying to see 
the screen with the center of my trifocals. Progressive lenses have a 
very small sweet spot for a given distance so I have not gone that route 
either.

My 22" Samsung 225BW works well with either Windows XP or Vista as long 
as you insure that the screen is connected to and turned on when you 
boot up the computer as it has to detect and set the screen parameters. 
Otherwise, it can look as bad as it does with Linux OS and that is 
completely unacceptable to me.

Other advantages of a large widescreen is the ability to play widescreen 
movies to match the screen size (larger) and it makes it easier to bring 
up two documents you are working between and drag and drop as needed. 
The one downside is that you don't necessarily have more real estate to 
work with, it is just wider and because of that, you make not see as 
many lines of text in a document as you would with a 4:3 monitor. As you 
probably have noticed, almost all the monitors sold now are widescreen. 
Same trend with notebook computers.

73,

Rick, KV9U

Andrew O'Brien wrote:
> Any thoughts on a wide screen PC monitor versus a standard screen? 
> I'm thinking of adding a 21 inch wide screen.
>
> Andy K3UK
> 




   
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Re: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use?

[Andrew O'Brien]

I settled on a 22 inch LG that Best Buy had a good deal on (US$230.00) .
Just started using it 5 minutes ago.  Looks great, have not done a dead
pixel test yet but I don't see any obvious ones.  I will have to play around
with the optimum distance for a while.

It does have a DVI input, but my PC does not have a DVI output , maybe time
to add a new video card soon.

Andy K3UK


On 9/1/07, AA0OI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>Hi Rick and Andy:
> I have a Olevia 37" wide screen HD that I use in the shack. Res is
> wonderful and can watch HD tv and HD videos on it as well.. will work on xp
> and vista, and they have gotten very cheap ( compared to when I bought this
> one -- it was 1300 dollars now, I look around and can find same one for
> 699). Have never regretted the large HD screen New ones have HDMI input as
> well,, make sure if for the shack monitor has DVI input ( and computer has
> DVI out) or res will not be as good ( and can even be poor).
> Use mostly for Digital SSTV ( EZPal and MMSSTV) but these are just a few..
> MixW and all the digital modes. If you get a large screen you'll wonder how
> you ever lived without it.
>  Garrett / AA0OI
>
>
> - Original Message 
> From: Rick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: digitalradio@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, September 1, 2007 1:37:04 PM
> Subject: Re: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use?
>
>  I have seen some multi screen shacks. In fact, I think one ham has 5
> screens for various functions, some of which are dual screens with one
> computer. My idea was to keep things a bit simpler so I wanted only one
> screen that was at the "right" distance for my limited eyesight
> accommodation. In fact, I have some "computer" glasses which have a
> large upper area set to the screen distance and the lower for reading
> distance. It makes a huge difference for me compared to trying to see
> the screen with the center of my trifocals. Progressive lenses have a
> very small sweet spot for a given distance so I have not gone that route
> either.
>
> My 22" Samsung 225BW works well with either Windows XP or Vista as long
> as you insure that the screen is connected to and turned on when you
> boot up the computer as it has to detect and set the screen parameters.
> Otherwise, it can look as bad as it does with Linux OS and that is
> completely unacceptable to me.
>
> Other advantages of a large widescreen is the ability to play widescreen
> movies to match the screen size (larger) and it makes it easier to bring
> up two documents you are working between and drag and drop as needed.
> The one downside is that you don't necessarily have more real estate to
> work with, it is just wider and because of that, you make not see as
> many lines of text in a document as you would with a 4:3 monitor. As you
> probably have noticed, almost all the monitors sold now are widescreen.
> Same trend with notebook computers.
>
> 73,
>
> Rick, KV9U
>
> Andrew O'Brien wrote:
> > Any thoughts on a wide screen PC monitor versus a standard screen?
> > I'm thinking of adding a 21 inch wide screen.
> >
> > Andy K3UK
> >
>
>
> --
> Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge
> to
> see what's on, when.
>
>  
>

Re: [digitalradio] PC Monitors for ham use?

[Robert Thompson]

Note that it is very important to be able to drive it at the monitor's
"native" resolution. DVI helps, but the one thing most likely to make a lcd
look bad is driving it at a resolution that can't be cleanly adapted to its
native resolution. LCD pixels are "hard" and will *always* be displayed in
the same grid coordinates, where even pinhole-screenmask CRTs are much
"softer" in that the display resolution never aligns exactly with the
current resolution.

Also, there is *one* remaining possible source of RFI on a LCD, if you're
unlucky. The backlight inverter board might possibly generate some RF on
frequencies you care about, especially if you're into LF experimentation.
This isn't nearly as bad as a CRT and can usually be fixed (with some
warranty-voiding), although chances are that another LCD (possibly even
another of this model) won't step on anything you care about.

Even in the worst case I've ever seen, LCD RFI falls off *much* more quickly
than that generated by a CRT and doesn't couple into nearby cables nearly so
well.

Of course, nothing's perfect: LCDs won't handle the wide temperature
extremes some shacks experience...  =)