Next to two TNC2s, a Kantronics KAM (w/ Pactor I), an SCS PTCplus, an AEA PK-900 and an SCS PTC-IIe found their way out of the dark.
Hmmm, this has been my active Packet-Radio and Pactor period. Now:
- What happened to the controllers?
- Are still in a working order?
- Would they be able to communicate with modern computers?
- Is there still software available, for these controller, which runs on modern computers?
- Is there still activity?
- What could the stuff be used for?
I tested all controllers but the PK-900, which simply is too clunky for the tiny test space I freed.
The tests concerned the compatibility of modern computer hardware with those old controller, hence no radios connected, no RF generated.
So, here's some of the results and thoughts.
All tested controllers still worked.
For testing, I used three relatively new computers in the setup, running different operating systems: an Acer REVO w/ Windows Vista, an Acer Aspire One running jolicloud 1.0 and an MSI Wind under Windows XP. None of these computers have RS232-ports, which in modern times seems the first hurdle.
In a recent order, I purchased a cheap no-name USB-to-serial adapter (Prolific PL2303 chipset), which plugged into the SCS PTCs directly. For the other controllers, a "9to25"-adapter was required.
BTW, Vista provided me with the most struggle, a lot of blue screens, core dumps and what not...
jolicloud was the only real plug&play what the PL2303 is concerned, and smoothly installed the device as /dev/ttyUSB0.
Struggles aside, let's have a look at the results.
Packet-Radio
Software: PAXON under Windows Vista
TNC2 (TF2.6, modified to 10MHz Z80, 38400bps): doing just fine!
Symek TNC2S (TF2.7): something caused the TNC to stall in TX (remember, no radio connected!), with my hand placed on the controller, this did not occur. Seems there is some grounding problem between the PC, the USB-device, the TNC and the TNC's (linear) PSU.
AMTOR & Pactor
Windows software: Airmail3 for hams, Alpha 3.2, Simple32
Airmail3 seems to be the reference, it could talk to all modems, on either Windows flavors, although, it has been a struggle to have it talking to the KAM under Vista, no problem with XP though. Airmail3, as the name suggests, is an HF email program, which makes use of the WINLINK2000 Global Radio Email System. Airmail3 is therefore mainly programmed for handshaking with the servers of said system and therefore is essentially limited to Pactor.
Alpha 3.2 did only talk to the SCS PTCs, however, it did it well.
Simple32 simply did not work on Vista, whatever I tried (run it under admin, etc.). I got the main screen just once after hitting ignore on all error-messages, and, it did not at all look simple, hence I decided to not (yet) give it a try on XP.
Linux software: Kptc, minicom
Kptc flawlessly installed on my jolicloud 1.0 netbook. The program works perfectly with the SCS PTCs.
minicom seems the only easy way to communicate to the KAM. A software called Kamplus was written some years ago. I will try to compile it on my machine, I will post any success story; I will however spare you stories about failed software porting efforts.
Conclusions
Packet-Radio seems a dying mode, at least here in my region. When I moved here, I was eager to keep contact with my friends via the PR-network, I soon learned, that this region is not connected to anything. I wonder I that changed. Maybe APRS would be an option.
AMTOR was a very advanced technique, to the time when I got on the air for the first time. Those chirps were everywhere.... I have not heard many on the ham-bands lately. However, there seems to be one BBS station in Germany, DA5TOR, still on-air. I should give it a try, once my NVIS antenna is set up.
Pactor = eMail nowadays... DXers are busy using narrowband modes like PSK31. Pactor, when I did it last, could provide an even better robustness, but, for what price? Modern PTCs are more expensive than decent HF transceivers! No wonder that the mode more and more drifted towards professional application, e.g. marine communications such as SailMail.
Next Steps
Yes, I will take next steps. Among my transceivers, I will find the ones that make the least noise and provide the fastest switching.
A good start in this respect could be the Ten Tec Scout, if the frequency stability proves to be sufficient. I used this transceiver with PSK31 and Pactor I before, back in the days. The Scout is, besides the strange noise created by the PTO, totally silent, no relays involved... could be perfect.
Then there would be the Kenwood TS-140, which I used for WSPR for some weeks a year ago. The TS-140 has got relays, and is therefore somewhat unpleasant when used with ARQ.
Technically, the best fit would be the ICOM IC-M710. Not only was it built for the purpose, remember TOR (Teleprinting Over Radio) is a marine application, Airmail3 can actually control the radio via the NMEA bus. The IC-M710 also provides a frequency stability superior to most ham-radios. The radio however employs a lot of mechanical switching.
Last but not least, the following approach could be considered (this will be a new blog entry, when taken seriously): Use a DDS, controlled by a PIC, PICAXE or Atmel, as a LO for something that either already transceives silently, e.g. an old Scout, SmallWonderLabs PSK-series, N3ZI's 612-PCBs (see earlier blog entry) or this.
