[Ham-Computers] RE: Is there a way to. . .

[Philip Atchley]

Thank you Aaron,

Yes, 'Radioraft requires direct dedicated access to several areas of the 
PC including timing and so forth that a DOS "Window" doesn't allow. I 
once got it to run full screen (poorly) under Win98 but it won't run in 
XP at all (even though I have several other programs, including my 
Beacon logger that do well in XP).  R/R takes an audio input, 
automatically determines mode, (RTTY, MFSK, DGPS, etc) polarity etc and  
then starts decoding it. Very quick!  Skysweep Pro, while a very capable 
Windows program, requires you to manually set the mode (RTTY, CW, DGPS 
etc), Mode parameters (speed, shift etc).  Then IF everything is right 
it'll start decoding. At least that's my results with it. It is nice in 
that I can set up multiple simultaneous decoders, like separate DGPS 
decoders for 100 & 200 bd, then when I tune in a DGPS station, whichever 
it is is automatically decoded.  (Sometimes there will be multiple DGPS 
stations with different bd rates on the same frequency and one may fade 
up "momentarily"). 

Since I NEED to have access to the main computer programs at the same 
time, booting this machine into DOS isn't a viable answer.  Hence, the 
need to have a second machine running.  Once I get a second machine set 
up (my wife has my "emergency" machine for Email) a switch box like you 
sugested is probably the answer.  That or a cheap laptop.   I'd just 
hoped there was a way to get them to "talk ;-)

Funny how a legacy DOS program can "outperform" a  very expensive modern 
package!  And that DOS program is STILL supported too!

73 de Phil  KO6BB
 

Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal) wrote:

>Phil,
>
>It depends on what you mean by "(it) needs to run in a full screen mode".
>Do you mean that it runs in a "graphics" mode and has to be a full-screen
>DOS session?  Or do you mean that it needs dedicated resources that are only
>availalble in a true DOS "mode" (not a DOS "session" running under windows
>(either windowed or full-screen)).
>
>If it needs to run in a true DOS mode (e.g. boot straight to DOS), then a
>Keyboard Video Mouse switchbox (aka a KVM) is the least expensive way to go.
>This allows you to share one keyboard, monitor, and mouse with two or more
>PC's.  There are several ways to "switch", the most common being by a
>double-tap of a seldom used key (such as <Scroll Lock>).  Some KVM's will
>allow you to cycle through all connected PC's every few seconds (ala
>surveillance cameras/monitors).  Others have manual or direct switch
>buttons.  There are several inexpensive "integrated" KVM's now available
>that combine the KVM box and all the cables as one unit.  IOGear, Linksys,
>AirLink, and some others all sell this same basic unit with house-branded
>color schemes (blue for Linksys, Green or IOGear, etc).  I use two of them
>in two different situations and they work just fine.  The newer models also
>include audio switching so you can use one set of speakers (and mic).
>
>Go hear for a picture and more info on the IOGear version of this KVM...
>
>http://www.iogear.com
>
>Click on KVM switches, then "2 port KVM - PS/2".  The "2 port KVM - USB" is
>the same unit, but for a USB keyboard and mouse.  They sell for about $40.
>The generic "AirLink" equivalents can be had at Fry's for about $20.
>
>I don't know of any current remote control programs for DOS.  They would alo
>probably require too much RAM to run and might interfere with your apps.
>Another idea is to run a "virtual" DOS session using VirtualPC or VMWare.
>However, not all apps work properly, especially if they require direct
>access to ports or memory.  VirtualPC costs $150 and VMWare is about $275,
>so the KVM with existing hardware is probably the better way to go
>costwise).
>
>73,
>
>  - Aaron, NN6O
>
>  
>