[Ham-Mac] Re USB Interfaces for Ham Radio

[Tim McLeod]

I agree with David.  I am a Macintosh network administrator and I see a lot
of devices that are administered via "Web Interface" over Ethernet.  The Ham
Mac market is small, but just about everyone has access to Ethernet, so it
would be a truly cross-platform device.  It also allows us to move up to 100
Mbps or even Gb speeds!

Tim McLeod  VE3TZS

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Anderson" <gm4jjj@amsat.org>
To: "Ham-Mac" <ham-mac@mailman.qth.net>; "John Rollins"
<kd7bcy@teleport.com>
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2002 4:24 AM
Subject: [Ham-Mac] Re USB Interfaces for Ham Radio


> on 4/2/02 4:06 am, John Rollins at kd7bcy@teleport.com wrote:
> > So what we really need for new Macs,
> > and new computers in general(PC's are slowly dropping "legacy"
> > support also), are USB-interfaced rigs, TNC's and everything else. If
> > a KPC-3 can run off a 9v battery, why couldn't it run from USB or
> > FireWire bus power? USB developer kits are a bit expensive for low
> > end and home built stuff, they could easily and cheaply be installed
> > in commercial rigs if the major brands decided to do it. I agree that
lack of
> 'legacy' serial ports on new Macs is a problem if you want to control
> equipment from your computer.
>
> However there are serial/USB adaptors available that will work (KeySpan).
> They are overpriced for what they are I feel however.
>
> USB is limited to short distances unlike serial so this is a limitation.
>
> The other problem is that special USB driver software is required, so even
> though a Rig in the future may have a USB interface, chances are that it
> probably won't come with a Mac USB Driver. I mean we already see this with
> many consumer products and I would imagine that Ham radio would be even
> worse.
>
> I despair at the lack of real I/O available from Macs. Removing serial was
> one thing, but removing sound IN jacks and also Infrared (which was handy
> for syncing with Palm Pilots) is a real pain.
>
> What I would prefer to see is Ethernet and TCP/IP protocols on Ham Radio
> rigs
>
> 73
> --
> David Anderson, GM4JJJ         E-mail: gm4jjj@amsat.org