[Ham-Mac] Newbie questions

[Steve Muncy]

On 11/12/02 22:41, "Chuck Counselman" <ccc@space.mit.edu> wrote:

> I'd like to try some new-fangled digital modes on HF (as opposed to
> good old Morse/CW, which AFAIK is the original digital mode).   I
> have a Mac PowerBook G3, 300-MHz Wallstreet model, running OS 9.1.  I
> also have Virtual PC 5 with Windoze 98.  My rig is an Icom IC-775DSP.
> 

Using ham digital modes on the Mac is a frustrating experience. As Chris
Smolinski indicated in his response, most interest is in PSK31 and SSTV, and
perhaps traditional RTTY added to the list.

You should definitely give MultiMode a try to see if it works for you. Prior
to switching to OSX, I tried various options. Unfortunately, I found
MultiMode extremely difficult to tune PSK31 - and I had the most success
using Virtual PC and Digipan. Digipan and other Windows software that
specializes in PSK31 offer wonderful, wonderful features  to tune PSK31
which by nature must be carefully tuned to receive properly.

Since switching to OSX I no longer have this option since I can't get
Virtual PC to work with my keyspan serial device (I use a PowerBook with no
serial ports.) MultiMode has a very, very preliminary alpha for OSX, but I
still can't tune PSK31 easily. A PSK31 program for Linux is being developed
as an open source project -- but unfortunately it is focused solely on
Linux. Perhaps some enthusiastic ham geek with superior skills to mine can
find a way to port it to OSX.

I'd pay $100 for a good PSK31 program for the Mac that offers features equal
to those on the Windoze side. Although I think Chris is an extremely
talented programmer and should be thanked for his contributions to ham
radio, I think MultiMode suffers by trying to offer too much. I'd prefer
programs that do one or two things extremely well. I personally have no real
interest in the other modes except perhaps for SSTV. You can't imagine how
appalling I find it to say this, but if you have a serious interest in some
of the digital modes, I suspect you will be happier getting a cheap used PC
with windows. If space wasn't a big issue for me, I'd probably end up taking
this approach.

 
-- 
Steve Muncy, NI5V         <mailto:smuncy@mac.com>
Dallas, TX USA           <http://homepage.mac.com/smuncy/hamradio/
QRP-ARCI #10330  FISTS #7412  QCWA #30705  AMSAT #33939
ARRL Life Member