[Ham-Mac] Re: AEA MacRATT with FAX for PK-232, PK-88 and PK-87.

[Richard Kriss]

David,

MacRATT version 2.1 is in my opinion the best Packet and RTTY software ever
done for the Mac and the PK-232.  It is old and no longer supported but is
still the best and let me work the ARRL RTTY-DXCC.  I logged 5X1X on
12/12/03 in RTTY using MacRATT.

The latest version is MacRATT 2.1 with a splash screen saying it was done by
Stephen S. Fine on 9/30/90 (Yes 1990).  Do not confuse MacRATT version 2.1
with version III.  There was some bad blood between Steve Fine and AEA so
they contracted with Kevin Krueger, N0IOS for MacRATT III. It is a different
program and is still supported and used today.  I prefer the user interface
of the older version and never changed to version III.  I will continue to
use version 2.1 until something better is available.  MacRATT is one of the
best software purchased I have made.  I started with Steve's shareware
version (that may have been called MACIT or something like that),  then
purchased the fully released MacRATT version that he sold to AEA, including
the only version 2.1 update.

If you have a PK-232, hang on to old MacRATT version 2.1 and the manual. If
you need some help getting it to run, send me an email with your questions.

FYI, I run MacRAT 2.1 on this Mac G4 with OSX 10.3 in Classic mode via a
Keyspan Serial to USB adapter.  BTW, the Keyspan is the only adapter I found
that really works. 

AEA went broke and TimeWave took over support of their products but did not
obtain the rights to the Mac software version 2 or III.  I assume Steve Fine
still owns version 2 and Kevin Krueger, N0IOS, maintains and supports his
product. 

I have tried to contact Steve Fine to obtain the source code for the
orphaned MacRATT 2.1 to be able to update it for OSX and he has not
responded.

Try it you will really like MacRATT 2.1.

73 de Dick, AA5VU

> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Anderson GM4JJJ <david@gm4jjj.co.uk>
> Subject: [Ham-Mac] AEA MacRATT with FAX for PK-232, PK-88 and PK-87.
> 
> When searching through my loft this morning for something that I have
> mislaid, the story of my life, I stumbled across two boxes with
> original AEA MacRATT software (S/N 434 and 441) and manuals for the AEA
> PK232. Software is on floppy disc (remember them?).