[Ham-Mac] What I don't like?

[Lew Phelps]

Chris has given a very reasonable and polite response to what I 
considered a rude, uninformed (e.g. $89 yearly fee assertion) and 
unreasonable posting.  I have downloaded a copy of MultiMode.  I have 
had some problems getting it to function in certain modes, which is 
probably more a matter of operator error than anything else.  But, as 
Chris points out, it's shareware.  I haven't paid for the program yet.  
When I achieve sufficient utility with it, I will, to help support 
Chris Smolinsiki's efforts to gradually develop a full-featured 
program.

If you think SkySweeper is all that great, go ahead and pay $700 and 
use it.

Lew Phelps
K6LMP


On Apr 12, 2004, at 5:45 AM, Chris Smolinski wrote:

>> What I don't like, Chris, is investing in hardware, specifically USB 
>> I/O interfaces, only to find out that the software is very 
>> inadequate!  Only a poor example of 'paid for' work in progress, 
>> literally, Beta Release software.  Software I now feel I was duped 
>> into buying from a very nice presentation web site, with excellent 
>> examples of the Beta Release software performing under very obviously 
>> ideal conditions.  And now, my $89.00 yearly subscription to support 
>> the 'poorly paid programmer' has run out.  Nah!  No more pay!  You're 
>> fired Chris!
>
> To be honest, I am not quite sure how you could havebeen "duped". 
> MultiMode is distributed as shareware. You're free to download a copy 
> and try it out before buying it. I actually encourage people to try it 
> before sending me any money. If you don't like it, you don't pay for 
> it, it's that simple!. Some people probably like it and use it, but 
> don't pay for it, although I have no control over that. It's the most 
> fair system I can think of for evaluating software. I then give a 
> year's worth of updates for free. I chose this over the arbitrary 
> 'free updates until next release' method since it would be up to me as 
> to when a "major release" occurs. Then another year's worth of updates 
> is $25, a little more than a quarter of the initial registration fee. 
> There is no $89 a year "subscription" to MultiMode.
>
>> And, just for the record Chris, I have written you before regarding 
>> questions about ACARS performance, etc.. You never responded, or you 
>> responded with a very generic, go away 'end user', 'you bother me', 
>> type response.  After all, that ACARS stuff is a non-Ham related 
>> issue anyway, right?
>
> I don't recall ever receiving any messages from you prior to this 
> recent thread. I try to answer each and every email I get regarding 
> one of my programs, especially bug reports. I also try my best to help 
> users use the programs. I have certainly never told a user to "go 
> away".
>
> Email is unfortunately not 100% reliable, especially with all the junk 
> and virus messages floating around. I receive about 2,500 messages per 
> *day*, of which 99% are of course junk. Filtering removes many of 
> these, but there's always the risk of a genuine message getting 
> blocked as well. I'm sorry if your messages were blocked. That's one 
> additional feature of this mailing list, it's often an alternate way 
> to get in touch with someone.
>
>> All right then, since one of my special interests is ACARS, then let 
>> it be know that MultiMode's continued poor performance in ACARS is 
>> just pathetic.  Even when one is setting very nearby an Up Link site.
>
> ACARS is actually one of my special interests as well, which is why I 
> implemented the ACARS decoder in MultiMode. It was actually one of the 
> first modes implemented, shortly after CW, RTTY, and FAX, as I recall. 
> I routinely get greater than a 90% decode rate on ACARS using 
> MultiMode. I've run it in parallel with a PC based decoding program 
> (RadioRaft in this case) which got similar results.
>
> In the case of ACARS, the input volume level is the one setting you 
> need to worry about (in addition to making sure squelch is off of 
> course). Too low or high will cause poor decoding results. I've had 
> good results with radios ranging from an Icom R-7000 down to an old 
> Bearcat 220 scanner. Curiously I have had very poor results using a 
> JRC NRD 545 (with the optional VHF/UHF converter). Some preliminary 
> tests show that the DSP filtering in the 545 causes some severe 
> distortion to ACARS signals.
>
>> Nope!  Even as bad as the PeeCee with Windows OS platform is today, 
>> with software like SkySweeper Standard around, I myself use the 
>> Professional edition, SkySweeper out performs MultiMode hands down in 
>> every aspect that I could possibly desire.  And with no additional 
>> hardware investment required!!  Fact is, the over all total 
>> investment in hardware and software is much less in comparison.
>
> For those not familiar with PC software, SkySweeperPro is a roughly 
> $700 package. I am certainly not knocking it, from other radio 
> enthusiasts I know who use it, it is an excellent piece of software.
>
>> Yes, SkySweeper is, as Chris implied, complex software.  [Actually, 
>> on much closer inspection, it's really not!]  And MultiMode is 
>> certainly not of that caliber.  Okay!  My whole point in starting 
>> this thread in the first place was to inspire people like Chris, paid 
>> well or not, to make MultiMode for the Macintosh platform comparable 
>> if not better than the PC counter parts / competition.
>
> And my reply was to ask for some specific suggestions as to what 
> additions/changes you would like to see. Repeating "make it like 
> SkySweeper" is a little more vague than what I was looking for. Maybe 
> one day we can get to the full feature set of a program like 
> SkySweeper, but we will have to get there in steps. Rome was not built 
> in a single day.
>
> I've always been open to suggestions from users, and indeed I can say 
> that many of the features in MultiMode, as well as some modes 
> themselves, where included at the suggestion of users. Likewise, if 
> someone points out a bug, I try my best to replicate it here, and fix 
> it.
>
>>
>> And now, to add insult to injury, we have the ridiculously simple MP3 
>> file, oops no it's really actually an application, Trojan Horse in 
>> the community.
>
> Yes, it's an application that shows the icon of an mp3 file. I'm 
> really not sure what all the fuss is about. Frankly I'm surprised that 
> no one thought of that sooner.
>
> I again solicit any and all suggestions,  criticisms, complaints, and 
> even the rare kudos for MultiMode, or any of my other programs for 
> Hams who use Macintosh computers.
>
> 73
> Chris
> N3JLY
>
> -- 
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