[PCR-1000] Win XP and Icom Software

Sat, 27 Apr 2002 16:36:21 -0400

Hi,

Some input for Icom's Dayton reps.......

Something seems terribly wrong with all this conversation about PCR-1000
software!

The PCR-1000 is a 'computer controlled radio'.  As such, the manufacturer
should focus as much on the software as they do on hardware.  If they don't
live up to that responsibility, then their business will suffer.

It is absolutely wonderful that a number of PCR-1000 users have expended a
considerable effort to improve on Icom's software offering.  This is typical
of the radio community in general.  In some cases, the 'incentive is
motivated by the desire to sell their own product - still great as it
advances the art.

What's unsettling is Icom's apparent indifference to user input for 'this
product'.  I say 'this product', because Icom does seem more responsive to
user input on some of their other product lines - notably the HF 7xx line.
Despite that line having a full front physical panel, they have apparently
listened to and reacted to user input about request for computer control
features and suggested improvement of existing ones.

Icom's largest competitor, for the PCR-1000 product line, appears to be
WinRadio.  Comparing the two product marketing staffs is like comparing
night and day!  WinRadio provides (free of charge) a Visual Basic toolkit to
let you develop your own panels, bandscopes, etc.  They run contests to
encourage users (giving away radios) to submit entries and do take their
input to heart.

Take a look.... www.winradio,com and then revisit Icom's 'list of third
party....'.

My opinion: Icom does have a pretty good product - I'd give it 9 on a scale
of 10.  My unit works fine, has been very reliable, and I really enjoy it.
However, if I had to make the decision again (today), I'd be tempted to go
with WinRadio's external model .  Specs seem comparable (WinRadio's total
freq spread is wider). From the 30,000 foot view of never owning one,
WinRadio's xxxx-e ('-e' for external as opposed to '-i' for PC board) models
appear to be half a notch above ICOM - give 'em a 9.5.  The difference
appears to  be that Icom is stuck in time - kinda like in the Win'95 age,

73
Frank

<<---  END OF MESSAGE --->>
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert DeShazer" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2002 3:15 AM
Subject: Re: [PCR-1000] Win XP and Icom Software

> I have purchased radiocom 4.0 and all upgrades to version 5.1 and am using
> the product with the pcr-1000.
> The software requires an IC-SWL switchbox which is sold as part of the
> package deal. This switchbox is required, otherwise the software will
surely
> hose the eeprom on your 1000 (my very first software purchase after
> purchasing pcr-1000 was TalkPCR, and I immediatley made a backup.
Therefore
> I have the luxury of trial and error.) I know this from experience. The
> application is pretty good although a bit sluggish on most systems (
> traversing from mode to mode requires that you switch from window to
window
> within the program which is performed by clicking buttons with categorical
> labels) and the satellite tracking portion of the upgrade packages from
5.0
> on refuses to render the base maps appropriatley under windows XP. In case
> you decide to to check the program out (in other words purchase). Note
that
> the SSTV portion of the application has a programming bug in it where as
the
> SC120 and the scottie 1 buttons are reversed in regard to their operation.
> Hope this saves you some time and if you purchase some frustration as
well.
>
> Regards,
> Robert DeShazer
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Adrian Skerratt" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2002 12:17 AM
> Subject: Re: [PCR-1000] Win XP and Icom Software
>
>
> > Bill and Harry
> >
> > Icom UK are actually bundling Radiocom Version 4 which doesn't come with
> > the DSP. I guess they still want people to buy the DSP card!
> >
> > Radiocom seems to orientated towards HF data decoding stuff
(FAX/RTTY/CW)
> > but I'm not sure if its a "generic scanner" kind of program. There is a
> > demo here: (go to the Radiocom 4.0 link)
> >
> > http://www.bonito.net/bonito/gbindex.htm
> >
> > but its only a rolling demo showing RTTY/FAX/CW/SSTV decoding. It
doesn't
> > actually talk to your PCR1000.
> >
> > I bought my PCR1000 over here in the UK just over a month ago, without
> > Radiocom, so like everybody else I'm hoping ICOM are going to provide a
> > copy for existing users.
> >
> > Adrian
> >
> >
> > At 15:25 26/04/02 -0400, you wrote:
> > >Harry,
> > >
> > >If it is Radiocom but not Radiocomm that UK sites are bundling with
> > >pcr-1000, it is definitely a big deal to us.  Radiocom has many great
> > >and useful features.  It also has a software (sound card based) DSP
> > >function, which could possibly substitute or even outperform icom DSP
> > >module.  For the price of more than half of pcr-1000, I wouldn't buy it
> > >separately.  But it will certainly be great if we can get it together
> with
> > >pcr-1000!
> > >
> > >Bill
> > >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > PCR-1000 mailing list
> > [email protected]
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/pcr-1000
> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> PCR-1000 mailing list
> [email protected]
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/pcr-1000
>