I looked in my old DX Handbook and I found I was wrong on the spacing. Once I read it, I remembered thats how I learned code.

1. A dash is equal in duration to that of 3 dots
2. A space between the signals forming a letter is equal to the duration of 1 dot.
3. The space between the letters of a word is equal to the duration of 3 dots.
4. The space between words are equal to the duration of 7 dots.

DX handbook Page 67

1 dit spacing for letters, two dits for words, thats what Ive always done. 

I think some of the issue might be these guys using software and RTS/DTR to send and the program doesnt know about spacing. Ive seen that in everything from HRD to other programs. 

Could be in the radio's too with the memory keys, but yes, Im hearing that more and more and from some old CW ops..

I was talking to Wes about that at Huntsville and he wanted to go, just the $$$'s arent there.

It may be cheaper and safer for the VK group to do it.  Heard Island is tough to get to and back from. 

I could have done it back in 1997, but I dont know about now! LOL Wes did ask if I was interested and I said yes. I'd be glad to handle all the computer and networking and wifi for them and do some CW shifts.. but it's COLD down there.  Best time to go is Janurary, when it's the middle of the summer on VK0

They did 80,000+ plus contacts the last time around at the lowest time in Cycle 23 with few or no sunspots.  The only place that didnt has prop was the central US on 160 meters.

I have the card next to me.  Love that penguin.

As you work and confirm more DX, you'll find that the DXCC list is confusing and has some strange idiosyncracis. As W9KNI said in one of his books, it really doesnt make sense to him and he was head of the DXAC in the past.

Of course it was BS, the amaizng things ham come up with in relation to our SMALL market.

Sounds like someone was mad at Ten-tec and wanted to start a rumor. Well, eHam is where they all start.

A ham got mad at me since I wanted him to buy a support upgarde to the software yesterday, since the older software he had was from 2005 and his year of warrenty support was up (in 2006). We have free support s in the message board for those that dont want to buy the upgrade but before I could tell him about the free support, he hung up on me.  This is an older ham, in his 70's. It's like, c'mon, you didnt have to get all upset over software.

Im sure it was something else that was bothering him, but he took it out on me.

did anyone call ten-tec and ask?  No, of course not.

Most newer USB soundcards, as well as USB to serial ports do have Windows 7 drivers.  I have that setup here in the shack with my software (http://www.w4pcsoftware.com).  The only issue you'll run into, is with the programs that use the serial port for keying, if they dont support the 8250 totally in the driver, then you'll run into issues keying.

Call them.  Rich, Dick and the bunch a great people to work with and they can give you the status of your order.

Is its xmas time, so shipping is slower, as is the mail. Patience and a call should make all well

Rick W4PC

(yeah that was me on the NOV cover )

Not free, Copyright and stolen.

The version of Hostmaster you have is the latest.  He is no longer developing software.  When you get to 64 bit Windows, dos programs will not run under it in native mode.

Digital Desktop is the 32 bit replacement, when runs under 32 and 64 bit Windows.

http://www.w4pcsoftware.com

Ken,

Before AEA had the PK-232, they had the PK-64. It was a board that plugged into the expansion backpanel of a C 64.  Same thing with DR DX and DR QSO for the C64.

My guess is he has the PK-64.


Rick - W4PC

Well when finances come around, keep me/us in mind.  I have a house and familty too!  We;ve been doing software for hams since 1997, and everyone else except for Dave has gotten out of the TNC market.

The big difference between DXLab and Digital Desktop is that his is terminal mode and ours is host mode.  Instead of everything coming through in one windows, we use multiple windows to keep it organized.

At any rate, welcome to the digital modes, your PK-232 will outperform many soundcard RTTY programs and by far, it has a much better CW decoder.

Rick - W4PC

Thats why we have phone support for our products and can remote into your computer, set it up for you and give you a quick tour of the PK-232.

No need to waste hours trying to figure out how to set up something for your TNC, when you have a company that gives you live 'home based' remote support. And I can tell you if your TNC has a hardware issue, or if your power supply doesnt have enough amps to init the TNC (one of the biggest problems with the older PK-232s).

In fact, Digital Desktop will set the TNC up for you, with the TNC wizard.  Most people can be up and running in just a few minutes. 

Your choice on which softare you want to use, just hope you look at the after 'sale' support... (or in our case, pre-sale support)

Radio Operations Center gives you all the TNC modes and soundcard modes.. in host mode.. 30 day free trial at:

http://www.cssincorp.com/ROC_Digital_Desktop.html

The PK-232 is great on CW, RTTY PSK-31 etc etc etc.