| W8UAB |
Rating:      |
2015-09-09 | |
| A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
The N4PY Pegasus Plus softwares functionality just blows me away. Although the GUI is somewhat old school, the features are nothing short of remarkable! Not only matching but adding to the feature set of my Jupiter, this control software will extend my pride in ownership for quite a bit longer than I had anticipated. If you own the Jupiter, you already know how flexible this transceiver proves to be. Now, add N4PY’s software and SHAZAM! It is now a wolf in sheep's clothing. This is way more than a control interface. It has split every hair in the Jupiters’ resident operating system to allow for features and functionality not originally provided nor intended from TenTec. Drastically extended SSB transmit bandwidth, CW ID function, TX Disable (Great for OFF AIR transmit audio tune ups), receive audio muting, unlimited band and frequency hopping, a macro for amp tuning that bumps the frequency up a notch, places the rig in CW, reduces power, sends a pulse and puts everything back to square one when its done. Pure, simple, easy and intuitive. Amazing! The added feature set is well documented, function by function, step by step in the software's documentation. I recently added the TenTec 1208 6m Transverter to my station. Once again, this software takes it to the next level. Perfect, seamless integration. Perfect setup and execution. Thoughtful warnings double checking my awareness of the transverter. The ability to offset the IF starting frequency to perfectly align the transverter with the radios display. Power limiting to make sure I don’t toast my new investment.
Add the 302 Remote Pod from TenTec and you are able to program a long list of options to make this accessory finally worth the investment. Add the Tmate2 from Woodbox and just plug it in. It works right out of the box. No drivers, no monkey business. Want a cool virtual S-meter? Add Bob’s S-meter with a simple additional virtual COM port. Really, this just keeps getting better.
A friend offered me his Flex 5000 recently for a give-a-way price and I turned him down. My investment in and enjoyment of this software with my TenTec Jupiter has yet to lose my interest.
Lastly, but most important is Carl, the developer of the N4PY software. When I had initially started with his 10 day trial demo I was full of questions. Carl responded instantly, professionally and politely. Even more impressive? He takes requests. This is why his software has grown into such a monster. Years of combining his own expertise as well as having an open mind to new features and fixes suggested by real users in the field.
If Carl was running General Motors, Ford or Chrysler, I wouldn’t own a Toyota... |
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| W5NRF |
Rating:      |
2015-06-04 | |
| Great company |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've been using this with my FTDX-3000 and HDSDR for a year now for computer control. Reliable, easy to use, and Carl helped me set it up even before I made the purchase. I highly recommend the Pegasus Plus to anyone willing to take the time to set it up correctly.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by W5NRF on 2014-08-10
I have a Yaesu FTDX-3000 radio, a Softrock RX Ensemble II HF receiver, and an Ultimate USB Deluxe sound card.
Carl helped me d/l the software on a trial basis, then guided me through the setup and operation step by step (by email). This was on a Sunday, and with no expectation of whether I would buy or not!
You can't buy support like that nowadays.
Highly recommend...
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| N4PY |
Rating:      |
2015-05-10 | |
| Good Software |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| The size of the radio display window can be easily changed to whatever you want. In the "Preferences3" settings window there are Scale parms to set the X and Y coordinate multiplier to make the radio display any size you want. |
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| KD8OPI |
Rating:   |
2015-04-11 | |
| I wanted to like it. |
Time Owned: N.A. |
I really wanted to like this program. I installed the 7 day trail and spent an hour with it. It was a frustrating hour. I have a K3.
Some background: I have HRD, and I wanted a replacement as I'm not satisfied with the windows it vomits onto my screens full of useless info. Now that it costs money, I wanted to look around and try my options. I found all of the great reviews here for Pegasus Plus; so I downloaded the trial version. I'm glad N4PY has integrity and lets people try before they buy, and from what I read he seems like a stand-up guy.
Anyway, the interface is actually smaller than the panel of my K3, on a 21" monitor with no way to increase its size. This makes the buttons small to see. I was also frustrated with the play of the interface. I would double click on the VFO, and it would clear out, flip my radio to AM mode ans shift my filter. I didn't understand why it would tune down when I clicked on VFO A, nor why it would turn on noise reduction with one click, but I had to click and hold to turn it off. After playing with it for an hour, and trying to read the manual (its really not written well) I gave up. Its not for me. I liked some of the one-click filter settings.
Maybe some the integration features make this worthwhile, I didn't test those.
For K3 owners, I tried Win4K3, and gave it 4/5. Its not perfect either, but it may be more straightforward for us Elecraft folks. None of these are cheap programs. The last free version of HRD, for all of its warts and imperfections really was something special.
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| AE4JA |
Rating:      |
2015-01-06 | |
| Excellent! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I've been using Carl's software for over three years now, and my collection of radios that it works with keeps growing. I started out with a Pegasus, which the software was originally designed for. It makes the Pegasus twice the radio it is with the factory software. I then purchased an RX-320 to use as a second receiver. A few months after that I came across a deal I couldn't refuse on an Argonaut V and low and behold the Pegasus Plus software works with it too! What makes this package superior, however, is the customer support you get. Like others here have stated, Carl is on top of things, and usually has an answer for your queries before you'd expect him to. He's constantly working on adding new features, and the list of supported hardware just keeps growing daily. Got an idea for a new feature or an improvement to an existing feature? Send it on to Carl and chances are if it's reasonable he'll do his best to implement it. If all amateur related things came wit this kind of service we'd be in hog heaven! |
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| WB4HUC |
Rating:      |
2014-09-19 | |
| Adds a lot of functionality to your station. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
For me the software does three things that make it a lot more fun and convenient to operate my OMNI VII.
One:
There are many fewer front panel controls on the OMNI VII than on the earlier Ten Tec radios like the OMNI VI.
Where the OMNI VI had separate dedicated controls for things like AF Gain and RF Gain, RIT and XIT,keyer speed, speech processor, etc., the OMNI VI gives most controls two functions or requires you to press a button to select a function then use the Multi knob to adjust that function.
This works fine, but just doesn't seem to be as convenient as having separate dedicated controls for these things.
The N4PY software provides dedicated controls for each function so that you can just use the mouse to click a button or move a slider to make an adjustment. This saves a lot of wear and tear on the radio's physical controls.
Two:
One of the coolest thing about the software is that it really expands the functionality of the remote tuning control.
The remote tuning control has a numeric keypad, three function keys, and a tuning knob. When the radio is operated from its front panel you can enter frequency, tune the vfo, or program the three function keys to do different things.
When the radio is operated from the software each of the keys on the numeric keypad (except the E key) is programmable as well.
So you can program each of the keys on the keypad to your liking, then you can just press the button to select a function and turn the tuning knob to adjust or change the values for that function.
This is similar to pressing a button on the radio panel then using the Multi knob but more convenient, because the keypad sits on the table right under your hand and you can move the tuning control right where you want it.
If you program the keys to perform the functions that you use the most you can almost operate the radio entirely from the tuning control.
Three:
The software interfaces with a lot of other equipment. I'm using my OMNI VII with an Elecraft KPA500 solid state amplifier, my Logic 9 logging software, and a SoftRock Ensemble II SDR that provides a second receiver/spectrum display for the OMNI VII.
The N4PY software ties all of this stuff together. Change bands on the OMNI and the amp and SDR follow. Change frequencies on either the SDR (using the HDSDR software) or the OMNI and the other radio follows. Add an entry to the logging program and it reads the frequency and mode from the radio. Point and click on a signal in the SDR spectrum display and the Omni is tuned to that frequency.
So the software provides a single point of control for the entire station.
In summary, the software adds a level of convenience to operating the station and provides functionality that you just don't have otherwise.
And then there are the functions that I didn't mention. You can send CW from the computer keyboard, operate the radio remotely from another computer, and do lots of other things.
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| EA6NB |
Rating:      |
2014-09-18 | |
| Very good improvement for K3 |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I am using N4PY-Pegasus software with my K3 and is the best improvement I have made to this very good transceiver, now I hardly use any keys of the K3, also using the Flex Control for external VFO and programmable buttons is outstanding. The K3 is a very good transceiver (probably the best I have use) but is small and you don't have Band and Mode buttons and most of the keys have two commands,there is no problem with this but with N4PY is easier and faster than with my FT5000MP or other big rig, also you can program keys as you like or need.
I just recommend to get this software (plus Flex Control) for a much better use of the K3, I am sure you will enjoy it. For 65$ is the best accessory for your transceiver.
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| WH6MS |
Rating:      |
2014-04-11 | |
| Outstanding |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Outstanding software and outstanding customer support from Carl. You can't go wrong using this software. |
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| W8JXM |
Rating:      |
2013-12-26 | |
| Simply Great!! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I say simply because I am not the most computer literate person. Have a Pegasus and the software integrates radio,external tuner, and amp so it works as a 1kw radio. Carl's manual explains it all in an easy to understand manner for us non-computer people. I will never part with this equipment or his software. He is only an e-mail away. Perfect 5.0 tells it all. Thank you Carl.....
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| K0FTC |
Rating:      |
2013-12-26 | |
| Yaesu FT-dx1200 control software |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| This is more of an update as I've switched my main radio to an FT-dx1200. All the various capabilities to tie your radio into a pan-adapter, CW Skimmer, cluster program, and logging program exist for this radio as it has for the other radios I've used N4PY to control and interface them. I guess that is one reason why I am a fan of the software - there is a huge selection of radios that N4PY will work really well with, and that is a good thing as often as I trade and buy radios in the search for the perfect one - HI. There is so much you can do right from your desktop, I hardly touch the radio itself. But more then that, you will never find better customer service. The FT-dx1200 is a new radio for Carl's software and as such there were a few things that needed tweaking in the software for this radio. Between holiday events and family, we communicated over Christmas Eve to the day after Christmas to make those tweaks. There are not a lot of folks who would answer an email for assistance and work so diligently through a couple of issues during that time frame and Carl is one of those few - really outstanding customer service. So if you are looking for radio control software for you FT-dx1200, I've recommend N4PY as a great option for you. (I'm just a customer and have no other association with N4PY.) 73, John K0FTC |
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