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Reviews For: MICROLOG AIR-1

Category: Decoders, multi-mode

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Review Summary For : MICROLOG AIR-1
Reviews: 4MSRP:
Description:
Plug-in cartridge for the old Commodore 64 computer
Product is in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0044.5
N6SPP Rating: 2014-07-20
Rock solid (1980's)TNC Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Wow-
I purchased an Air-1 circa 1984 at HRO Oakland and initially connected it from the C64 to a Grundig Satellit 1400 and FR-101 rcvrs for rtty, fec and cw hf-utility decoding. In 1988, I interfaced it to my Drake twins for rtty 2 way q's.

73, Eric n6spp-anchorage
K4LIX Rating: 2014-07-02
Takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have had this Microlog AIR-1 (for the C64) for many years and have used it on and off during that time. Licensed for 55 years now and much of that time dedicated to RTTY, I decided to use it for Field Day with my C64 (also works with the C128, which I also have) and the 1702 color monitor. Teamed it up with my Kenwood TS-590S and made 71 RTTY (true FSK) contacts for Field Day 2014 (KE4FD, 3A, NFL). Excellent results and absolutely no complaints - check our Face Book page for many pictures or check my QRZ.com page. 73 de Jim, K4LIX nnnn
K3GM Rating: 2012-04-25
Amazing little module for its time Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This review is purely for nostalgic purposes as the AIR-1 and Commodore computer have long been out of production. I obatined my AIR-1 module right when I was trying to figure out what to do next with my Commodore VIC-20. I wasn't much into "Peeking" and "Poking", and had grown tired of early computing. The Microlog AIR-1 was just the thing to rejuvinate my interest. The unit plugged into the back of the VIC. It was much larger and heavier than the game cartridges, and hung ungainly off the back of the keyboard. The bare PC board was visible and had two large rubber feet stuck right to the PCB which leveled and stabilized the cartridge. I remember not having much room behind the keyboard with it and the cables hanging off the back. The AIR-1 one did an amazing job of RTTY and could also decode CW as well. I made many RTTY contacts, and even dabbled in a few contests with it. My recollection was it had a small volatile memory where the contents were lost when powered down. It also featured a tuning "eye" on the display screen, and would immediate begin decoding RTTY once it was tuned correctly. It was quite an amazing little device for the early 1980's, and I remember working lots of overtime to afford it without damaging my family budget. It has sat unused for decades in a drawer, but I can't bring myself to toss it. Perhaps someday, it and the VIC-20 will make their way out to Dayton.
K3ICH Rating: 2002-08-23
Best Decoding Algorithms Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The decoding algorithms and digital filtering used at Microlog are the best in the business. These are pre-DSP, so it was all machine code processing in real time. Even though it was running at the snails pace clock of a couple Mhz, they were very effective in copying both RTTY and hand sent CW. The only down side is that they're not produced any more and that they only fit the obsolete Commodore C-64 computer. I have run side by side comparisons with just about every competitor at the time and can state that the little AIR-1 will outperform them all. It's performance is all due to the programming ability of the guys at Microlog who wrote the operating code. (They conversed in machine code! It was erie to listen in on their conversation. " Lets JSR to SUB1 and EXC the PIA". ???) I guess with all the new digital modes, Clover, PSK-31, etc. The AIR-1 could be considered and antique, but if you've got an old "64" laying around, this is a perfect use for it.