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Reviews For: AEA DSP-2232

Category: Packet TNCs & Digital Multi-mode Controllers

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Review Summary For : AEA DSP-2232
Reviews: 3MSRP: aea
Description:
multimode data controler
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0034.7
WQ6N Rating: 2017-10-14
Battery Change/Upgrade Time Owned: more than 12 months.
After several years I started to notice that the serial interface would complain that it could not communicate with the tnc. Checking the internal 2430 battery it was down to less than 1VDC.
I had a few 2450 battery holders, that I ordered from Digikey for Kantronics Data Engine upgrades, and decided to upgrade the DSP-2232 tnc. Unsoldered the internal 2430 and hand drilled two small holes for the 2450 battery holder (the original solder holes did not line up) and soldered in small jumpers to the original connections. Done.
I will probably never have to change the internal battery in my life time again.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by WQ6N on 2017-08-13

I am the original owner and after many years of service the TNC is still going strong. I have used it for everything from satellite to HF and KISS to Host modes. I must admit that with every software upgrade, a new manual resulted, leaving a stack of the older manuals.
There are several pro's and con's between the Sound Modem cards and TNC's. One of the biggest, as I see it, is that you do not have to have a PC connected at all times for its operation. It does put out some heat which is great in the winter time ;-) Compared to the SignaLink, the enclosure is fairly large in size.
For Host mode, I use the AEA PcPakratt 2.0 for the 32bit interface.
With the Sound Modems you have to have a PC connected but they do have many operational modes to choose from.
There is a place for each of these units in the shack or in the field. To date, I have been more than happy with the DSP-2232.
W0IPL Rating: 2005-10-18
Hotrod PK-900 Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Rated it a four because there is not a 4.5

Has all of the function of a PK-900 with the addition of a status display that tells you what mode you are in - by port - and who you are connected to (presuming you are connected).

Negative side: 1) Has an annoying habit of telling you that you are in 1200 baud packet (computer display only) when you are not. 2) EXPERT command is explained in the Pactor/Gateway suppliment but not in the manual itself. In other words if you do not have the full set of manuals (yes plural) you must rely on information available in the PK-900 manual. 3) No PDF version of the manual available (per Timewave) and the hard copy manual is almost $50 4) Power switch is on the back and is quite close to the power transistor which runs hot.

Not positive or negative: Threshold adjustment is software driven and hard to find in the manual.

Positive: I really like the additional display for port status. I tend to setup and run for a while and the go do something else and come back. If you run multiple modes like I tend to, it is very convienient to have the port-mode status available at a glance. I also find it easier to "find" other status information on the LEDs rather than in a very busy display that the PK-900 has.

If you plan on running PACTOR you need firmware at 01.Dec.93 (the latest). It is available from Timewave for $57.50 delivered to your mailbox (VERY quickly I might add). Instalation is easy, instructions are good and the timewave people are nice to deal with (a bit laid back but that's far better than some others).

I run an Icom 706 Mk-IIG with DSP so I'm not sure how much you gain (or don't) with the internal DSP. If you have a older rig it could be quite handy.

You really want computer software like WinPack that allows you to run scripts. This greatly facilitates changing modes with the multiple parameters that make operation easier. For example going from AMTOR (AM command) to PACTOR (PT command) there are three other parameters that should be changed (or checked). Using a script to do that helps a lot.

Other information at: http://www.w0ipl.com/TNCs/

73, Pat
LU5DDX Rating: 2003-07-04
exelente Time Owned: more than 12 months.
HACE 15 AÑOS QUE ANDO EN MODOS DIGITALES Y NO SE POR QUE APARECIO EN MI VIDA ESTE FABULOSO TNC REALMENTE MARCA UNA GRAN DIFERENCIA CON TODO LO PROBADO POR MI -KAN PLUS-PK232-MFJ1278B.DSP-
LO UNICO QUE QUEDO CORTO ES EL PROGRAMA PAKRRATT FOR WIN PERO CONSIDERANDO LA ANTIGUEDAD DEL MISMO Y COMPARANDOLO CON OTROS ES AMIGABLE GRACIAS A LA GENTE DE AEA POR SU LABOR JORGE