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<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:rodpadmore@ns.sympatico.ca">rodpadmore@ns.sympatico.ca</a> wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid001c01c6fd1f$bda1aa20$6601a8c0@TOSHIBALAPTOP" type="cite">
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<div> What are the most important features found in an APRS
friendly computer available in today's market place? Does anyone have
other suggestions such as brand and model? </div>
<div> Thanks to anyone that has an informed opinion on these
questions. 73 de Rod. </div>
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</blockquote>
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1) Real serial ports!!! This is critical to avoid the hassle with
USB-to-serial converter "dongles". which have endless compatibility
problems with some programs and operating systems. <br>
<br>
This is even more of an issue when using soundcard-based programs that
use the handshaking lines of the serial port independently of the data
flow in unorthodox ways, to key transmitter PTT lines, send CW and
RTTY-FSK at odd rates like 45.45 baud, take in receiver squelch
status, etc. <br>
<br>
Unfortunately, virtually NO consumer mass-market laptops have serial
ports anymore. You will have to go to higher-priced business and
specialty-market machines to get real ports. (This is why I just paid
USD $1500 for a new Panasonic Toughbook CF-51 15" CoreDuo laptop
through a specialty reseller, instead of buying a similar consumer
market machine for under $1000.) <br>
<br>
[Actually the Toughbook has other attributes that make it desirable for
APRS. It's designed to work reliably at high temps and to withstand
dust, shock and vibration </font><font face="Arial">such as in a car
or at field day </font><font face="Arial">. Large numbers of
Toughbooks are used as mobile terminals in police cars, delivery
trucks, etc. ]<br>
<br>
An alternative to the messy USB-to-serial devices is to buy (rather
pricy) PCMCIA cards with real serial ports on them. (Assuming the
laptop still has "classic" PCMCIA card slots!) On many machines these
are being dropped in favor of multiple types of slots for flash memory
cards.)<br>
<br>
<br>
2) Decent sound system if you intend to use soundcard-based soft TNCs
like the AGW Packet Engine or MixW. Most laptops now lack a stereo
line-level audio input. They only have a monophonic mic input. This
has two real disadvantages. First the mic input is almost always far
too sensitive for the audio levels coming out of a radio speaker or
packet/aux jack, forcing you to kluge resistor attenuator networks in
the cable to keep the mic input from overloading. Second, you throw
away the ability of programs like the AGW Packet Engine to create a
dual-port TNC that can support TWO radios at once. ( With a STEREO
input, you can actually connect one radio and soundcard interface to
the left channel, and a second one to the right channel at the same
time.)<br>
<br>
<br>
3) Other things being equal, a machine whose chassis power input from
it's supplied "power brick" is 12-14VDC rather than the 19-20 VDC that
is most common. This gives you the option to operate directly from 12
VDC power setups in cars, at field day, etc without DC-DC upconverters
or worse 12DC-to-110VAC inverters with their attendent
inefficiencies. This was an unexpected pleasant surprise and bonus
when I got the Toughbook. <br>
<br>
<br>
4) PS/2 keyboard/mouse port. These are beginning to disappear also
in the face of the everything-USB juggernaut. Even if you don't use it
for an external keyboard, the PS/2 port has traditionally been a handy
source of +5 VDC for powering serial GPS devices, powering TinyTraks
while being programmed, charging cellphones, etc. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
--<br>
<br>
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com <br>
EchoLink Node: 14400 [Think bottom of the 2M band]<br>
Home Page: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.com">http://wa8lmf.com</a> --OR-- <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net">http://wa8lmf.net</a><br>
<br>
<br>
NEW! JavAPRS Filter Port 14580 Guide <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/JAVaprsFilters.htm">http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/JAVaprsFilters.htm</a><br>
<br>
UI-View Misc Notes and FAQ<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/UIview_Notes.htm">http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/UIview_Notes.htm</a> <br>
<br>
"APRS 101" Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths">http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths</a> <br>
<br>
Updated "Rev G" APRS <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.net/aprs">http://wa8lmf.net/aprs</a><br>
Symbols Set for UI-View, <br>
UIpoint and APRSplus:<br>
<br>
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<br>
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