1.2 Computer or Computer Terminal Requirements
You will need a Computer or Computer Terminal to "talk to" or control
your PK-232. If you are using a Computer, you will need a
Communications Program or Terminal Program as it is sometimes called.
The most popular computers are the IBM-PC and its compatibles, the
Apple Macintosh and the Commodore-64/128. These computers can all be
made to work with the PK-232.
Timewave has terminal programs for IBM PC compatible computers using
Windows 3.1 and Windows 95/98/NT operating systems. If you other types
of computer or operating systems, you must supply your own terminal
program.
The Computer or Computer Terminal you plan to use must have an RS-232
Serial Communications port. You will also need a Communications
Program that allows your computer to communicate over the RS-232 port
using the ASCII character set. Details for connecting many computers
can be found in Chapter 2 of this manual.
1.3 Station Requirements
We presume that you already have an operating radio transceiver or
Short-Wave receiver to which you will connect your PK-232. In the
Amateur bands most of the VHF activity occurs on the 2-meter FM band,
while most of the HF activity occurs on the 20-meter band. An HF
receiver or transceiver must be capable of SSB operation. While no
specific brand of transceiver is required, we recommend that a modern
transceiver (built in the last 20 years) capable of operation on one
of the two frequency bands mentioned above be used. Specific
transceiver connections are described in Chapter 3 of this manual.
1.3.1 System Transmitter-Receiver Performance Requirements
Most modern radio transceivers are capable of excellent performance
in Morse, Baudot and ASCII RTTY, AMTOR and packet radio. Although
AMTOR Mode A (ARQ) operation imposes more demanding switching speed
requirements than the other operating modes, most radios will operate
in both AMTOR modes without any modifications. Radio switching times
are less critical in packet radio operation. See the AMTOR operating
section for further details on timing requirements.
Your PK-232 provides software-controlled timing variations that
permits operation with nearly all the HF and VHF/UHF radios in general
use today.
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