Thanks Jim, for sharing your feelings on Winlink. You are right, the only stations that will need a Pactor Modem will be the PMBO in the section that will handle all the HF Forwarding into and out of the area. The others can use any digital modem available on VHF/UHF.

There is good news…Rick Muthing KN6KB, a member of ARESCOM, has written and tested software to allow use of a sound card instead of the modem. The software is called SCAMP, Sound Card Amateur Message Protocol. The SCAMP Software, that will allow modem free, soundcard use of the Pactor modes has been completed and is now being tested. It seems to be working very well. The release of this software would put a lot of Pactor stations on the air and the concern is that there is presently no available bandwidth to do this without interference. That’s the reason we are so concerned about the Bandwidth Proposal allowing room for high speed digital messaging.

Pactor is a very wide mode but it’s efficiency and short time on duration makes it a more acceptable alternative than some narrow modes. This is made apparent when you look at the RF Footprint that indicates the efficiency of the modes.

If anyone needs more information an excellent, short, Power Point Presentation is available and I would be happy to provide it to you.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that I have had the pleasure of working with this past year. I feel we are all truly blessed by being able to share in the workings of our League Family. I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

73, Dick

Dick Mondro, W8FQT

Vice Director

ARRL, Great Lakes Division

Chair, ARESCOM Ad-Hoc Committee

w8fqt@arrl.org

http://greatlakes.arrl.org