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Porky
 
Programs Modes and accessories Connections
Case CPU RAM HD Video Drives OS Sound Monitor Modem Network
Desktop Pentium120 64mb 6.4gb intel810 3 1/2, cd W98 SE sb16 15" none 10/100

Overview
    Porky runs my ham, and short-wave radios. This is not much of a computer, by today's standards, but it is an amazingly powerful ham radio station controller. I chose Windows 98 as the operating system, because nearly everything runs under it. Many of the control programs written for ham radio operation, were written for Windows 3.1, and there is a huge amount of dos software out there for ham radio. I would have preferred Windows 2000, but did not wish to risk software incompatibility. The machine has no modem, but is able to connect to the net, through my proxy server, though this is not often required. The machine has a couple of extra com ports to connect all of the radio gear, but otherwise is pretty plain. This is the machine which had formerly been Linus, before replacement with a more powerful computer.
    In addition to acting as a control head for my radios, Porky runs a selection of Ham radio software. These include logging, and digital radio programs. The digital programs allow me to use the radio to transmit packet, RTTY, and many other modes. I can also receive fax, weather maps, and whatever else is out there. I even have programs which will translate morse code into text, or allow me to transmit morse code by typing it out on my keyboard. There are also numerous clock programs, including connection to the atomic clocks at the National Bureau of standards, as well as the U.S. Navy. I can display Universal time, as well as the times in several different cities, at once. The best clock program I have is Earthwatch, which displays a moving map of the earth with the daylight areas lit. Times for the entire word are displayed in this program. There are also programs which can display world propagation information. I am also able to send QSL card via email, or even use a program to print them out.
    The main radios being operated out of Porky are a Kenwood TS-440SAT, TS-711a, and an Icom PCR-100. I have full control over all of these radios, and the use of the computer considerably raises the number of memories available for the Kenwood. The only unusual feature of this computer, and the one which permits it to connect with all of these radios is the addition of an extra pair of serial ports. These are on an ISA card, which just goes to show the age of this machine.  The combination of computer control, and the proper software, allows the use of either of these radios (though the Icom does this better) as a spectrum analyzer. This can be a handy feature to have, though I get little practical use from it. I can quickly check traffic and activity on any or all of the ham bands (commercial bands too), and see what's out there.
      Porky has no modem, and connects to the internet through the gateway on my network. This is occasionally useful for connecting to the atomic clocks, and for downloading software. Porky is one of my oldest computers, and is the oldest computer I have which has not been updated of modified. I will probably replace this computer soon, with a PII, or PIII unit, and Porky will become either a gateway, or will be retired.
Amateur Radio software currently running on Porky
RTTY SSTV Packet FSK fax
Digital Spectrum analyzer scanner memories