Pactor 4 on an Icom 802

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by KStepman

There are some email using 4, CruiseEMail may be one, I am researching this now.

Sailmail reports having upgraded all their shore stations to Pactor 4.

Many Winlink stations outside of the US have upgraded as well.

[Night_Sailor]

I would think that US based Winlink stations will operate at Pactor III speeds and having a P4 modem will automatically slow itselfdown to communicate with those stations. Outside of the US, or with Sailmail, P4 is the way to go. I'm confident the Ham restrictions will end within a year or so, so P4 seems to be the way to go.

[KStepman]

Originally Posted by Night_Sailor

I would think that US based Winlink stations will operate at Pactor III speeds and having a P4 modem will automatically slow itselfdown to communicate with those stations. Outside of the US, or with Sailmail, P4 is the way to go. I'm confident the Ham restrictions will end within a year or so, so P4 seems to be the way to go.

Thank you. I appreciate actionable information in the face of my ignorance.

[Dockhead]

To the OP: I would go with P4 without a doubt, even if you can't use it yet. If you decide you don't need it, then I've got a Pactor IIusb (P3 software) which I'll sell you at an excellent price, so that I can buy a P4

[KStepman]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

To the OP: I would go with P4 without a doubt, even if you can't use it yet. If you decide you don't need it, then I've got a Pactor IIusb (P3 software) which I'll sell you at an excellent price, so that I can buy a P4

Thanks. I am planning on getting the P4.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by KStepman

Thanks. I am planning on getting the P4.

Correct decision! Cheers.

[Roy M]

Hi folks, what's the latest on the P4dragon DR-7800? I am picking up my Icom 802 and antenna tuner in a week or so.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by Roy M

Hi folks, what's the latest on the P4dragon DR-7800? I am picking up my Icom 802 and antenna tuner in a week or so.

Since you are asking this question at all I would suggest the P4 Dragon DR-7400. All you give up is the spiffy blue spectrum display. Performance is identical.

[SoonerSailor]

Supposedly the P4, with its more powerful DSP engine, does Pactor III better than the earlier Pactor III modems. So, even if limited to using Winlink Pactor III stations for now, you will see a benefit to having the newer P4 modem.

[Roy M]

I'm attracted by shiny things. The "waterfall" makes no rational sense, but it beckons.....

[SV THIRD DAY]

Originally Posted by SoonerSailor

Supposedly the P4, with its more powerful DSP engine, does Pactor III better than the earlier Pactor III modems. So, even if limited to using Winlink Pactor III stations for now, you will see a benefit to having the newer P4 modem.

BUT...what's the definition of "better".
How much faster will the more expensive P4 get you that text only email or that weather file? I'm always open to be be convinced otherwise, but there is a good argument to save the money on the P3 to P4 differential because what do you really get in real terms?

[El Rubio]

Originally Posted by Roy M

I'm attracted by shiny things. The "waterfall" makes no rational sense, but it beckons.....

The spectrum and waterfall display will make tuning much more accurate and allow speeds to be the highest. The waterfall in particular, will show a graphical history of signal strength, frequency, bandwidth, etc. It's a quick visual tool. If you get used to using it, you probably wouldn't want to go back to led's only. It also shows any other signals that may cause or be interfered with.


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[Roy M]

Thank you, El Rubio. That's all the rationalization I needed to meet my fixation on shiny things. Much appreciated!

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by El Rubio

The spectrum and waterfall display will make tuning much more accurate and allow speeds to be the highest.

If you're tuning manually and using assorted digital modulations on ham frequencies that might help but most modern software like multipsk has a waterfall on the computer display.

For Sailmail and Winlink with computer controlled tuning there really is not significant value to the DR-7800 display.

YMMV.

[SoonerSailor]

The display on the 7400 might make it easier to identify a channel that is already busy, such that one doesn't step on a link already in progress - which happens a bit too frequently methinks. Whether it would be better than a careful listen, I don't know.


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