SCS PTC-IIex, Manual

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5 PTC-Firmware
5.12.1 Application for PACTOR-Duplex
1. PDuplex can be used excellently to make mailbox programs for PR working with the
WA8DED hostmode (
DPBox , DieBox , GP , WinGT , etc). also usable for PACTOR.
The terminal- and mailbox program does not notice on the WA8DED hostmode side
any difference between a PACTOR– or PR-link, if PDuplex is activated. No
transmission control character has to be send by the PC.
The great advantage of these technique:
The PR program used by a mailbox is compatible to
all PACTOR users,
independently if they use PACTOR Duplex or not. (It also doesn’t matter if a user
accesses to the mailbox with PACTOR-I or PACTOR-II.)
2. In combination with binary data transparency binary files can now be transmitted
directly - e.g. in the Autobin mode via PACTOR – without the detour using 7PLUS or
other coding mechanisms. If a file shall be transmitted to a friend using the PTC-IIex
too, both PTC-IIex are switched to PACTOR Duplex. Using a WA8DED hostmode
program all features available for PR can be used on the PACTOR channel (usually
channel 4) as well– certainly also the AUTOBIN transfer!
3. Very convient operation with partners using PACTOR Duplex too. In this case the
QSO can be made in the same way as in PR – regardless of the actual
transmission
state of the connected PTCs. CHANGEOVER or BREAKIN aren’t necessary
anymore.
We want to point out that the selection of the QSO style is a matter of taste. The usual
operation with manual control of the transmission direction is useful furthermore.
5.12.2 How to avoid incompatibility?
PACTOR Duplex allows to experiment a lot, especially using PC software intended for
Packet-Radio. Unfortunately side effects arise from using the duplex simulation together
with
old PACTOR systems.
In general the PACTOR Duplex should be switched off before using a PACTOR
mailbox - if it is not definitely clarified that the mailbox is able to operate with
PACTOR Duplex users.
Also the internal mailbox of the PTC-IIex reacts incorrect (if the PTC-IIex isn’t switched
to PACTOR Duplex), if a CHANGEOVER is executed while entering commands – e.g.
when the user operates PACTOR Duplex but enters the command very slowly.
It would be desirable if all of the mailbox programs for PACTOR could be modified
in the way that they could also operate with PACTOR Duplex users without
problems.
5.12.3 PACTOR data transparency
The PACTOR Duplex mechanism and the data transparency structure of the WA8DED
hostmode make it useful for other applications to fulfil the demand (already mentioned
from many users) for data transparency for PACTOR. As already mentioned the
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