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Bill Dornbush AA6BD's avatar

I appreciate the information you provide in ZR. I was quite interested in the section: Beware “Signal Enhancement Setting” on Windows 10. I just purchased VARA and set it up on my Windows 10 and IC-7100 digital station, and tried it on Windows Express with both VARA-HF and VARA-FM, both of which worked great, VARA-FM at 9600 baud, without my having to do anything to Windows 10 to make them work. The enhancement setting did not appear on my ASUS laptop so this was a non-issue. In fact, I have had far less trouble setting up digital comm on Windows than on a Raspberry Pi. I participate in two weekly Winlink nets, and I find myself using Winlink Express on Windows 10 rather than PAT on Pi OS and Raspberry Pi because it is much more reliable and consistent. I think the Windows bashing is a little much, and rather annoying to me when it works so well for me. Thanks for pointing out the possible problem but let's not assume that it is a universal issue.

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Charles Hargrove - N2NOV's avatar

The bulk of the amateur radio operators that spend at least an hour per week (typically a net) are lacking in the deeper understanding on how the "radio" electronics work, let alone understand the software or how propagation works. I am not even talking about those who have a license but never operate a radio. The focus of the article is about the "electrical" engineering and not the software engineering of amateur radio. It was a huge shame when school radio clubs were shuttered in the 1960s for "budgeting" reasons. Nobody to act as an elmer for fresh young minds has led to a world where those older than my 62 years scoff at being an elmer to others. I have taught Tech and General classes since I was 33 and am still elmering new people, from the new Tech in their late 60s down to a 14 year old in Manhattan. Dust off the books, watch some technical videos and SHARE the knowledge with those who need it. That is how we look forward towards the future.

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