Weather Fax - on board

ponapay

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Can anyone help me with a small problem (maybe its bigger than I know).

I have had to change my old laptop after 6 years for a new one which only runs Windows XP.

The weather fax software that I use needs MSDOS.

I use a cheap NASA Target SSB radio for reception but need to link it to the laptop to get the weather pictures. How do I do this?

The instructions talk all about changing to DOS and carrying out certain directory changes then issuing an instruction - will it all work in XP?

As you may guess I am a complete dunce with regard to computers.

Many thanks.
 

iangrant

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convert the nasa to output to the sound card and run jvcom32 software that you can download and it's cheap to register.
to convert the nasa take out the modem card then attach the wires that is was attached to to a standard audio pc plug.
wire in a small resistor and capacitor to decouple the dc

plug into the sound card input and off you go .

xp will not run you have to do this mod.

for resistor values see my previous post for a full description to wire it up

ian
 
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The latest version of the HF3 is advertised as being supplied with new software which doesn't require MSDOS. Contact NASA to see if they will let you have a copy. However, I've just checked their website and there is no mention there.

There already exists, however other software which will work on your new machine and have more features than you currently enjoy. One of these is JVComm from HF FAX. Look at this site for example.

Steve cronin
 

Steve Clayton

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Hi Ian,

I think you might have to change your weather fax software.

Windows XP has a "run a program in compatability mode" option. I can run programs going back as far as Win 95 and also run programs that are only supposedly for Win 98, ME, NT and 2000 - but not DOS.

You might be able to load up MSDOS (you don't say which version of DOS you need to use) and on boot up choose the operating software you wish to use but I suspect that the technology changes over the last few years will mean that DOS won't run on todays' laptops (memory access, processor speed, drivers,etc).

I'm sure others, more expert than me, will advise further.

Best bet might be to look at changing your weatherfax software - maybe ICS?

Steve
 

Evadne

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I have run some of my older MSDOS utilities in the "command prompt" (under accessories) on my new XP machine, and although I think it is not guaranteed it is certainly worth a try, especially if it was DOS 5.0 or later.
 

TigaWave

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I've been running my target HF3 on several different laptops, with Mscan, its much better than the stuff that came with the receiver in DOS, you just wire the same output to the microphone input.

The Mscan runs with windows so you can use it alongside chart plotter software.

Neil
 

crossbones

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The receiver you have is the hf3m. The output is a 5volt square wave. It is correct that you can remove the small pcb at the back of the unit and come out with a fixed leval sine wave.To run meteoscan, to get best results, you need an ac coupled signal about 100 millivolts peak to peak so you need a couple of resistors and a capacitor.
The easyest way is to contact NASA, they will make this conversion, supply the new interconnect cable to go to the microphone socket and supply a paid up version of meteoscan lite all for £39-.(including carriage) It works reall well and gives navtex and RTTY as well as weatherfax.
 
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