[ct-user] Running DOS on New Computers - Solved!

[Alan Harp]

Boy this strikes a nerve with me.

My first computer was a Heathkit H8.  One of my prime objectives was to make 
the computer do my logging and dupe checking.  I learned to use BASIC 
programming language to write my own programs because there weren't and 
programs to buy.  I was successful.  I have my logs in ASCII files since 
1982.  Each line of the file is a log entry. the first two digits is the 
year, next two the month etc.  I still use this for my personal logs today. 
I print my own QSL cards from these logs with programs I wrote in DOS Basic.

I was able to carry my ASCII files on into the IBM PC.  I enjoyed a text 
editor called PE2.  I could move or remove columns of text in an ASCII file. 
I still use this today. But this is a DOS program.

I have written a lot of programs for logging and DX tracking in DOS basic. 
I even have my computer sending CW through the same printer port that CT 
uses with DOS BASIC.  I had a terminal program reading spots from the packet 
cluster alerting me when a band country I didn't have confirmed was posted.

Well Microsoft comes up with their windows environment.  It is a wonderful 
concept.  We don't call them programs anymore.  Now they are "applications". 
If you want to write your own programs we have "Windows Basic".  Well the 
first thing they did with "Windows Basic" is they dropped half of the 
commands I was using.  I have worked with "Windows Basic" but it has been a 
struggle for me.  I really was born 20 years to soon.  I just get to where I 
can do something and they come out with another version.

I had a windows basic program to handle my ASCII file logs but what a pain.

I treasure my old 486 laptop and I pray every day that it doesn't have a 
catrostrophic failure.  I check every hamfest for good working 486 
computers.

The serial ports and parellel ports are disappearing.  Controling radios and 
sending CW the way we used to is going away.

Microsoft sure doesn't seem to be trying to support their past products. 
Old farts who used their products  before will die frustrated.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "K0HB " <k-zero-hb at earthlink.net>
To: "Carl - WC4H" <wc4h at itis.net>; <ct-user at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2005 4:46 PM
Subject: Re: [ct-user] Running DOS on New Computers - Solved!


>
>
>>
>> I just can't resist asking: Why?
>>
>
> For contesting (SO exclusively -- no networking) I run a legacy P-II
> machine with 4 "real" RS-232 ports and CT DOS.  It's absolutely 
> bulletproof
> for my CT contesting needs, no muss/no fuss.
>
> For all my other shack/office needs I have a super-duper 3GHz Win XP
> machine.
>
> Between the two is a simple 10MHz ethernet connection if I need to share
> some files (the old machine can also be brought up on WIN98), and a 2x1
> Belkin kbd/rodent/monitor-sharing switch.
>
> This arrangement gives me the best of both worlds.
>
> That's why!
>
> 73, de Hans, K0HB
> --
>  http://www.home.earthlink.net/~k0hb
>
>
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