[WriteLog] Ports

[Marty Tippin]

At 04:52 PM 12/23/2002, Stan Staten wrote:
>Just add hard disk (or move the one from the old
>computer which is what I did) and a display card and you have a
>working computer.

Well, the reality is that you just add a hard disk and display card and 
about 2 quarts of good karma and you *might* get a working computer...

To anyone considering building your own PC, please assess whether you have 
the knowledge and skill to troubleshoot the inevitable problems and 
incompatibilities. If you're the type who has trouble just getting around 
in Windows or doing relatively simple upgrades like adding a modem, you 
really might not want to build your own computer.

I'm a professional Windows programmer, have been for the better part of 15 
years, and I can tell you that even I have had significant problems 
assembling a random collection of components into a working computer. It's 
not always easy and the problems aren't always obvious - sometimes it's as 
simple as changing some BIOS settings, sometimes it requires you to use a 
different combination of hardware or different drivers or even a different 
operating system. If you don't know what you're doing, you can work your 
way into a *lot* of frustration.

My advice for those who need more computer but need it primarily for use in 
the shack (i.e., to run WriteLog and other logging programs as well as 
other ham radio software) would be to buy a decent used Compaq or Dell 
computer from www.retrobox.com or www.secondwindpcs.com - these companies 
specialize in taking 'surplus' hardware from companies that have upgraded 
to biggerbetterfaster boxes and making them available to consumers. Fully 
tested and warranted for usually 30 days or so.

I recently purchased 3 identical Pentium 3 450MHz Compaq DeskPro EN 
machines from SecondWind PCs for about $140 each plus shipping -- these 
boxes are destined for the PJ2T super-station on Curacao, where we run 
WriteLog in a multi-multi setup. Add a monitor and an operating system and 
you're in business. I think they'll even install the OS for you if you need 
it (at an extra cost of course).

A pentium 3 at about 450MHz or faster is way more than adequate for a shack 
computer. So there's no need to buy a new top of the line box if all you're 
going to do is play radio with it. A 733MHz Compaq DeskPro can be had for 
under $200 and even that is overkill for the shack. Plus these computers 
still come with 2 serial ports built in, as well as 2 USB ports and all the 
other stuff you could possibly need.

As for ports, I'm a big fan of the SIIG CyberSerial PCI cards. They come in 
1, 2 and 4 port varieties. You just plug the card in, install the drivers 
and away you go. And the SIIG cards can be bought *real* cheap these days 
-- I bought 5 of the CyberSerial dual-port cards on eBay last week for $15 
each; current retail at BestBuy and elsewhere is around $45 each.

And for operating systems, there's absolutely nothing to be gained in a 
shack PC by going to Windows XP -- in fact, Windows 98 is perfectly 
adequate and easy to obtain.

So an older computer with Win98 would be (and is) my primary choice for a 
shack computer. My main shack PC is a Compaq DeskPro 600, with 256MB of 
ram. It runs my logging software and a real-time weather station without 
any problems (my weather station is at http:://home.kc.rr.com/nw0l/wx if 
you're interested).

73,

-Marty NW0L