John, The difference is HUGE!
Pactor is a proprietary mode and the primary use is for radio e-mail. The cost is quite high for just that one function and very few of us digital operators will buy a single sourced foreign product for that purpose unless we are boaters or RV'ers and want the free e-mail service. (I am not suggesting that doing this is proper or the right thing to do just because you can do it, but that is the way of the world at this time). Due to the ready availability of the multimode software that runs on a computer, and using just the soundcard, we can pick and choose from many different software packages, most of them free as in beer. This gives us dozens of different modes to experiment with and decide what we will use for our operating preferences. If I had all the modes available on a given program, I would likely select Ham Radio Deluxe with the Digital Master 780 digital mode addition. This is the most refined digital program, but it does require plenty of power to run. Multipsk has many more modes, including ALE/FAE400 which is the mode that I find the most powerful for ARQ messaging at this time. The interface is what Patrick prefers and he is the programmer and allows you to use most of the program features for free. It is hard to understand why you would criticize such a product with such strong language! It is one thing to ask, as many of us have, if the program could be made more professional looking and acting, but he just prefers it his way. 73, Rick, KV9U John Becker, WØJAB wrote: > After reading this thread with great intrust I still fail to see > the difference between it and what has been done with > the Pactor modes. That is other than being narrow. > I have copies Pactor that has to say the least been about > 2 DB under ESP. > > As far as FAE400 goes, I would like to try it. Too bad one > can only get it from one source. (gee that kind of makes it > just like pactor 3. I don't hear any anyone screaming bloody > murder about that.) Multipsk may be a very fine software package > but the screen looks like crap. Just way way to much un-needed > garbage there. Are you listing Patrick ? If it was my software > I think I would have a drop down window to pick the mode > of operation. And only what was needed for that mode would > be on that screen. > > Yeah I know - that's just my option. Everyone has one. And > I'm sitting on mine. > > John, W0JAB > in the center of fly over country > > >
