In a message of , Bob Ferguson (1:147/2001) writes:
 BF>   Are there any at all? The frequency book I have is dated 1992 and 
 BF>I wondered why it was not 1994 or 95, perhaps this is the reason why. 
 BF>At this point I hav'nt bought any software of equipment but I was 
 BF>thinking of this MFJ1214PC, or this AEAfaxII multimode-receiving 
 BF>system, but I have also seen this PC HF Facsimile, and as well as some 
 BF>code readers, software called Personal Code Explorer from an outfit 
 BF>called Microcraft. All of these items sell for about $100-150 bucks 
 BF>which is about all I want to spend in just startin out into this. Do you
 BF>(or anyone else reading this) have any opinions on these items? Is 
 BF>there a shareward program I could try out, rigged via a serial cable to 
 BF>computer? The stuff Universal Radio sells is more than I want to spend 
 BF>starting out, espeacially if the newswires are few and far between now 
 BF>days.
With a simple level converter between your radio audio output and the 
computer RS232 port and shareware programs like PKTMON, HAMCOMM and a few 
others that slip my mind right now, you can copy RTTY, CW, PACKET, FAX, etc.  
One of the guys over on SHORTWAVE even makes one of those level converters 
and you can get one for about $39.95.
The satellite photos and charts are easy to copy on HF.  
If you want to go this route, I'll look up some of those references.  I think 
I even have a schematic for the level convertor you can build yourself for 
about 5 or 10 bucks with parts from Radio Shack.
 BF>   What about these Fax pictures are they onto satellite now or can 
 BF>you still pick up any of this traffic? Being in Oklahoma City, away 
 BF>from the coastal areas, what do you think I could really pick up around 
 BF>here? I know there's some code moving through the waves but it is 
 BF>probably amateur traffic. Thus far I have only bought a couple of books 
 BF>so I have not wasted too much on this yet, perhaps I will change my 
 BF>mind if it looks like there would'nt be much to pick up around here. 
 BF>Still, since I'm getting something over the waves here it would be 
 BF>interesting to know what it is. Thanks, type to ya later. 
If you are copying HF fax pictures, you shouldn't have any problem being in 
Oklahoma City.
Fred.
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