On 8 Sep 96 09:12am, CHRIS ALLERMANN wrote to ALL:
 CA> Does anybodwy else think that this Winradio idea is a bad one...Would
 CA> have it of been better to have the actual reciever outside of the
 CA> computer.  What I want to know is how they shieled from all of the
 CA> interfearance in the computer.  I think this is just going to be jkust
 CA> another one of those high priced scanning toys and will probally not
 CA> suit the needs of many scannists in the field
 Actually, given the closer connections between scanning and computers,
 Winradio is a very logical extension of the direction the hobby will have to
 take to keep up with technology.
 Winradio shows (according to reviews I've seen, and not just Bill Cheek's)
 that shielding isn't that much of a problem given modern computerized design
 (remember, with Large Scale Integration, there are a *lot* fewer running
 lines to pick up RFI). Using the computer to run the radio removes the need
 for an on-board CPU, and allows much more flexible searches and scans,
 stores, etc.
 Granted, it's tied down by being in the computer, but the whole hobby is
 made up of compromises. Any other table-top radio has the same drawback. A
 hand-held with that kind of power and versatility would cost a real fortune,
 when you think about it. And that hand-held would be severly limited by the
 antenna available for a mobile unit. (This is one of the reason's I've never
 been a big fan of those "full coverage" handhelds; the available antennas
 simply aren't up to the task of feeding that radio).
 The Winradio is pretty much of a first; as such, it's going to get some
 hoopla. There will undoubtedly be other software available besides what
 comes standard; this will probably take advantage of memory and drive space
 to store sound clips, to enable very customized scanning lists, and the
 like. Since the radio is actually a component of the computer, the
 possibilities are pretty great.
Bill Funk:  Internet:  skypilot@starlink.com
	    ASCIi User Group: http://www.starlink.com:80/~ascii
...  -Sped up my XT; ran it on 220v! Works greO?_~"
--- Via Silver Xpress V4.00 SW12853
---------------