What speed laptop best for programming /\/\ radios?

[/\/\oto /\/\edic]

I have been programming /\/\ radios with a slow old laptop but would like to use a windows based program if possible. Will I be able to program the HT1000, Maxtrac, GP300 etc on a windows based program?? What speed processor do I need?


Thanks!

[kb0nly]

I program the Maxtrac on my old slow 486-25Mhz, i think the Maxtrac RSS will run on newer hardware, but, a windows based computer is not a good programming platform unless you will be using CPS in my opinion.

I don't know of CPS for Maxtrac or GP300.

[wavetar]

Not sure what you mean by a 'windows based program'. There are no Windows based programs for the radios you mentioned (HT1000, Maxtrac, GP300). They are available as DOS programs only.

Now, if you mean you want to use a faster, more modern computer with the Windows Operating System installed on it & still be able to program your older radios...then that's generally not a problem.

You have several options:

1 - Set-up a dual boot system where you can choose between DOS or Windows upon computer start-up.

2 - If you're not familiar with partitioning & dual booting, use a DOS boot disk to boot the computer into DOS upon start-up.

3 - If the computer is Windows 98, you can use the 'MS-DOS mode for Games with EMS & XMS support' icon, located in the C:\Windows folder.

There are some other options & caveats, but they're the most popular. The thing to remember is to always use the latest & greatest versions of the DOS RSS. The great majority of the latest versions were either written or updated after approx 1995, and according to the Motorola Pentium Compatibility Matrix, should run on more modern machines.

You can, and should, read through some of these past threads for more information:

http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.p ... ium+matrix

http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.p ... ium+matrix

[/\/\oto /\/\edic]

I am confused....

It sounds like my best bet is to stick to the older slower computers, right? If I do that, am I better off using the 486 or another? Do any of those older laptops have CD drives so I can put all of my programs on the hard drive easily? Right now my laptop has a floppy and it can be a pain as I can only get one program on each floppy. I would rather use a CD-Rom if possible.... Thoughts?

[kb0nly]

An external cd drive might be an option, but most computers of that vintage only have a floppy drive unless they were upgraded, and its rare to see a cd drive on a 486 laptop.

What i did was get an adapter to connect a laptop drive to a desktop computer. Then i just moved everything over. That's another possibility for you to consider.

[Woody_99]

LAPLINK.

http://www.nullmodem.com/LapLink.htm

Or.. PCMCIA NIC and a hub... about $15 at a hamfest.

Or, grab a screwdriver and do what Scott sez.

http://tinyurl.com/a5sy5