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| Digital Signals Decoding Discussions regarding decoding digital signals on the HF bands, including HFDL, ALE, RTTY, CW, and others. |
06-07-2009, 09:43 AM
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Utility decoder
Does anyone have the MFJ-462B and if so what do you think? What is the best decoder on the market? I'm thinking of building a shack with a few nice toys and a decoder would be one of them.
73's
Joe
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06-07-2009, 11:15 AM
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This is one time that MFJ lives up to the nomicker a lot of folks here use for it - mighty fine junk. That's what that decoder is, frankly. Never been updated AFAIK and there are MANY software packages that do lots more, and some are free. Check out the Utility Monitoring Central link on the following article, and click on software when you get there...
HF Digital Decoding - The RadioReference Wiki
73 Mike
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06-07-2009, 03:40 PM
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Here are some reviews
MFJ-462B Multi-Reader Product Reviews
Doesn't look too promising.
As for recommendations the Hoka decoding package is very well. The only downside is cost... it's friggin' expensive!! Other good software can be found in the Wiki link posted by Mike. Some of the most interesting (to me) are the free ALE and HFDL decoding programs. |
06-07-2009, 06:17 PM
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There are several digital type folks I know that actually keep a few packages handy, simply because there really isn't one package that does it all for everyone. Fortunately there are a few free ones - PC ALE and the non commercial version of PC-HFDL to name two. MultiPSK is free for most of its functions (only hams, I think, would care about the for-pay functions) and the commercial SkySweeper (with probably the widest variety of modes decoded, even in its basic version) are also popular.
You really have to consider what you are trying to decode, then decide on the package(s) to do the job. Too, some of these - like MultiPSK and SkySweeper - have their own Yahoo support groups. For some this is also a consideration. 73 Mike
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06-07-2009, 06:58 PM
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At this point I wouldn't lay out a bunch of money for SkySweeper...
According to the MT Utility Blog it has been discontinued so they can focus on SkySweep Messenger.
MT Utility World
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06-07-2009, 08:18 PM
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That's a real shame. I quite agree that it will leave a very large gap in the decoder market. There just isn't anything out there right now that does all the modes and other things Skysweeper does. I wouldn't hold my breath about someone picking up the pieces either - it's just too specialized a market to be all that profitable, which I'm willing to bet had some influence on the decision.
I would suspect it will be around for some time to come, even if it isn't being actively developed.
Truly, a shame 73 Mike
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