[amsat-bb] Re: Better/best operating system for SatPC32?

[Philip Jenkins]

Thanks for the replies. I do have a Win 7-64 machine with 4GB RAM as my
main PC; I've just never used the 32 bit version and wanted to see if I
needed to avoid it.

I should have added that these refurbed machines (which are ITX/small form
factor) already have the OS (Win 7-32 or Win 7-64) installed. They are
listed as off-lease, so I'm guessing that they were networked to a server
since they only have 1-2 GB RAM.

As for the Linux suggestion, that did cross my mind and am still
considering it. I do have an older ATX tall-tower with Ubuntu installed,
but haven't played with it much; it's a bit bigger than I would want to
carry to a Field Day/demo site. I haven't played with Xastir at all.

The refurbs are pretty cheap, so I may get two and install XP on one and
some flavor of Linux on the other (I'm the most familiar with Ubuntu (but
that isn't saying much), but open to suggestions.) Does Linux still support
serial ports?

Philip N4HF


On Fri, May 17, 2013 at 4:37 PM, Philip Jenkins <n4hf.philip at gmail.com>wrote:

> I'm in the process of buying a very low-end refurbished PC for use at
> Field Day and at a 10 day local fair this Fall to demonstrate satellite
> operating.
>
> All that this PC will be used for is running packet software and SatPC32
> in the field. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to use the PC to control
> the antenna. (I may use this PC as for  packet/APRS at home; I have another
> Win XP shack desktop already dedicated to ham radio/SatPC32/rig
> control/antenna steering.)
>
> Which is a better OS for this, Win 7 Home Premium 32-bit (which most of
> the PCs that I'm looking at) or Win 7 Home Premium (64-bit)?  I had heard
> there were some compatibility problems (not necessarily with any ham radio
> software) with the 32-bit version when Win 7 first came out.
>
> Most of the machines with either version come with 1 GB RAM - should I
> choose one with 2GB or more (or install more RAM myself), or will 1 GB be
> sufficient for the light use I'm intending for this machine? (I noticed in
> the WIN 7 specifications that 1 GB is the minimum.)
>
> Most of the PCs I'm looking at with have a serial port as well (which is
> one of my criterion for considering these units) - that will make my life
> much easier with the old TNCs I have :-)
>
> To sum up, which OS should I choose, Win 7 Home Premium 32-bit, or Home
> Premium (64-bit)?
>
> Tnx es 73
>
> Philip N4HF
>
>
>