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

[Philip Jenkins]

Oops, I meant to say gpredict, not xastir.

On Sat, May 18, 2013 at 10:33 AM, Philip Jenkins <n4hf.philip at gmail.com>wrote:

> 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
>>
>>
>>
>