HF (Radio) E-Mail Modems (PTCs)

HF E-Mail-Modems or PTCs made by SCS offering an instant access to your e-mails, independent from telephone-lines e.g. on ships, offshore facilities or remote areas. They work within a customers own network or in those, operated by service providers (e.g. GLN, Winlink or Sailmail). Required is only e.g. one of the above shown radio telephones or any other already existing one of the most manufacturers, in addition with a computer and one of the HF modems listed here. The charges are reasonably low and much less, than those of Sat-phones. 

HF-Modems are the entrance into the digital world on HF for an affordable price.

The latest development is the introduction of Pactor-IV, with a speed of nearly 11.000 Baud and with that nearly 2 times faster, compared with Pactor-III! 

A competent article, which shows the functionalities of HF e-mail-systems you will find here.

All customers, who are purchasung one HF-Modem from us, will receive an initial configuration via remote control or respectively in Hamburg for free. An initial configuration on board or at another place of deployment will be performed for free also, under the provision of compensating the travel expenses only.  

Additionally we offer to all customers a qualified support world-wide.  

Authorized Dealer

All Modems are "Made in Germany"!

1. P4-Dragon DR-7800 

2. P4-Dragon DR-7400 

3. PTC-IIIusb 

4. PTC-IIex 

5. Other Modems of the PTC-II Series

1. P4-Dragon DR-7800

The top-model of SCS is including Pac-IV already! Many Radio Mail Servers are ready for Pac-IV traffic now! For installation on board or for landmobile vehicles.

The DR-7800 has been optimized for use with the new high-end data transmission mode PACTOR-4. This offers unexcelled fast and robust data links via shortwave; E-mail almost like at home – from any point on earth. The DR-7800 is software compatible to the PTC-II series so that existing software (AirMail, RMS Express, Alpha etc) can continue to be used for your HF e-mail operations. The elegant design, and the excellently readable and informative OLED display, as well as the easy upgrade possibilities (free updates!) round up the concept of the most modern HF-Modems from the SCS company. 

Features

• Operating modes: PACTOR-4, PACTOR-3, PACTOR-2, PACTOR-1, weather-FAX (Receive), GPS decoder.
• Processor: Quad core DSP from Freescale, 6400 MIPS, 64 Bit Connections: USB, (Opt.: Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB-master), GPS (RS232 and TTL), 2 x radio AF / PTT (Main, Aux, confi gurable - PTC-II compatible or symmetrical, opt. dual-port operation), 1 x radio-remote control (all usual transceiver types), microphone input, loudspeakeroutput (2W)
• Audio level / imp.: Input: max 5.5 V p-p, 15 kΩ, output: max. 9 V p-p, 300 Ω
• Display: 256 x 64 pixel OLED, blue, high contrast, excellent readability, no viewing angle problems, display of spectrum and much more.
• Power supply: 10 – 26 V 400 mA (max at 10 V input)
• Weight / size: 770 g, 172 x 43 x 205 mm (width, height and depth)
 

2. P4-Dragon DR-7400

The new, compact HF-Modem DR-7400 offers an entrance into the new waveform Pac-IV for an affordable price. The DR-7400 has been optimized for use with the new high-end data transmission mode PACTOR-4. This allows unparalleled fast and robust data links via shortwave. Email almost like at home – from any point on earth.The DR-7400 is software compatible to the PTC-II series and to the DR-7800 so that existing PACTOR software (AirMail, RMS Express, Alpha etc) can continued to be used. The elegant design as well as the easy upgrade possibilities (free updates!) complete the concept of the “Little Dragon”. Of course, the DR-7400 also provides TRX remote control, a GPS input and an (optional) Bluetooth interface.

Features

• Operating modes:PACTOR-4, PACTOR-3, PACTOR-2, PACTOR-1, weather-FAX (Receive), GPS /RTTY/NAVTEX decoder
• Processor: Quadcore DSP from Freescale, 6400 MIPS, 64 Bit
• Connections:USB (opt. Bluetooth), GPS (RS232 and TTL), radio AF / PTT (PTC-II compatible), radio-remote control (all usual transceiver types)
• Audio level/imp:Input: max 3 V p-p, 47 kΩ, output: max 4.5 V p-p, 1 kΩ, both asymmetrically
• Display:8 dual-color LED’s (green, red) indicating all important operating states and signal tuning
• Power supply:10 – 25 V, typically 300 mA, max 400 mA at 10 V supply voltage
• Weight / size: 450 g, 125 x 43 x 138 mm (width, height and depth)

Switch plugs and go…

Due to the plug compatibility of the radio ports, a change from the tried and tested PTC-II technology to the innovative P4dragon technology is very easy: Change over the plugs, turn on, and enjoy PACTOR-4!

All currently used cables can be used in further!

The waveform PACTOR-4

• Data throughput: Maximum 5512 bps without compression. Approx 10500 bps with PMC using text. This is reached with approx +16 dB @ 4 khz in an AWGN channel. Under the usual channel conditions 1.5 – 3 times faster than PACTOR-3
• Compatibility: Strictly backward compatible to PACTOR-1/-2/-3. Automatic negotiation during link setup. Noticeably improved reception with PACTOR-2 and PACTOR-3
• ARQ protocol: Synchronized, similar to PACTOR-3, except 10 instead of 6 speed levels (“Waveforms”) and faster switching. Bandwidth always smaller than 2400 Hz.
• Channel equalization: Iterative adaptive equalizer for the coherent speed levels (5 – 10), RAKE receiver with maximum ratio combination for the splayed speed levels (2-4). Real-time multitasking operating system.

3. PTC-IIIusb  

The successor of the PTC-IIex and PTC-IIusb, which are not manufactured anymore due to obsolete spareparts,
offers the same waveforms and includes Pac-III already. Certainly the modem is downward compatible and
in further it offers Sitor/Amtor, Baudot (RTTY), X/AX.25 (Packet) 1k2/9k6 and others more. 

The PTC-III can be connected directly to an USB port of any computer, therefore a USB to serial converter
is not needed anymore. 

In further, an optional Blue Tooth module is available, which connects the modem wireless with the computer.

Features

• Fully compatible to existing software by using a virtual COM port assigned by the USB driver.
• One single connector to the HF/VHF transceiver for all modes.
• Transceiver control for ICOM, YAESU, SGC, KENWOOD and Rohde&Schwarz, including RS232 for modern transceivers.
• Supported by Airmail/GetFax (Winlink/Sailmail).
• Special JVCOMM32-Mode for optimum cooperation with JVCOMM32.
• Packet-Radio with 300, R600, 1200, 9600 and 19200 baud with built-in DSP.
• With two high performance processors from Freescale, the PTC-IIIusb achieves outstanding flexibility.
• Sophisticated signal processing and analyzing maintains a stable HF link even during difficult  propagation conditions.
• Temperature compensated crystal oscillator.
• 2 MB of static RAM.
• Electronic (silicon) serial number.
• Noise free HF reception by use of HF suitable construction, 6 layer multilayer board and filtering of all inputs and outputs.
• Compact SMD assembly.
• Flash-ROM for easy firmware updates.
• Dimensions: 125 W x 43 H x 138 D mm, 1.69 H x 4.92 W x 5.43 D inches.
•  Weight: 450 g
• Power Supply:  +10 to +20 V DC, 300 mA max. Reverse polarity protected, selfresetting fuse. 

Waveform PACTOR-II

• Max. 1200 Bit/s, incl. data compression.
• Automatic adaption to the channel quality in 4 speed levels.
• Bandwidth 500 Hz.
• Use of the most modern transfer mode technics: convolutional coding, Viterbi-decoder, soft-decision and Memory ARQ allows error free data transfers even with inaudible signals.
• Automatic frequency correction of ± 80 Hz.
• Automatic adaption of the radio’s transmit power to the channel quality is possible.

Waveform PACTOR-III

Like PACTOR-II, but:

• max. 5200 Bit/s, incl. data compression.
• Automatic adaption to the channel quality in 6 speed levels.
• Bandwidth 2400 Hz. 

Waveform Robust HF-Packet

• Newly developed very robust modulation for HF-Packet-Radio and APRS.
• Max. 600 Bit/s.
• Automatic frequency correction of ± 250 Hz. APRS
• Fully automatic APRS-Beacon (for location of mobile objects)

Waveform X25 (APRS, VHF/UHF-Packet) 

• Fully automatic APRS-Beacon (for location of mobile objects)
• Also for communications with local Radio Mail Servern (RMS) on VHF/UHF in 1k2/9k6

4. PTC-IIex (Pac-I und II, Pac-III optional)

The PTC-IIex is the basic model of the PTC family and contains the waveforms Pac-I and II, Sitor/Amtor,
Baudot (RTTY), X/AX.25 (Packet) 1k2/9k6 and others more. It is also downward compatible.

An extension to Pac-III waveform is possible, by purchasing a license code, which enables this feature,
anyway, there is also a "Pactor-III ready" version available.

Attention:

This model is out of production due to obsolete components, which are not available anymore.
There are only some rest stocks available. 

Features

• One single connector to the HF/VHF transceiver for all modes.
• Remote control of the radio via a separate Com port by the client software (e.g. Airmail)
• Simultaneous standby in PACTOR and SITOR/AMTOR.
• Special JVCOMM32-Modus for optimum co-operation with JVCOMM32.
• Packet-Radio with 300, R600, 1200, 9600 and 19200 baud with built-in DSP.
• With two high performance processors from Freescale, the PTC-IIex achieves outstanding flexibility.
• Sophisticated signal processing and analyzing, maintains a stable HF link even during difficult propagation conditions.
• Temperature compensated crystal oscillator.
• Tuning bar display with 15 LED lamps.
• 2 MB of static RAM´, battery buffered.
• Automatic baudrate detection to the terminal between 2400 and 115200 baud.
• Electronic (silicon) serial number.
• Noise free HF reception by use of HF suitable construction, 6 layer multilayer board and filtering of all inputs and outputs.
• Compact SMD assembly.
• Freely programmable Mark- and Space tones.
• Flash-ROM update via the serial port.
• Dimensions: 125 W x 43 H x 183 D mm. 1 11/16 x 4 7/8 x 7 3/16 inches.
• Weight: 560 g.
• Power Supply: +10 to +20 V DC, 300 mA max. Reverse polarity protected. Fuse selfresetting.

Waveform PACTOR-II

• Max. 1200 Bit/s, incl. data compression.
• Automatic adaption to the channel quality in 4 speed levels.
• Bandwidth 500 Hz.
• Use of the most modern transfer mode technics: convolutional coding, Viterbi-decoder, soft-decision and Memory ARQ allows error free data transfers even with inaudible signals.
• Automatic frequency correction of ± 80 Hz.
• Automatic adaption of the radio’s transmit power to the channel quality is possible.

PACTOR-III

Like PACTOR-II, but:

• max. 5200 Bit/s, incl. data compression.
• Automatic adaption to the channel quality in 6 speed levels.
• Bandwidth 2400 Hz.

*PACTOR-III – Optional over license code.

Robust HF-Packet

• Newly developed very robust modulation HF-Packet-Radio and APRS.
• Max. 600 Bit/s.
• Automatic frequency correction of ± 250 Hz. APRS
• Fully automatic APRS-Beacon (location of mobile objects) 

Waveform X25 (APRS, VHF/UHF-Packet) 

• Fully automatic APRS-Beacon (for location of mobile objects)
• Also for communications with local Radio Mail Servern (RMS) on VHF/UHF in 1k2/9k6

5. Other HF-Modems of the PTC-II-Series

The other modems of the PTC-II Series (PTC-IIusb, PTC-IIpro, PTC-IInet) are not available anymore, due to the discontinuation of particular components.

Therefore orders cannot be placed for such modems anymore.