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