Hi,
I picked up an old Kansas City Tracker, circa 1990, and was wondering if there is any way to use it with a modern computer. It is designed to plug into the ISA slot of a PC. I don't know much about computers, but my understanding is not modern computers no longer have ISA slots. Could it be adapted to plug into a USB port or something that a modern computer has?
73, Bill NZ5N
Bill,
Great card in its day, though it did have a VERY loud signal on the low end of two meters. I could hear mine half a mile away. It was a DOS-era card, and you will probably find conflicts with modern versions of Windows. For about the $150 for an ISA-to-USB card, you can get a modern, supported interface.
73s,
Alan WA4SCA
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Bill Dzurilla Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 12:03 AM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Kansas City Tracker with a modern computer?
Hi,
I picked up an old Kansas City Tracker, circa 1990, and was wondering if there is any way to use it with a modern computer. It is designed to plug into the ISA slot of a PC. I don't know much about computers, but my understanding is not modern computers no longer have ISA slots. Could it be adapted to plug into a USB port or something that a modern computer has?
73, Bill NZ5N
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Thanks to Alan and all others who responded. You have convinced me that it would be better to go with a modern interface, which means that the Kansas City Tracker is available for sale to anyone who has an old computer and can make use of it. I have the board and the cable. Email me at billdz.geo@yahoo.com.
73, Bill
--- On Wed, 1/19/11, Alan P. Biddle APBIDDLE@UNITED.NET wrote:
From: Alan P. Biddle APBIDDLE@UNITED.NET Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Kansas City Tracker with a modern computer? To: "'Bill Dzurilla'" billdz.geo@yahoo.com, amsat-bb@amsat.org Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2011, 7:39 AM Bill,
Great card in its day, though it did have a VERY loud signal on the low end of two meters. I could hear mine half a mile away. It was a DOS-era card, and you will probably find conflicts with modern versions of Windows. For about the $150 for an ISA-to-USB card, you can get a modern, supported interface.
73s,
Alan WA4SCA
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Bill Dzurilla Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 12:03 AM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Kansas City Tracker with a modern computer?
Hi,
I picked up an old Kansas City Tracker, circa 1990, and was wondering if there is any way to use it with a modern computer. It is designed to plug into the ISA slot of a PC. I don't know much about computers, but my understanding is not modern computers no longer have ISA slots. Could it be adapted to plug into a USB port or something that a modern computer has?
73, Bill NZ5N
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
On Tue, 2011-01-18 at 22:02 -0800, Bill Dzurilla wrote:
Hi,
I picked up an old Kansas City Tracker, circa 1990, and was wondering if there is any way to use it with a modern computer. It is designed to plug into the ISA slot of a PC. I don't know much about computers, but my understanding is not modern computers no longer have ISA slots. Could it be adapted to plug into a USB port or something that a modern computer has?
73, Bill NZ5N
http://www.converttousb.com/uncategorized/isa-card-to-usb-adaptor
I don't know if that'll help you...
Gordon MM0YEQ
Bill,
That ISA to USB board is listed at $149 (very slick, and nice find). However, a spiffy, brand new LVB Tracker with LCD display and USB interface from AMSAT is $200 as I recall. You can probably guess my recommendation ;)
Another issue is drivers---while I don't recall the specifics, it seems like people have troubles with drivers for the old tracker cards as the OS versions change (as in-are there any drivers for that card and Win7?).
So, if you want to use the ISA card, your best bet is an old PC and old OS. But then you might have Y2K issues with the tracking software..hi hi.
73!
Mark N8Mh
At 07:53 AM 1/20/2011 +0000, Gordon JC Pearce wrote:
On Tue, 2011-01-18 at 22:02 -0800, Bill Dzurilla wrote:
Hi,
I picked up an old Kansas City Tracker, circa 1990, and was wondering if there is any way to use it with a modern computer. It is designed to plug into the ISA slot of a PC. I don't know much about computers, but my understanding is not modern computers no longer have ISA slots. Could it be adapted to plug into a USB port or something that a modern computer has?
73, Bill NZ5N
http://www.converttousb.com/uncategorized/isa-card-to-usb-adaptor
I don't know if that'll help you...
Gordon MM0YEQ
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (4)
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Alan P. Biddle
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Bill Dzurilla
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Gordon JC Pearce
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Mark L. Hammond