MFJ 1270C
 

Does anyone know of a reseller who still cariies the MFJ 1270C in stock?
They are backordered 2-4 weeks from MFJ. All of the usual suspects (AES,
HRO) don't have any in stock. The AES guy said he thought they may have
been discontinued.

Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff,
Is that the TNC that was made for Commodore computers? I think
the "C" indicates it was. I bought one from MFJ but it was a long
process. First they indicated they no longer made them. Then I got
in touch with the actual MFJ warehouse and found they had hundreds
of them stored in the warehouse. Finally going back to the sales
guys I informed them of this and they finally did send me one which
I am still useing today. Works like a charm never has failed with
my C128 computer driving it.
Joe/KH6JF/ABM6JF


************************************************** **
* Ham KH6JF AARS/MARS ABM6JF QCWA WW2 VET WD RADIO *
* Army MARS State Coordinator for Hawaii *
************************************************** **


On Tue, 25 Jan 2005, Jeff Camp wrote:

Does anyone know of a reseller who still cariies the MFJ 1270C in stock?
They are backordered 2-4 weeks from MFJ. All of the usual suspects (AES,
HRO) don't have any in stock. The AES guy said he thought they may have
been discontinued.

Thanks,
Jeff

I emailed them asking what dealers would have them in stock and they told me
to call their 800 number to get a list of dealers from them and I could
track one down for myself. Although I've had pretty good luck with their
products, I'm not too happy with their service. Looks like I should be
looking at Kantronics products instead. I'm currently working on a new bbs
system and would like to find a tnc-2 clone for testing.

73,
Jeff
N0WJP



"Howard Goldstein" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 10:35:18 -1000, Joseph Fenn wrote:
: Jeff,
: Is that the TNC that was made for Commodore computers? I think

No, it's as close to the original TNC-2 as you can get. The C is
MFJ's model revision indicator.

Yes I just checked my manual after I found it by searching all day.
its the 1271 (that was for Commodore users).
kokomo Joe


************************************************** **
* Ham KH6JF AARS/MARS ABM6JF QCWA WW2 VET WD RADIO *
* Army MARS State Coordinator for Hawaii *
************************************************** **


On Wed, 26 Jan 2005, Howard Goldstein wrote:

On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 10:35:18 -1000, Joseph Fenn wrote:
: Jeff,
: Is that the TNC that was made for Commodore computers? I think

No, it's as close to the original TNC-2 as you can get. The C is
MFJ's model revision indicator.

The Kantronics TNCs aren't really TNC-2 clones. Much of the command
set is compatible, however. As Howard said, the MFJ-1270C is as close
as you can get (in a new unit). The Paccomm Tiny-2 is probably next.
You should be able to find a 1270B (a bit closer to the TNC-2 than the
1270C) fairly cheap at a hamfest or on E-Bay.

Bob, N7XY

On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 14:58:24 -0600, Jeff Camp wrote:
I emailed them asking what dealers would have them in stock and they told me
to call their 800 number to get a list of dealers from them and I could
track one down for myself. Although I've had pretty good luck with their
products, I'm not too happy with their service. Looks like I should be
looking at Kantronics products instead. I'm currently working on a new bbs
system and would like to find a tnc-2 clone for testing.

73,
Jeff
N0WJP



"Howard Goldstein" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 10:35:18 -1000, Joseph Fenn wrote:
: Jeff,
: Is that the TNC that was made for Commodore computers? I think

No, it's as close to the original TNC-2 as you can get. The C is
MFJ's model revision indicator.

"Bob Nielsen" wrote in message
...
The Kantronics TNCs aren't really TNC-2 clones. Much of the command
set is compatible, however. As Howard said, the MFJ-1270C is as close
as you can get (in a new unit). The Paccomm Tiny-2 is probably next.

Proprietary gear like Kantronics and Timewave will get you into trouble as a
BBS operator, as it puts severe limits on the types of software you can use.
The stuff you are using now might be able to work with them, but what about
new stuff, down the line? - A good example of this would be PC FlexNet, the
most advanced VHF/UHF networking system available. The FlexNet folks cannot
create drivers for proprietary gear ( Those outfits will not share the
proprietary code the FlexNet people would need to work with.) so for
FlexNet, the TNC clone does what no Kantronics or Timewave gear can do.

PC FlexNet is just one example out of many where it pays networkers to avoid
proprietary gear, as a general policy. - You don't want to get stuck running
obsolete software, or have one or two packages to choose from, as opposed to
twenty or thirty.

You can get by with propriety gear - but why just "get by" when you can be
ready for just about anything?

Charles Brabham, N5PVL
http://www.uspacket.org

"Charles Brabham" wrote in message
m...

"Bob Nielsen" wrote in message
...
The Kantronics TNCs aren't really TNC-2 clones. Much of the command
set is compatible, however. As Howard said, the MFJ-1270C is as close
as you can get (in a new unit). The Paccomm Tiny-2 is probably next.

Proprietary gear like Kantronics and Timewave will get you into trouble as
a BBS operator, as it puts severe limits on the types of software you can
use.

Nonesense.
It will work just fine.

The stuff you are using now might be able to work with them, but what
about new stuff, down the line? - A good example of this would be PC
FlexNet, the most advanced VHF/UHF networking system available. The
FlexNet folks cannot create drivers for proprietary gear ( Those outfits
will not share the proprietary code the FlexNet people would need to work
with.) so for FlexNet, the TNC clone does what no Kantronics or Timewave
gear can do.

More nonesense. If Flexnet cannot interoperate with the existing
network it will fail. Oh, wait, it already did!

PC FlexNet is just one example out of many where it pays networkers to
avoid proprietary gear, as a general policy. - You don't want to get stuck
running obsolete software, or have one or two packages to choose from, as
opposed to twenty or thirty.

And the other examplese are?

You can get by with propriety gear - but why just "get by" when you can be
ready for just about anything?

With a 1270C ???

--

... Hank

http://home.earthlink.net/~horedson
http://home.earthlink.net/~w0rli

Hi Jeff

I guess we could argue that if you really want something "KISSee" you
might want to go with a soundcard device. Flexnet I think talks to TNC's
but using a soundcard is done by using Tom Sailors "soundmodem" whether
it be for Windoze 32 or Linux.

Last time I looked, Flexnet ran on both XP and 2K. It came out around
the time W95 was around so I dont *think* it runs under DOS/W3x (but I
am prepared to be shot down on this!) My use has mainly been Linux
though running TCP/IP stuff over the soundmodem stack. (With its
multiple modes - AFSK, FSK, NEWPSK etc)

And sound cards are much cheaper than TNC's... and you can use them for
all manner of 'special' modes.

This is a Flexnet site - http://www.eed.usv.ro/misc/mirrors/flexnet/. If
you have a problem downloading get back to me. The package is not quite
GPL in that it is restricted to amateur radio use...

I am sure you have already heard this argument so I apologise for
blabbing on!

Cheers Bob VK2YQA

(replace bcnntp with bcnuup if you wish to direct email)

Jeff Camp wrote:
Thanks for the advice, but I'm just looking for something that will do kiss,
so the device doesn't need lots of smarts. The only thing that was keeping
me away from Kantronics for this install was the price. I didn't want to
lay out $200-300 on a nice tnc and then not use any of its features besides
kiss mode.

Will FlexNet run on XP or linux or is it just limited to obsolete versions
of Windows and DOS 3.1 or later? If it won't run on a newer operating
system maybe that's the reason you never see it anywhere. As you said, I
don't want to get stuck running obsolete software.

Jeff

Hello,

If you need a real good modern TNC that runs with no problem under WinXP
take a look at IfD's homepage:

http://www.ifd-online.de/

The TNC7-Multi (USB/RS232) as the TNC2-Multi (RS232 only) supports HOST
(TF2.7), 6Pack (PC/Flexnet/Flex32) and KISS, and is out-of-the-box ready for
1k2 and 9k6 packet, 19k2 after filter mods.

73 de F8BOE Olivier ...-.-



"Jeff Camp" a écrit dans le message de news:
EsEJd.3149$HZ.830@okepread07...
Does anyone know of a reseller who still cariies the MFJ 1270C in stock?
They are backordered 2-4 weeks from MFJ. All of the usual suspects (AES,
HRO) don't have any in stock. The AES guy said he thought they may have
been discontinued.

Thanks,
Jeff

Howdy, Jeff!

"Jeff Camp" wrote in message
news:pnFKd.4712$HZ.4116@okepread07...
Thanks for the advice, but I'm just looking for something that will do
kiss, so the device doesn't need lots of smarts. The only thing that was
keeping me away from Kantronics for this install was the price. I didn't
want to lay out $200-300 on a nice tnc and then not use any of its
features besides kiss mode.

RGR, you have pointed out another good reason to give the proprietary gear a
pass.

By the way, A good, inexpensive KISS TNC can be found at:
http://www.coastalchipworks.com/PICTNC.htm

For 45 bucks it's hard to go wrong, and the units have a good reputation.


Will FlexNet run on XP or linux or is it just limited to obsolete versions
of Windows and DOS 3.1 or later? If it won't run on a newer operating
system maybe that's the reason you never see it anywhere. As you said, I
don't want to get stuck running obsolete software.

At home you can use versions for DOS, Win95, and the Flex32 version which is
good for all Windows versions since Win95. This includes 98, 98SE, XP, 2000,
ME etc. etc... I use Flex32 ( http://www.uspacket.org/flex32/flx_32.htm )
with the excellent terminal program Paxon (
http://www.uspacket.org/paxon/paxon.htm ) ...

Flex32's soundmodem driver, written by Thomas Sailor HB9JNX is especially
nice, as 1.2kb afsk is but one of many options this driver gives you to
choose from. You can also operate afsk, fsk, Q15x25 mode, and packet at
1.2kb, 2.4kb, 4.8kb and of course 9.6kb. There is more, but my point has
been made and I'm too lazy to bring up the soundmodem driver onscreen to see
what the other options are. If you are interested, you will find out for
yourself and I wouldn't want to spoil that for you.

The two links above are to setup tutorials, step by step with screen shots
all the way.

The node option is only available for the DOS version. I suppose they
figured that very few hams would want to tie up a Windows computer in order
to operate a node, and who would see the GUI interface anyway, eh?

FlexNet is ( from a technical standpoint ) around a decade or so ahead of
any other available package. This includes the two FlexNet knock-offs, XNET
and AGW which have managed to mimic some but not all of FlexNets advanced
features.

So ( strictly speaking ) if you are already using something else besides
FlexNet, then you are already using obsolete software.

There's nothing wrong with the older stuff, it works just fine. - But
FlexNet will work noticeably better so if performance is a big deal with
you, that's your best way to go.

Having said that, I will mention that the last shred of performance is not
always your best choice. If the packet net in your area is all X1J for
example, then there is a lot to be said for fitting in well and becoming a
seamless part of the network by using X1J as well.

As always, these decisions are best made by the ham on the spot. It's hard
to tell you what's best for your situation from here at the southern tip of
Texas.

As for FlexNet "never being seen anywhere", well gee... It covers all of
Europe and a big chunk of the northeastern USA.

http://www.northeastflexnet.org/

Charles Brabham, N5PVL

Director: USPacket http://www.uspacket.org
Admin: HamBlog.Com http://www.hamblog.com
Weblog: http://www.hamblog.com/blog_n5pvl.php