Commodore Products (fwd)

RobertB · November 05, 2008, 08:21 AM

------------ Original Message ----------------
Subject: COMMODORE PRODUCTS
From: "Jeff Goldman" <k3dua(at)erols.com>
Date: Mon, November 3, 2008 5:51 pm
-------------------------------------------------

Dear Commodore Users,

We have available two products designed for the Commodore C-64/128 [in C64 mode]. These are available at very reduced prices.

Here is a list and brief description of the plug-in cartridges.

SWL - - The cartridge will decode both Morse Code and RTTY (radio teletype) signals from a shortwave receiver and display the results on the screen. The full operating program in a self contained EPROM. The price in small quantities is $15.00 (US) including shipping in the USA.**

MORSE COACH - - The cartridge is a self contained (program in EPROM) teaching program for learning the Morse Code. The price in small quantities is $15.00 (US) including shipping in the USA.**

If you want both cartridges (one of each) the price is $25.00 (US) shipped in the USA.** If there is enough club/user group interest to get 5 or more of either or both, quantity discounting is available. [Cash/check/money order made out to G and G Electronics]

** Shipping to addresses outside the USA, please inquire as to the shipping costs.

If you would like a full detailed flyer, please send me your snail mail mailing address and I will send one to you.

Thanks for your time.

Jeff Goldman
G and G Electronics of Maryland
8524 Dakota Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
USA

PHONE 301-258-7373
FAX 301-977-5378

airship · November 05, 2008, 09:09 AM

A great example of a nice niche product at a reasonable price.

I used to have a shortwave radio that received Morse channels. If I still had it, I'd be tempted to buy the decoder.

I should learn Morse myself, though. My Dad was a railroad telegrapher and could send like a maniac. I have his old 'bug' but can't even handle a key without a crib sheet.

The price is just about worth it for the cartridge boards and EPROMs. If they include cases, they are a bargain.

RobertB · November 05, 2008, 09:43 AM

Quote from: airship on November 05, 2008, 09:09 AMI used to have a shortwave radio that received Morse channels. If I still had it, I'd be tempted to buy the decoder.

I should learn Morse myself, though. My Dad was a railroad telegrapher and could send like a maniac. I have his old 'bug' but can't even handle a key without a crib sheet.

My friends, like Joe Fenn of Honolulu, Hawaii, keep telling me I should get into ham radio. I will buy the carts (even though I don't have a receiver ytet).

Quote from: airship on November 05, 2008, 09:09 AMThe price is just about worth it for the cartridge boards and EPROMs. If they include cases, they are a bargain.

Yes, they have cases. I had a nice phone conversation with owner Jeff, and he told me that his company had bought the rights to the Microlog carts from the 1980's. He has several hundred of the SWL and about a hundred of the Morse Coach.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
CommVEx v5 info - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX

Andrew Wiskow · November 05, 2008, 04:30 PM

Quote from: RobertB on November 05, 2008, 09:43 AMYes, they have cases. I had a nice phone conversation with owner Jeff, and he told me that his company had bought the rights to the Microlog carts from the 1980's. He has several hundred of the SWL and about a hundred of the Morse Coach.

I heard that in the 1980's, the SWL was $69, and the Morse Coach was $49.

(hmm... I wonder where I heard that???)

RobertB · November 05, 2008, 05:41 PM

Quote from: Andrew Wiskow on November 05, 2008, 04:30 PM...the SWL was $69, and the Morse Coach was $49.

(hmm... I wonder where I heard that???)

From G and G Electronics owner Jeff Goldman? :-)

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
CommVEx v5 info - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX

airship · November 06, 2008, 01:54 AM

Robert, do you know if he does email and Paypal?

RobertB · November 06, 2008, 02:59 AM

Quote from: airship on November 06, 2008, 01:54 AM...do you know if he does email and Paypal?

Jeff's e-mail is listed in the first post. He told me that he does not do Paypal.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/forum

Andrew Wiskow · November 06, 2008, 04:50 AM

Quote from: RobertB on November 05, 2008, 05:41 PM
Quote from: Andrew Wiskow on November 05, 2008, 04:30 PM...the SWL was $69, and the Morse Coach was $49.

(hmm... I wonder where I heard that???)
From G and G Electronics owner Jeff Goldman? :-)

Close... It was from your post on the ACUG list...

airship · November 18, 2008, 05:53 AM

Just ordered both of these. I used a personal check, so it'll be several weeks before I get them, I'm sure.

I wonder if I can connect the output from the Morse Coach cartridge on one machine to the input on the SWL cartridge on the other?

RobertB · November 19, 2008, 06:06 PM

Quote from: airship on November 18, 2008, 05:53 AMJust ordered both of these.

I'm waiting until payday before I order mine.

Quote from: airship on November 18, 2008, 05:53 AMI wonder if I can connect the output from the Morse Coach cartridge on one machine to the input on the SWL cartridge on the other?

Can't hurt to try.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore/Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org/

airship · December 02, 2008, 05:59 AM

Wow, that was quick! I received these this weekend. They look VERY professional, and even include documentation. I'll try them out in a couple of days and report back, but they look to be well worth the money.

RobertB · December 04, 2008, 06:17 AM

Quote from: me on November 19, 2008, 06:06 PMI'm waiting until payday before I order mine.

I just mailed a check for both carts.

Still recovering from Thanksgiving travel,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore/Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org/

RobertB · January 13, 2009, 11:56 AM

Quote from: me on December 04, 2008, 06:17 AMI just mailed a check for both carts.

After a mix-up on the part of my bank, everything was straightened out, G and G Electronics sent out the carts, and I received the carts in the mail a few days ago. Very nice! The instructions provide a type of tutorial for SWL newbies like me. Also mentioned in the manual is a disk called Air Dos -- from what I gather, a means of saving large sections of SWL communications onto disk for reference and printing later. Well, now that I have the Morse Coach and the SWL cart, I must complete the set and get the Air Dos disk!

$15 for that puppy,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
Catch the Fatman and Circuit Girl on http://vimeo.com

airship · January 14, 2009, 02:00 AM

The Morse Coach is very nice. Well thought-out and versatile enough for a rank amateur just learning or an old pro wanting to improve his speed.

The SWL cart needs a shortwave radio which I intend to pick up someday. It does come with a test tape, which you use with a regular audio cassette player, NOT the Commodore 1530/C2N.

I also have my Dad's old Vibroplex sending key - for which there is a jack on the cart - if I want to practice my own code sending capabilities. My key needs a couple of repair parts first, which are miraculously still available on the Interwebs.

In all, this set of carts is an incredible bargain if you have the least interest in Morse code and/or shortwave radio.

RobertB · January 14, 2009, 01:15 PM

Quote from: airship on January 14, 2009, 02:00 AMWell thought-out and versatile enough for a rank amateur just learning...

Yup, rank amateur right here!

Quote from: airship on January 14, 2009, 02:00 AMThe SWL cart needs a shortwave radio which I intend to pick up someday.

Me, too... but which is the best? Or the best to use with the Commodore? Or the best for the price? (I wish my friend, Joe Fenn, in Hawaii could help me out because he is an expert ham radio operator, but I don't think his health is good.

)

Quote from: airship on January 14, 2009, 02:00 AMI also have my Dad's old Vibroplex sending key - for which there is a jack on the cart - if I want to practice my own code sending capabilities.

Should I buy a Vibroplex, too?

Newbie... newbie...
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
Catch the Fatman and Circuit Girl on http://vimeo.com

RobertB · January 14, 2009, 02:38 PM

Quote from: me on January 13, 2009, 11:56 AMAlso mentioned in the manual is a disk called Air Dos -- from what I gather, a means of saving large sections of SWL communications onto disk for reference and printing later. Well, now that I have the Morse Coach and the SWL cart, I must complete the set and get the Air Dos disk!

Oh-oh, Jeff of G and G Electronics just e-mailed me right now and said that there are no more of the Air Dos disks available. It's a lost program that must be found somewhere else.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
Catch the Fatman and Circuit Girl on http://vimeo.com

airship · January 15, 2009, 01:43 AM

Quote from: RobertB on January 14, 2009, 01:15 PMShould I buy a Vibroplex, too?

You should become proficient with a regular telegraph key before you consider a Vibroplex. But that's what I happen to have; my sister took the simple key.

My Vibroplex looks like this (only dirtier and missing a couple of small parts):

A simple key is one that looks like this (only probably not quite as fancy):

airship · January 16, 2009, 03:06 AM

Quote from: RobertB on January 14, 2009, 01:15 PM
Quote from: airship on January 14, 2009, 02:00 AMThe SWL cart needs a shortwave radio which I intend to pick up someday.
Me, too... but which is the best? Or the best to use with the Commodore? Or the best for the price? (I wish my friend, Joe Fenn, in Hawaii could help me out because he is an expert ham radio operator, but I don't think his health is good. )

Today Kevin Kelly over at Cool Tools recommended this Sony portable as the best. If you happen to have a spare $150 just lying around, that is:

RobertB · January 16, 2009, 02:13 PM

Quote from: airship on January 15, 2009, 01:43 AMMy Vibroplex looks like this...

[snip]

A simple key is one that looks like this...

How very "steampunk" in design!

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore/Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org/

RobertB · January 16, 2009, 02:16 PM

Quote from: airship on January 16, 2009, 03:06 AMToday Kevin Kelly over at Cool Tools recommended this Sony portable as the best.

Thanks for the recommendation!

But not very "steampunk" in design,

Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
The Other Group of Amigoids
http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
Southern California Commodore/Amiga Network
http://www.sccaners.org/