Alot of folks forget that whipping up a second computer can be very cheap
but you have to be very careful doing it.
At hamfests there are always lots of older computers.
Even if the 486 you find is too slow for your tastes you can get an
Evergreen or Kingston processor replacement even.
The biggest problem in building low end computers is getting RAM and small
hard drives. The smallest new IDE is about 1G these days.
My "ham computer" is a 386/25 with 1M RAM, 80M hard drive and VGA monitor.
I use it for logging during contests and running APRS at other times.
If your primary machine is in the shack you can get monitor/keyboard
switchboxes to lessen the amount of stuff you need.
73 and happy holidays,
Paul
KR4YL
-----Original Message-----
From: K4OJ <K4OJ@aol.com>
To: K7LXC@aol.com <K7LXC@aol.com>; kc5ajx@HOTMAIL.COM <kc5ajx@HOTMAIL.COM>;
cq-contest@contesting.com <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Ten Meter Contest
>In a message dated 97-12-17 10:35:31 EST, K7LXC@AOL.Com writes:
>
><<
> Get a used 286, 386 or 486 - they're cheap now. You can run older
> versions of CT on the 286/386 (V 8.x) and you don't need Windows!
> >>
>
>
>I got a used 386 from a guy at the Tampa hamfest last month, everything you
>would need for CW contesting except brewing the interface cable....lemme
see
>the cable might cost you five bucks to swhip it up....and add the puter
which
>was 75, yeah 75 bucks....so for 80 bucks you could be running NA or
>whatever...lots folks sellling off primo 386/486 puters at yard sales,
>etc....they have upgraded to Pentiums....the older puters are just fine for
>running contest software...and lemme see 80 bucks, about the same price as
a
>nice paddle!
>
>Boggles the mind, eh?
>
>k4oj
>
>
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