It has been a long time since I last wrote software for the RTTY mode. The newly released version 3.10 adds RTTY to CommCat using the MMTTY engine. My first RTTY program, RTTY89, was released in 1979. Much has changed since then.

RTTY stands for "Radio TeleType". Most RTTY operation in 1979 used a mechanical teleprinter for printing and Terminal Unit (TU) for demodulating the two-tone audio signals fed from the receiver. The most desired teleprinter of the day was the Model...

Howard W6HN

CommCat version 3.9 is now ready for download. As usual, there is no charge for this update. The formatting problems with DX Summit have been fixed, a number of bugs have been stomped, and several new features have been added. To learn more, click here.

Howard W6HN

If you are using Facebook, I've set up a new group for CommCat. Click this link to check it out. Please join us there!

Howard W6HN

My work on this update has been fun since there are so many noticeable changes. There are new looks and new features. For a complete list of new goodies, click here.

I've replaced the menu and toolbar system with modernized versions. The original toolbar component I used is now 10 years old! Our ideas about what looks good in screen design have changed quite a bit in the past decade.

You can change the skin of the CommCat windows. Now CommCat can look just like iTunes!...

Howard W6HN

From 1964 through 1980, my dad, Dave Nurse, W8GCD, worked for the Heath Company in Benton Harbor, Michigan. (Heath was actually located in St. Joseph, MI, but the Benton Harbor post office had a branch at the Heath plant.)

Several years ago, Make Magazine ran an article that described some of my early experiences building kits...starting long before my dad went to Heath. Needless to say, when the job opportunity came up, I was fully supportive!

Make has moved the article...

Howard W6HN