 AOR donates TWO digital voice/image ARD9800 units to W1AW (Dec 2, 2004) AOR USA has donated two ARD9800 digital voice/image units to Maxim Memorial Station W1AW. The ARD9800 Fast Radio Modem adds digital SSB voice capability to any HF transceiver without having to modify the radio. With the addition of an optional memory module, the unit also enables transmission of high-quality digital images. AOR USA Executive Vice President Taka Nakayama, KW6I, visited W1AW and ARRL Headquarters to present the ARD9800 units. "AOR is proud to bring digital HF voice communications to W1AW," Nakayama said. "We believe Hiram Percy Maxim would be genuinely excited at this leap in technology." Accepting on behalf of ARRL was W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q. "We thank AOR USA very much for these units, which are installed as part of the equipment complement in two of our operating studios," Carcia said. "The ARD9800 enhances W1AW's efforts to keep up with current technology and will provide visiting operators a chance to experiment with digital audio on HF." Thousands of hams in Japan and Europe already are enjoying high-quality digital audio with ARD9800 units and DX contacts are not unusual. The ARD9800's digital audio eliminates background static and noise while improving audio quality. Several independent Web sites have been set up to arrange digital QSOs with other ARD9800 users, and links to some of these sites are available on the AOR Web site. Nakayama expressed hopes that ARD9800 users would make digital audio contacts with W1AW, and that visitors to the W1AW station would "enjoy the excitement" of using the ARD9800. |