CQ Reviews: The AOR ARD-9000 Digital Voice Modem

摘要

It's-been nearly two years since we reviewed AOR's ARD-9800 digital modem (June 2004 CQ), which is capable of producing very high-quality digital audio in an HF bandwidth, as well as transmitting digital image files (with an optional additional chip installed). One of the very few negatives about that unit was that it was kind of pricey ($549 list) for a ham who is not yet totally committed to doing digital voice (DV) on HF. The folks at AOR listened to their customers (and potential customers) and developed a smaller, self-contained, DV-only modem at a much more reasonable price ($339 list), the ARD-9000. In doing so, they made a few other improvements and perhaps without realizing it, opened up the DV "window" to a whole new group of hams "HFPackers," who enjoy using small HF transceivers to keep in touch while hiking or mountain-climbing. But let's take a look at the unit itself before we "hit the trail."