PACTOR III

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PACTOR III
PACTORIIIthumb.jpg
Frequencies 3 MHz,30 MHz
Frequency Range 3 MHz - 30 MHz
Mode USB
Modulation PSK
ACF
Emission Designator
Bandwidth 400 Hz,2.4 kHz
Location Worldwide
Short Description PACTOR III introduces 6 speed levels that provide higher throughput and improved robustness compared to PACTOR I and II. PACTOR III is on average 3.5 times faster than PACTOR II. With optimal conditions, PACTOR III becomes over 5 times faster.
I/Q Raw Recording
Audio Sample
PACTOR Series: PACTOR I - PACTOR II - PACTOR III - PACTOR IV 

PACTOR III introduces 6 speed levels that provide higher throughput and improved robustness compared to PACTOR I and II. PACTOR III is on average 3.5 times faster than PACTOR II. With optimal conditions, PACTOR III becomes over 5 times faster.

PACTOR III has a maximum bandwidth of 2400 HzHertz (Hz), unit of frequency, defined as one cycle per second (1 Hz).. This is a proprietary standard developed by SCS GmbH & Co. KG, Hanau, Germany.


Pactor III has 6 speed modes, made up of 2, 6, 14, 16, and 18 tone modulations, with each tone spaced 120Hz apart.


During a standard transmission connection between two operators, PACTOR III Modems will transmit a PACTOR I SELCALL to determine the optimal mode and speed to establish between the two operators.

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Noted Users[edit]

PACTOR is used by many groups, including Sailmail for mariners to send and receive emails. It is also used by Ham Radio operators, Governmental and Diplomatic agencies, and even NGO's.

Winlink utilizes PACTOR I-IV for it's data transmission modes.

Parts of the former Globe Wireless HFHigh Frequency (3-30 MHz) network is now used by Swisscom, including its own Bern Radio in Switzerland. [1] [2] Swisscom solely uses PACTOR III with huffman compression for data transfer. [3]

Audio Sample[edit]

Sample 1:


Sample 2:

PACTOR III Modes
Level 1 (2-Tone) Level 2 (6-Tone) Level 3/4 (14-Tone)
PIII 2tone.jpg
PIII 6tone.jpg
PIII 14tone.jpg

Level 5 (16-Tone) Level 6 (18-Tone)
PIII 16tone.jpg
PIII 18tone.jpg

Frequencies[edit]

Decoding Software[edit]

Hobby Level Software
Professional Equipment/Software

Free-to-Use Competitors[edit]

Since PACTOR hardware modems are relatively expensive, the WINMOR and ARDOP software modes were developed after PACTOR to give amateur radio operators a means to send email over radio for free. VARA, which is a shareware mode, may have been developed as a lower-cost competitor to PACTOR III with similar transmission speeds, though PACTOR's reliability is said to be better than VARA.

Winlink[edit]

Winlink (formerly RMS Express) is an amateur radio global radio messaging service which can relay messages sent by radio to conventional e-mail servers. Winlink's radio messaging software client is called Winlink Express. Winlink Express is compatible with several PACTOR hardware modems, as well as WINMOR, ARDOP, and VARA. Winlink Express is available for Windows users only (or other x86 operating systems if run with Wine). Linux, Mac, and Raspberry Pi users may use Pat, which is compatible with PACTOR, WINMOR, and ARDOP.

Additional Links[edit]

Additional Images[edit]