PACTOR

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What Does PACTOR Mean?

PACTOR is a new form of data transmission that combines two prior methods called packet radio and AMTOR, a form of radio teletype messaging. PACTOR enables wireless transmissions and uses a frequency shift keying (FSK) method. Various updated versions of PACTOR include PACTOR-I, PACTOR-II and the newest version, PACTOR-III.

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PACTOR is used by some amateur radio bulletin boards. It is also commonly used for transferring data, including email, from marine stations.

Techopedia Explains PACTOR

As a form of AMTOR, PACTOR evolved from an original radio teletype technology that simulated an electromechanical teletype for wireless transmission. AMTOR also added error correction for signals, including automatic repeat request (ARQ) and other error-handling abilities. PACTOR improves on error handling for transmissions, creating better messaging across long distances, and achieves a higher data transfer rate of up to 200 characters per second.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.