RUFZ Program

[/G=LAWLEYD/S=LAWLEY/PRMD=IBMMAIL/ADMD=IBMX400/C=GB/ at mhs-relay.ac.uk]

RUFZ is an excellent little program. I was given a copy eighteen months or
so, and it has proved very popular at the RSGB HF Convention and with local
clubs.
 
Calls are sent just one at a time at differing pitches, but without QRM. So
it isn't exactly like the Kansas City tapes at Dayton. The clever thing is,
that for each callsign you copy correctly, the program speeds up a bit. I
think the algorithm also takes into account how quickly you respond with
the callsign. Conversely, when (not if) you miscopy a call, it slows down
a bit. 50 calls are sent in total.
 
The program therefore serves two training functions: (1) practice in copying
callsigns; (2) learning your way around a keyboard. It starts at about 30wpm
and good contesters start to get problems after 25 calls or so, when it is
up in the 50wpm region. On the other hand, it will slow right down to
12wpm or less, for the beginner. A score is computed, based on how many
calls you get right and how quickly you responded. At the end of the 50
callsigns, a 'top twenty' list of players is updated. Each player is only
allowed five attempts under his own call. These figures can be reset and
you can supply your own set of callsigns, which could be edited from a .ALL
file from the last big contest.
 
It's not Dr. DX, or NA/TR in practice mode, or a KCDXC run, but it is great
fun and pretty addictive. Roger G3SXW told me that when Wayne N7NG visited
him, he spent most of one evening trying to push his score higher and higher.
Presumably using all his alternate DX calls to get round the limit of five
attempts per person! I recommend that you download it when Tack makes it
available next week.
 
Back in the real world: look for GB6WW multi-single in the WPX CW contest,
operators will be G0CKP, G0UHK (NZ1W) and myself. And for those who care
about countries, GB6WW is in England.
 
73
 
Dave G4BUO
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



>From Greg Becker <gb546 at bard.edu>  Wed May 24 13:19:41 1995
From: Greg Becker <gb546 at bard.edu> (Greg Becker)
Date: Wed, 24 May 1995 08:19:41 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Young Blood/FD
Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.91.950524081419.41911A-100000 at core.bard.edu>



On Wed, 24 May 1995 JPontek at aol.com wrote:

> Glenn,
> 
> I have to disagree with your "FD is NOT REALLY a contest" statement. FD is,
> and always has been a contest. It was setup to be a "CONTEST IN THE FIELD."
>   
Hmmmmmmm.....

2) Object: To work as many stations as possible on any or all amateur 
bands <snip> and in doing so, to learn to operate in abnormal situations 
under less-than-optimum conditions. A premium is placed on skills and 
equipment developed to meet the challenge of emergency preparedness and 
to acquaint the public with the capabilities of Amateur Radio."
 
           Excerpted from "Field Day Rules, May 1995 QST, p. 133

Seems the League may have a bit broader view of the event than others...

73,

Greg Becker NA2N
gb546 at bard.edu