[ct-user] [CQ-Contest] CT as freeware

[Ron Notarius WN3VAW]

I can only think of a few reasons why K1EA has converted CT to freeware:

(1)  He is discontinuing further development of the program as we know it
(2)  Sales of new and upgrade versions of CT have dropped to the point of
not being worth the bother
(3)  He is about to replace it with a true 32 bit GUI version, CT 10
perchance?

I really hope #3 is the primary answer.  I first saw CT 6.15 demo'd at
Dayton many, many moons ago, at the Contest forum, and thought so much of it
that I walked out part way through the demo to find a dealer and buy it!
While CT is far from perfect (what is?) it's overall been one of the best
pieces of contest software around, and was once way ahead of it's time and
the competition.

Here's hoping we're only seeing the last life stage of CT for DOS, not CT.


73, ron wn3vaw

"There must be some mistake.  The Pirates in first? QRM on my end,
probably."
--John W3ULS (and there's no QRM, either)

----- Original Message -----
Date: Sun, 06 Apr 2003 10:10:38 -0400
From: Al - N1API <n1api at cox.net>
To: jjreisert at alum.mit.edu, CT Discussion List <ct-user at contesting.com>,
   cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [ct-user] [CQ-Contest] CT as freeware

Jim Reisert AD1C wrote:

 >From: Ken Wolff [mailto:ken at k1ea.com]
 >Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 8:05 AM
 >Subject: CT as freeware
 >
 >As of today, I have reverted CT to a freeware program. The software
 >can be picked up at http://www.k1ea.com/ctvault/, without a password.
 >
 >Support will be via the users group replector: ct-user at contesting.com
 >

Well while you usually don't hear much from me here, I have to chime in
on this.

While I appreciate all that Ken and the group associated with CT have
done to make CT the premium contest package, I got to say that I'm
disappointed that it has been released as freeware.  I've been a long
supporter of CT way back to the early versions when it only supported
a half dozen or less contests and the only way you could update it was
by mail or at the CT booth at Boxboro or one of the major shows.
Though I have only talked to Ken personally a few times, (and he
probably wouldn't know me if he fell over me on the street), I think
that he should have kept the program available to registered users only.
If he wanted to release something, then he could have done a CT Light
with support for only the CQ and ARRL DX contest.  Those who saw value
in his program should be happy to purchase a full version.  I think
that a nominal fee would be sufficient.  It never seems to suprise me
that hams will go out an pay thousands for their radios, computers
and accessories yet cry when they have to pay 50 bucks for a software
program for ham radio.  I'm willing to bet that some of the loudest
voices about bugs will be those that got the software for free.

-73-  Al  N1API
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