[CQ-Contest] Code readers

[Michael Adams]

One thing about CW Skimmer (and perhaps the others):  While it is slow at decoding, I think its strength is in depicting/amplifying code in a visual spectrum-like display.  I have some nasty tinnitus that makes it difficult to copy "by ear", so I'll frequently run skimmer in "blind mode" (no computer text generation) and copy the dits/dahs visually to overcome the high noise level in my ears.

Presumably this is a tactic any CW lover with hearing issues could use.

-- 
Michael Adams | mda at n1en.org

-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest <cq-contest-bounces+mda=n1en.org at contesting.com> On Behalf Of AB1J via CQ-Contest
Sent: Monday, 19 April, 2021 19.06
To: k4sbz.stan at gmail.com; ko7ss at yahoo.com
Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Code readers

N1MM+ has code reading capability which can be used with  Fldigi, CWGet or a TNC.  

I use CWGet with N1MM+ on CW when the contest rules allow (usually it's forbidden when running Unassisted), but it doesn't work all that well in QRM and with weak signals.  I ran it last weekend in the CQMMDX and it was useful a handful of times.  There are times when I flub up and maybe CWGet will rescue me.  Not always, however.  Usually we fail in tandem.

You can always run standalone CW readers, too.


I ran some tests once using various CW readers: CWGet, MRP40, Fldigi, and the CW Skimmer.  The CW Skimmer was best but sometimes too slow.  The rest were of a group with good and bad points depending on their use, like ragchewing versus contesting.  Interestingly, if signals were good, some decoders worked better on faster CW than slower.  I ran MRP40 up to 80 WPM with good results.

IMO, though, you can never be a serious CW contester until you can copy contest CW yourself up to 35 WPM or more.  You don't have to be fluent at 35 WPM, just be able to copy calls and contest exchanges.

The CWT contests and the K1USN SSTs are great ways to learn contest CW.

Between the CWOps and K1USN activities, code readers and the RBN, CW contesting will live on indefinitely, even if CW use generally continues to decline.  

73,
Ken, AB1J