[UK-CONTEST] WT v N1MM

[John MacLean MMOCCC]

> Having changed to Windows type s/w I was taken aback with the Logging
> and QSO Entry area of WT. Almost a "Chinese" copy as I recall from CT. I
> much prefer the ability to place the Entry section where I want it and
> likewise the Log window. I was also surprised that the Log area doesn't
> show the QRG only Band. Entry area is also very lacking in information,
> beam heading for one. Its very basic and not what I would expect from
> modern s/w. Again some windows are variable in size others
> aren't, strange.

My main gripe with N1MM, compared with WT (and even WL) is that when all
windows are opened, no matter how much repositioning and resizing you do - I
even tried copying some other users layouts - the whole thing looks a b****y
mess.  At least with WT it's all held within the one main window, and other
required windows are then placed within the main one.  N1MM's "entry
window", for all it's information contained therein, looks just like the
other 10 or so other windows that appear on-screen.  Look away from your
monitor (sip of coffee, adjust radio filter etc) then look back and there's
nothing to make the user immediately look straight at that specific window,
which is where you should be if you want to get straight back to making
QSO's.

> There is apparently a bug with Wintest and + key. I took out the His
> Call bit just in case but then didn't get Changed Call to work. I ams
> till trying to understand how long it will be before an upgrade comes
> out. It's beginning to look a bit like WL in that respect.

Cant comment on individual bugs/errors but must say that going by the number
of updates/upgrades I see on the WT reflector, to compare support to WL
(apart from it's diddly-mode support) is a tad unfair.

> I was gob-smacked that as standard, default CW messages have speed up
> and down in them. An appallingly poor operating technique. Also I see
> that you can alter how many times you send TU QRZ etc before your call
> is sent. Again promulgating bad operating practice. OK, they can be
> taken out, but they shouldn't be there at all!!

My bet is these settings are based on the programmers preferred sending
technique, which we've seen discussed here several times before.  As far as
I'm concerned, since 5NN is superflous I don't see any reason not to speed
that part of the exchange up.

> Cluster has a separate program, again very odd for modern software. So
> when I use WT with Cluster, I have three separate programs running. WT,
> WTTelnet and AR User.

Is that any different to having to switch windows in N1MM to input cluster
commands?  The Alt-T command apears to be more or less generic across most
loggers nowadays so once the cluster software is opened there's no need to
return to it.

73
John MM0CCC