[UK-CONTEST] WT v N1MM (was Re: 1.8 MHz Contest G3SJJ)
G3SJJ
g3sjj at btinternet.com
Mon Nov 20 04:56:40 EST 2006
... and even as you typed, I was downloading the new version!! Yes, very
pleased to see that.
Having attended the Contesting Dinner at Dayton this year, heard the
citation and saw K3LR inducted into the Contesting Hall of Fame, I am
impressed that WT is used at his station! Chacun .... etc, K1TTT uses
N1MM and W3LPL still uses CT!!
Reference networking, Writelog was awful which was one of the reasons
for change here. Had no problems with N1MM other than it doesn't seems
to like W98 which is no great problem these days. We ran 4 m/cs in IOTA
this year with no dropouts.
The point I was making about speeding up in messages was that software
writers have an obligation to promote good practice and I certainly
don't consider speeding and leaving out callsign in TU messages to be
that. The other point is that whenever you say or send anything, you are
marketing yourself to attract punters. Speeded up messages interrupts
the rhythmical flow, sounds bad and may deter callers. I felt
uncomfortable with my WT messages on Saturday, the delay between His
Call and Exchange seemed maybe 2 characters and didn't appear to flow
well. I need to look at that.
As regards GUI, guess it's a bit like the Metric thing. I buy/weigh-out
food in grams, look at weather forecasts in deg C. It would be hard to
go back to the old days. That's what I need to do if I continue with WT
(after CQWW, as I am determined to get it sorted for then, teamwork etc!!)
OK, coffee and another look at WT.
Chris G3SJJ
> Peter Bowyer wrote:
>> ... and even as I type, WT 3.6.0 has been released with this bug
>> fixed :-)
>>
>> Peter
>>
>> On 20/11/06, Peter Bowyer <peter at bowyer.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Chris
>>>
>>> I think you're being a little unfair on WT - it's going to take you a
>>> contest or 3 to get used to any new software. I first used WT at G6PZ
>>> back in May for WPX CW and started to see how good it was - we tried
>>> it at MD4K for IOTA and lately for WW SSB (M/M) and found it
>>> extrememly capable and more importantly, rock-solid in the networking
>>> department. I'd trade a dozen new features for networking which stays
>>> up, and then picks itself up in a trice when unlrelated issues cause
>>> problems.
>>>
>>> (For example: a laptop smoked its power supply mid-contest - a
>>> replacement was slotted in mid-contest and in the space of about 10
>>> minutes the log was synchronised and everything was up and running)
>>>
>>> The + key problem is a bug in the WInkey support, it was first spotted
>>> by Don G3BJ I believe. The authors are extremely responsive to
>>> questions and I'm sure if you asked on the mailing list you'd be able
>>> to find out the status of the fix for that. There have been a number
>>> of fixes and requests acknowledged since WW SSB, and a new version
>>> will probably be released in the next day or two.
>>>
>>> I hope you stick with WT for a bit longer and give it a chance to
>>> impress.
>>>
>>> Peter G4MJS
>>>
>>> On 19/11/06, G3SJJ <g3sjj at btinternet.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Paul, extremely well thanks. I agree the users numbers of WT are
>>>> rapidly catching up with N1MM, and I recall Simon being the chief
>>>> architect of that in the UK.
>>>>
>>>> Also to Chris WOJ, I moved from K8CC's NA, which was similar to CT, to
>>>> Writelog some 5 years ago and had a real hard time learning it. It was
>>>> initially a diddly mode program which was reluctantly dragged into
>>>> real
>>>> modes. I think the real benefit of WT is that it came straight from
>>>> a CT
>>>> environment without the baggage of diddlys, so I probably would have
>>>> taken to it better if I hadn't already gone through the hoops with WL
>>>> and now N1MM.
>>>>
>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>>> I am still puzzled about bandmaps. Maybe I haven't learnt it properly
>>>> yet but none of the QSOs I made on S&P appeared on the BM. Also I
>>>> didn't
>>>> get a 2nd VFO BM but again that could be me.
>>>>
>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>>> 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!!
>>>>
>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>>> I found going back to CT type operating hard going and distracting.
>>>> Hitting F1 for CQ, then Ins, Space Bar and +, as opposed to Enter,
>>>> Enter, Enter etc in N1MM.
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps the only saving grace was that WT didn't seem to rely on using
>>>> the mouse so much. To my mind, the mouse and contests are not
>>>> compatible!!
>>>>
>>>> I am not a "flitter" hence want one program for contesting and one for
>>>> general use. I guess an analogy would be Imperial v Metric. I mentally
>>>> converted several years ago in most measurements and would be happy to
>>>> be 100% Metric. I find it frustrating to see signs saying Junction 100
>>>> YDS or fog warnings of visibility down to 200 yds. I am a simple
>>>> guy at
>>>> heart and Metric is simple. I know because at school I had to go
>>>> through
>>>> the stupidity if being able to divide Yards Feet & Inches into Pounds,
>>>> Shillings and Pence.
>>>>
>>>> "Everyone has their own gout" as the French say!! Chris G3SJJ
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Paul Beecham wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Chris trust your well, we will be using Wintest again
>>>>> this year, I
>>>>> think we can equate the value of WT by the number of stations now
>>>>> using it!
>>>>> We were one of the first, now we are amongst the many !! If
>>>>> any body
>>>>> want's more info about Wintest see Simon M0CLW.
>>>>> 73 Paul
>>>>> G6PZ ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Chris Tran" <zl1ct at gm7v.com>
>>>>> To: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
>>>>> Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 2:10 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] 1.8 MHz Contest G3SJJ
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi all
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Chris G3SJJ wrote :
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Used Wintest in support of the G5W effort next weekend and have
>>>>>>> to say I
>>>>>>> don't like it. Very much old CT style, log and QSO entry window
>>>>>>> all one
>>>>>>> and in a fixed position on the screen. Really old hat. No ESM so
>>>>>>> hands
>>>>>>> needing to wander all over the keyboard. It doesn't handle
>>>>>>> Winkey well
>>>>>>> at all.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sorry you didn't like WinTest Chris - I think it's the best CW
>>>>>> contesting
>>>>>> software to come along for a long time. Maybe I'm not
>>>>>> understanding ESM
>>>>>> correctly but I can't see any advantages in it at all. Not sure
>>>>>> why your
>>>>>> WT
>>>>>> would have wrong speeds, I think they are fairly accurate (direct
>>>>>> LPT
>>>>>> keying, not via WinKey) ?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> All down to how we operate CW individually of course. We've given
>>>>>> up on
>>>>>> Writelog and I don't like N1MM - most un-user-friendly software
>>>>>> ever !
>>>>>> WinTest looks a bit like good ole CT but is 200% more sophisticated.
>>>>>> Networking is rock-solid and it handles serial number sending
>>>>>> better than
>>>>>> most of the other contest logging software.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Please work GD6IA in CQ WW CW next weekend - using WinTest of
>>>>>> course !
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I've recently added more info to my lattice tower ramblings on
>>>>>> www.qsl.net/gm3woj/latticetower.htm
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 73
>>>>>> Chris
>>>>>> GM3WOJ
>>>>>>
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>>>>>> UK-Contest at contesting.com
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> UK-Contest mailing list
>>>> UK-Contest at contesting.com
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>>>>
>>>>
>>> --
>>> Peter Bowyer
>>> Email: peter at bowyer.org
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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