Morse Runner for the Afreet of Foot

For a few years, I have been using Morse Runner software to practice Morse code (CW) in a simulated contest environment. The program is freeware, programed and published by Alex Shovkoplyas, VE3NEA, of Afreet Software, Inc., in Canada. It's the same guy who also created the CW Skimmer, which has caused a stir in the contesting community. Morse Runner 1.68 can be downloaded from Alex's site, and I think a few shareware/freeware download sites also have it.

Bring It On

It downloads as a zipped file. Unzip it, double click on the setup file, and it will install to a folder named Afreet, which causes confusion when you are looking for a Morse Runner folder. There is no formal documentation, as such, but the Read Me file describes what the controls do. This is a product that you jump in and try. Since it is only a simulation, and no signal is being transmitted on the air, go ahead and try it. You can't break it.

First, take a look at the one and only screen. On the right hand side, there is a place to enter your call, so when a contest CQ is sent, it will use your call. Below that, you set up the characteristics of your 'virtual contest'. There are default parameters if you want to use them, for CW speed, pitch, and receiver bandwidth. This is where we get to find out the state of our hearing. Many older hams have diminished higher frequency hearing. I resemble that remark, so I slide the pitch down because it helps my hearing. Experiment to find your sweet spot. The ramp slider is the volume level. Personally, I always use headphones: to hear better - and - to spare my family the dits and dahs.

Why Would I Want to QRM Myself??

What is unique with this product is the ability to QRM yourself. Huh?! In a real contest, one experiences all kinds of 'noise', if you will, to prevent you from making contacts. Some of it is atmospheric, some machine, and some human. We all know that band conditions can bring fading, flutter, and static, sometimes all at once. We also experience key clicks, drifting, and mushy keying, and poor character spacing . And we haven't even brought up the human operator yet - yes, there is enough 'noise' to go around for everyone.

The software tries to simulate real world conditions in your little virtual contest. QRN, QRM, QSB, and flutter are all available at your fingertips: click or unclick each box to turn them off or on as your heart desires. Also, there is a LID check box. For newcomers, a 'lid' is a bad/clue less operator. Alex defines lids as stations who call you when you are working another station, make mistrakes when they send code, copy your messages incorrectly, and send an RST other than 599. Nuff said.

You Mean I'm My Own Punching Bag?

The real test is: how many stations do I want coming back to my CQ in this make believe contest? The default is set to one. And to start out, that is fine. But eventually you will want to simulate real world conditions. I have mine set to 3. That's ok, but I'd never make it on a dxpedition where dozens of stations are coming back at you simultaneously. So yes, start with 1.

Now, we've added our 'hazzards', so to speak, so we are ready to start. But keep in mind that just about every variable in this program is random. You won't have three stations coming back to you every time, or polar flutter every time, nor is every station a lid. Just when you think things are getting comfortable, the software has a loud station appear out of nowhere, calling CQ right smack on your frequency, and at two to three times faster than your code speed. Then 10, or 20 seconds later, the station disappears just as quickly. In a real contest, things can and do change just that rapidly, and the operator must be able to react to the situation. At times, it is almost eerie how closely this little program can simulate on-the-air situations, and human behavior. What this program has done for me, aside from increasing my code speed significantly, is to force me to be ready for almost any type of 'move' that the other station can throw at me.

Then Let's Get Started

The contest simulated here is the CQ WPX (prefix) contest. You need to get a signal report (the constant 5NN, the 'N' being an abbreviation for '9'), and a serial number from each station that you work. And the correct call as well of course. If your log entry is not correct, not only do you lose the contact points in your contest log, but also suffer penalty points. Start out by unchecking everything, but do enter your call in the box at the top. Set the speed and time to your liking. Click on the 'run' button, and hit 'enter'. The software calls CQ for you. As stations come back to you, key the other station's call in the Call box, hit the 'space' bar to add the default 599 (the space bar moves you to the next entry box) for a signal report, and key in the serial number from the other station. Your log entry line should look something like this: W0XXX 599 001. Hit 'enter' to log, and repeat. Next time I'll talk about the similarities of this program to the logging program N1MM, and talk more about the actual behavior of Morse Runner during the contest.

73 es Keep On Keeping On,

John the Left Handed Gorilla

comments to: w9lhg@radioham.org