Was better from what I expected. While I thought that I'd find troublesome to change my QSX frequency by using the mouse, it wasn't that hard, since the callers are coming back QRS, so there's plenty of time for my fingers to leave the keyboard and grab the mouse..
Thus, the one and only thing I didn't like -unless I got it wrong- was that the only way to change the QSX freq is by using the mouse. Unfortunately the PgUp/PgDn buttons are practically useless, since their frequency step is 4kHz which is a HUGE step (and agn: maybe it's ME that I'm doing something wrong.. I'm still trying to figure out this program)
Besides mumbling for not being able to solely use my keyboard, Alex has definitely done a terrific job: what I heard in those 5' is an excellent simulation of the reality.
Something else I found really useful is the SNR option. While Fabian had experimentally implemented such training tool at his excellent site www.lcwo.net it's still not developed. So if someone is into the mood of torturing & training his ears with CW whispering, Pileup Runner can do the job.
You can also record your attempts just with a click and there are also adif logs generated for every single attempt. Here's the log of my 5' attempt with 18 QSOs with the passband of my receiver set at 500Hz:
File generated 2012-09-30 23:55:31 UTC
Pileup_Runner
1.1.0.39
G3BJ2012100100000920M14.006CWEUY41dB
K1AR2012100100002020M14.006CWNAY41dB
OK1NI2012100100003920M14.006CWEUY42dB
YT1T2012100100005320M14.007CWEUY50dB
HA7LJ2012100100010820M14.007CWEUY37dB
DL6EN2012100100011920M14.006CWEUY30dB
K1BW2012100100013120M14.007CWNAY20dB
RN3QQ2012100100015620M14.008CWEUY12dB
WA4PGM2012100100021620M14.006CWNAY30dB
SP9PRO2012100100023220M14.006CWEUY34dB
G3LDI2012100100025820M14.006CWEUY26dB
HA3LI2012100100031220M14.006CWEUY50dB
WA0KDS2012100100032920M14.008CWNAY16dB
DF0BA2012100100034320M14.006CWEUY44dB
DK8SX2012100100035420M14.006CWEUY50dB
SM6JCC2012100100041520M14.006CWEUY20dB
JH1NBN2012100100043720M14.008CWASY25dB
W4NE2012100100045220M14.005CWNAY39dB
Was fun and definitely very, very realistic ! Alex seems to be always coming up with great ideas which he generously offers to the ham community. Needless to say that Morse Runner (along with rufzXP) is the program which has literally shaped my CW skills.
Can't wait to see the competition mode implemented in a future version and have the chance to add something new in my training regimen !
Thus, the one and only thing I didn't like -unless I got it wrong- was that the only way to change the QSX freq is by using the mouse. Unfortunately the PgUp/PgDn buttons are practically useless, since their frequency step is 4kHz which is a HUGE step (and agn: maybe it's ME that I'm doing something wrong.. I'm still trying to figure out this program)
Besides mumbling for not being able to solely use my keyboard, Alex has definitely done a terrific job: what I heard in those 5' is an excellent simulation of the reality.
Something else I found really useful is the SNR option. While Fabian had experimentally implemented such training tool at his excellent site www.lcwo.net it's still not developed. So if someone is into the mood of torturing & training his ears with CW whispering, Pileup Runner can do the job.
You can also record your attempts just with a click and there are also adif logs generated for every single attempt. Here's the log of my 5' attempt with 18 QSOs with the passband of my receiver set at 500Hz:
File generated 2012-09-30 23:55:31 UTC
Was fun and definitely very, very realistic ! Alex seems to be always coming up with great ideas which he generously offers to the ham community. Needless to say that Morse Runner (along with rufzXP) is the program which has literally shaped my CW skills.
Can't wait to see the competition mode implemented in a future version and have the chance to add something new in my training regimen !
