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A great program for your contest training! Click here to download the latest version !!! (197 kB zipped) © DL4MM, Mathias Kolpe Version: 3.1 - 02.01.99
"RUFZ" is the abbreviation of the German word "Rufzeichen-Hören" and is training-software to improve CW-abilities, particularly the listening of usual Amateurradio-calls. It should be used by an advanced CW-operator to perfect memory-copying at higher speeds. Otherwise the initial-speed can be selected very low, so also newcomers have a good training possibility. For learning CW RUFZ is not suitable. In this case you should use other CW-training-programs. [ BACK TO CONTENT ] At the beginning of the program you are in the Start-Menu and you have to type your own callsign. Parallel you may fit CW-Output to your individual requirements. With the function keys you can adjust volume, pitch (middle-frequency of random generator) shape and initial speed and you can listen in a bit. These and some other functions will be described more detailed later. After typing your own callsign and confirming it with <ENT> the attempt is starting. The computer transmits the first call with the adjusted initial speed, which has been randomly-selected from a database with more than 35000 real existing calls. This call you have to type correctly into the keyboard. While typing you have some editing possibilities for the command line. After confirming input with <ENT> the computer transmits the next random call. (Only after <ENT>) If the last call was correct the speed increases else decreases. The computer adapts automatically to participants individual skill. In this way, always listening on individual limit, an outstanding training-effect will be reached. Compared to other programs RUFZ is very stressing, but only with stress training really helps! To have some fun there is scoring. Depending on difficulty the computer gives a maximum number of points for each listened call. There is a quadratic influence of speed and a linear influence of the length of the call for the maximum points. This maximum points the participant could have in case his call was correct. But for each error the points are reduced drastic. Beginning with RUFZ-version 3.0 you have the possibility to listen the call once again if you were not sure. (with F6) (but only 1x) In this case there is an deduction of 50% of the maximum-points. The points for each call will be summarised. After 50 listened calls the attempt is over and the score appears in the upper left window, and additional red in short form as part of the score-list in the score window. If you don not want to listen the full number of 50 calls, you can abort attempt by pressing F10. Scored are the points until this moment. After <ENT> you are back in the start-menu and you can start a new attempt or you can quit program with F10. The scores will be saved automatically. [ BACK TO CONTENT ]
Description of Menus
[ BACK TO CONTENT ] Attention ! The scoring beginning at RUFZ version 3.0 is NOT comparable to the points of previous versions !!!
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The currently adjusted values are shown in the <CW-INFO> window. Simultaneity there is a tone-output with the adjusted values. The combination V A B represents with V the middle-frequency of the random generator, A is the lowest, and B the highest possible frequency. Attention ! The display and the CW-output can be delayed a little bit to the key-pressing. With F5 in the Start-Menu the tone-adjustments are also saved, and will be loaded at the next program-start. [ BACK TO CONTENT ]
Window-Description < Right (upper) Window / Score-Window >
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[ BACK TO CONTENT ] < Left upper Window while attempt >
After end of attempt the current rank is shown in red colour. [ BACK TO CONTENT ] < Error-Window > (left, middle) The errors of current attempt are shown. Left the heard calls and right the computers given call. Wrong characters are displayed in red colour. Missing or surplus characters are marked with a red dot. [ BACK TO CONTENT ] Program-Disc or downloaded file contains following files: RUFZ31!.EXE is a self-extracting compressed file. Copy it to the desired directory and after running following files extracted in the same directory:
Beginning with RUFZ version 3.0 a modification of configuration- and callsign-file (additional to the score-file) is no longer provided. All these files are coded, and callsign-file additional compressed. [ BACK TO CONTENT ] Just copy RUFZ31!.EXE to any new directory on hard-disc. (for example C:\AFU\SIMUL\RUFZ31). If a previous version of RUFZ exists, these files are no longer needed, and can be deleted if wished. Attention ! Please make a backup of original-file(s) ! [ BACK TO CONTENT ] Type RUFZ to run. [ BACK TO CONTENT ] < Additional command-line-parameter > -NOCOLOR disables colours (for monochrome-adapter). [ BACK TO CONTENT ] Hard- and Software-requirements Only a simple IBM-compatible PC (>= 286’er) is needed. A soundcard is strongly recommended. Because RUFZ is a time-critical software it runs only under (pure) DOS. Due to the different parallel processes of the multitasking-operating-system WINDOWS there is usually no way for a correct CW-output under WIN 3.0-3.1 and WIN 95. This causes excessive distortions of the Morse-code. Exception is the MS-DOS-MODE under WINDOWS 95. If "Speedalarm" occurs also under DOS, disable of hard-disc-caches like SMARTDRV or PC-CACHE could be helpful. If not, please inform author. [ BACK TO CONTENT ] Regularly the CW-Output is made via a SOUNDBLASTER-compatible soundcard. There are no special adjustments needed, the soundcard will be detected automatically. But of course the drivers for DOS and at WIN95 for MS-DOS-MODE must be installed and enabled! If no soundcard is detected, the CW-output is made trough the built-in PC- speaker. You can connect a headphone instead or parallel. [ BACK TO CONTENT ] In case of problems, bugs or suggestions please inform author of RUFZ-software:
[ BACK TO CONTENT ] Where to get RUFZ 3.1 and next Updates RUFZ 3.1 and updates can be downloaded free from Packet-Radio-Net or also permanently from the Internet. The current sources can change and will be published together with the RUFZ-Toplist or can be asked from the author. A free 3.5"-disc is obtainable at author. Just cover mailing- and handling-costs. (Now: Europe: 2 IRC, 5 DM or 3 USD, DX: 3 IRC or 5 USD). Please send only a normal letter including IRC or USD. An address-label is appreciated. Do not send a return-envelope and/or a disc. A disc is not needed, because the mailing costs for disc’s are higher than the price for new one. The software will be shipped in a special hard-cover-envelope on a branded disc. [ BACK TO CONTENT ] The UNMODIFIED RUFZ-software may be distributed FREE OF CHARGE under radio- amateurs and SWL. A commercial profit-oriented usage, or an addition of this software to disc’s or CD’s with Free- and/or Shareware which are distributed profit-oriented, is forbidden without written permission of author. [ BACK TO CONTENT ] There is no guarantee for the applicability of RUFZ for a certain purpose. The use of RUFZ is always at your own risk. No liability is taken over. [ BACK TO CONTENT ] |
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