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<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <base href="//fkurz.net/ham/qrq.html"> <META HTTP-EQUIV="CONTENT-TYPE" CONTENT="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <title>QRQ - yet another CW trainer</title> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/ham/qrq.ico"> <meta name="author" content="Fabian Kurz"> <meta name="keywords" lang="en" content="qrq, Hamradio, ham radio"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/fkurz.css"> </head> <body> <img style="float:right" src="qrq.png" alt="[screenshot of qrq]"> <h1><abbr title="Send faster!">QRQ</abbr> - yet another CW trainer (Linux, Unix, OS X, Windows)</h1> <hr> <nav> <a href="//fkurz.net/">Fabian Kurz</a> → <a href="/ham/">Ham Radio</a> → <a class="navself" href="/ham/qrq.html">qrq</a> </nav> <hr> Current version: 0.3.5 - Jan 24th 2022 - see <a href="qrq/ChangeLog">ChangeLog</a> - <a href="qrq/">Downloads</a> <hr> <p><em>qrq</em> is an open source Morse telegraphy trainer which runs on several operating systems (Linux, Unix, OS X and Windows), similar to the classic DOS version of <a href="http://www.rufzxp.net/">Rufz</a> by DL4MM.</p> <p>It's <strong>not</strong> intended for <em>learning</em> telegraphy (check out <a href="http://lcwo.net/">LCWO</a> for that!), but to improve the ability to copy callsigns at high speeds, as needed for example for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contesting">Contesting</a>. <hr> <h2>How to use it</h2> <p>Using <em>qrq</em> is simple: <em>qrq</em> sends 50 random calls from a database. After each call, it waits for the user to enter what he heard and compares the entered callsign with the one sent. If the callsign is copied correctly, the speed is increased by 10cpm / 2wpm and full points are credited, if there were mistakes in the callsign entered, the speed decreases by 10cpm / 2wpm and (depending on how many letters were correct) only a fraction of the maximum points are credited.</p><p>A callsign can be heard again once by pressing <strong>F6</strong>, hitting <strong>F10</strong> aborts the attempt. The previous callsign (before the current) can be re-heard by pressing <strong>F7</strong>.</p> <p>The possible speed ranges from 20cpm (4wpm) to infinity, the initial speed can be set by the user (in ~/qrq/qrqrc or in the settings menu, <strong>F5</strong>).</p> <p>Additionally, there are several training modes available. Arbitrary databases of callsigns or words can be loaded, it's possible to practice at a fixed speed, etc.</p> <hr> <h2>Toplist</h2> <p>There is a simple toplist function in <em>qrq</em> which makes it possible for the user to keep track of his training success or to compare scores with others.</p> <p>A small Perl script (<em>qrqscore</em>) can be used to upload your best score to the <a href="qrqtop.php">the <strong>qrq toplist</strong></a>, and to synchronize your local toplist with the online list. If Perl is not available, scores can also be sent by email to the author.</p> <p>Note that there is no checksum or other mechanism to verify the scores, it relies on your honesty.</p> <p>As of version 0.0.7, the toplist file also includes a timestamp of the attempt, which makes it possible to keep track of your training progress. Pressing <strong>F7</strong> generates a graph score vs. date. (Gnuplot required, not implemented on Windows)</p> <hr> <h2>Score Summaries</h2> <p>Additionally to the toplist, a detail summary file for each attempt is saved in the "Summary" sub directory (on Windows: in the qrq directory; on Linux: in ~/.qrq/), containing all sent and received callsigns, speeds and points.</p> <p>Here's an example: <a href="qrq/DJ1YFK-20190507_1941.txt">DJ1YFK-20190507_1941.txt</a></p> <hr> <h2>Configuration</h2> <p>All settings are saved in the configuration file <strong>qrqrc</strong> (in the current directory or ~/.qrq/ on Unix). You may edit it before running <em>qrq</em> for the first time, but most settings can also be changed in the configuration menu (F5, also works during attempts).</p> <hr> <h2>CW tone generator</h2> <p>Special care has been taken of the CW tone generator. In order to avoid key clicks, the CW signal edges are formed as a raised cosine impulse. The rise- and fall times can be set individually to any value (in milliseconds); an adaptive mode allows to use different times depending on the current speed. <a href="dah.png">This graph</a> (produced with GNUplot) shows a dash at 500CpM/100WpM with 5ms rise time and 15ms fall time (too much for real CW, just for demonstration purposes), at a samplerate of 44.1kHz.</p> <p>OSS, PulseAudio, Core Audio (OS X) and WinMM are supported methods for sound output.</p> <hr> <h2>Download, License</h2> <p>Of course <em>qrq</em> is <a href="https://www.fsf.org/licensing/essays/free-sw.html">free software</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_as_in_beer">free as in beer</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech">free as in freedom</a>) and published under the GPL 2.</p> <p>The current version is 0.3.5 (Jan 2022) and can be found <a href="qrq/">in the download directory</a> and in git: <a href="https://git.fkurz.net/dj1yfk/qrq">https://git.fkurz.net/dj1yfk/qrq</a>. </p> <p><i>qrq</i> is also available as a package in different formats, thanks to the work of the respective maintainers.</p> <table border="1"> <tr><th>Format</th><th>Link</th><th>Maintainer(s)</th></tr> <tr><td>Windows Installer</td><td><a href="qrq/qrq-0.3.5.exe">qrq-0.3.5.exe</a></td><td>-</td></tr> <tr><td>source</td><td> <a href="qrq/qrq-0.3.5.tar.gz">qrq-0.3.5.tar.gz</a></td><td>-</td></tr> <tr><td><a href="http://www.freebsd.org/">FreeBSD</a> port</td><td> <a href="http://www.freshports.org/comms/qrq/">ports/comms/qrq</a></td><td><a href="http://www.db.net/~db/about.html">Diane, VA3DB</a></td></tr> <tr><td><a href="http://www.debian.org/">Debian</a> deb</td><td><a href="http://packages.qa.debian.org/q/qrq.html">qrq</a></td><td><a href="mailto:debian-hams@lists.debian.org">Debian Hamradio Maintainers</a></td></tr> <tr><td><a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/">Ubuntu</a> deb</td><td><a href="https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/qrq">qrq</a></td><td>via Debian</td></tr> <tr><td><a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/">Ubuntu</a> snap</td><td>tbd</td><td>FanJun Kong, BH1SCW</td></tr> <tr><td><a href="http://www.archlinux.org/">ArchLinux</a></td><td><a href="https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/qrq">qrq</a></td><td>UR6LAD</td></tr> <tr><td>Mac OS X</td><td><a href="qrq/qrq-0.3.3.dmg">qrq-0.3.3.dmg</a></td><td>Bob, AA6OC</td></tr> <tr><td>Mac OS X</td><td><a href="qrq/qrq-0.3.3-osx">qrq-0.3.3-osx</a></td><td>compiled binary</td></tr> </table> <hr> <h2>Author, Contact, Feedback</h2> <p><em>qrq</em> was written by Fabian Kurz, DJ5CW (ex DJ1YFK) <<a href="mailto:fabian@fkurz.net">fabian@fkurz.net</a>></p> <p><a href="http://www.kb1ooo.com/">Marc Vaillant, KB1OOO</a> contributed code to make it work under Mac OS X.<br> <a href="http://www.komsta.net/">Lukasz Komsta, SP8QED</a> contributed code for the native Windows version.</p> <p>I am always interested in your feedback concerning qrq. If you have any suggestions, questions, feature-requests etc., don't hesitate a minute and contact me at <a href="mailto:fabian@fkurz.net" title="my email address">fabian@fkurz.net</a>.</p> <hr> <nav> <a href="//fkurz.net/">Fabian Kurz</a> → <a href="/ham/">Ham Radio</a> → <a class="navself" href="/ham/qrq.html">qrq</a> </nav> <hr> Last modified: Tuesday, 08-Apr-2025 05:39:28 CEST </body> </html>