CATSync for WebSDRs

 

As the website states, CATSync is a tool that allows you to synchronise public WebSDR receivers with your real rig connected via CAT control to your computer. It supports the classical WebSDR, Kiwi SDR as well as Open Web RX.

As I have reiterated, there are some great developers out there that have contributed to AR in many different way, and software is one of them. I haven't tried this program yet but I will, as I am still working on the CW and this would allow me to use a remote receiver to receive some of the signals that are down in the noise from my home QTH and even compare them.  Whilst I would also be able to send CW from the attached rig.  Synchronising the two receivers would provide an extra string to the bow.

I'll post an update, when I've given it a workout. 

 

Morsle - the daily Morse Code challenge

 

Yet one more CW practice tool. this one can be found at morsle.fun.  Yes, its a little like Wordle but helps with your CW receiving.  

Better-ICR for practicing you CW reception

I'm still plugging away at my CW.  There are good day and bad day, I guess that is to be expected. One of the keys to good CW reception is what is called 'Instant Character Recognition', or ICR for short. I have previously posted about this and included some websites that have been helpful.  

There is however, a new kid on the block (or maybe I have just stumbled across it).  It is called 'Better-ICR' and it can be found at https://better-icr.herokuapp.com/.  Firstly, you enter the sound card setting and then press 'Start' it will send a character, and then time how long it takes for you to say the character out aloud.  Once you have done that you then enter the character using the keyboard. 

So it is, hear => speak => type, and then repeat.

It will then produce a graphical representation of your response time and accuracy, see below. 

The aim is to get your response times down below the dotted green line which is set at 600 ms.

For a full explanation you can read the 'Student’s Guide to Using Better-ICR' by John Merkel AJ1DM, published on the May 9, 2025.  So I suspect that it is a new website (or at least recently updated)!

This is a good way of checking progress (or regress, for that matter).   I think I will stick with this site to see if I can make some headway.

Enjoy!

It's Official - The QMX now includes SSB.

 

QMX SSB functionality has now been promoted to official version 1_02_000

 After six weeks of Beta releases, the QMX is now officially a CW, Digi and SSB transceiver!

 

On the 2nd of May, Hans made it official. This small pocket sized radio is feature packed, and the feature will, no doubt, still continue to be rolled out. 

 

This major update relates to both the QMX and the QMX+.    

I wonder of the fun in Amateur Radio is inversely proportional to the the amount of money spent on the gear.  The QMX would have to be one of the cheapest investment in AR that I have made, and yet seems to have provided me with the most fun.  And we all need a bit of fun in our lives, don't we!

 

 

The QMX Resurrected

Well, after a well deserved break in WA I'm back home, and the QMX 3.3 Volt buck converter module that I ordered has also arrived. After some quick resistance measurement it was installed. With the supply voltage set to 7 volts and current limited to 200mA, I gingerly switched the QMX on. Oh the Joy of resurrection! It's alive again.