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write your own review of the QSOnet CQ100.
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W2DAB
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 17, 2008 13:57
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Great service for Hams
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I just installed the CQ100 software on my Dell XP machine and am registered with QSOnet and am very happy with the service.
In two days I talked to a Ham in Ireland and another in Korea.
Others who have said this is not Radio are 100% correct, but it is a great support for amateur radio people.
Think of it as an adjunct to local ham meetings and a way to speak to other hams about the hobby and what they are experiencing.
The softare is clever and well designed and I had a blast. I highly recommend trying this out*
To detractors who say it's no better than a chat room I disagree... the administrator requires a scan of your ham license before letting you on the system so it is very much closed to the general public.
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K5UJ
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Rating: 3/5
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Jun 12, 2008 05:39
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Does not make sense
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I'm giving it a 3 because I have to assign some number evaluation and I want to make mine one that will not bring the average up or down. That's because I'm not a QsoNET user but rather an observer due to the fact that I have several friends who use it.
Having given that caveat, there are several things about qsoNET that do not make sense to me, all based on the fact that as a VOIP system, it is free from US Part 97 and all the other ham radio regulations we must abide by in our respective countries. Yet, the management mandates all of these "over the air" type requirements which I find silly. These partly defeat the purpose and advantage of VOIP-it's as if the FCC imposed all of the terrestrial broadcast rules on satellite radio and cable television--it would make no sense. Because of this a big incentive to use QSOnet is gone; one may as well operate on the real ham bands where the rules have to be followed and where they are needed.
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N0JYC
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 1, 2008 13:55
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It must be down today...
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Also tried to log on today. It must be down. This is not ham radio. But, its something else that is fun. Try it and use it for what it is...I find it to be a lot of fun.
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VE3TMT
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Rating: 0/5
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May 31, 2008 20:11
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NOT HAM RADIO!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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CQ100 is nothing more than in internet chat group disguised as ham radio. If it were free, I'd give it a 3, but paying $32/yr for this is nuts. If it is the best you can do in this hobby, maybe you need another hobby. A piece of wire in a tree and a HW101 are more exciting. I uninstalled as quickly as I could.
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N0JYC
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 21, 2008 05:42
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Not Really Ham Radio...But Really a Lot of Fun!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Anyone who has tried this neat system knows exactly what it is before they try it. Its VOIP. Not ham radio. But it's hams talking to hams from around the world with crystal clear "QSOs." I've made many friends here and enjoy the QRM -free ragchews. I've found this to be a superbly engineered product, that apparently isn't for everybody, but has added a lot of fun and excitement to my shack for a very reasonable cost.
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G4VKE
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 21, 2008 00:57
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Doesn't pretend to be radio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I tried CQ100 after seeing an article in 'RadCom'. I have no HF gear, and for the amount of time I would have available to operate HF it wouldn't be worth paying out for it. I have very little room for antennas, and so CQ100 is ideal for me. I'm not a constructor, I don't experiment, but I do like a ragchew! So there aren't many operators on most of the time, well try the HF bands. When they are open most operators only want the '59 OM next please' type of qso. My local repeater is dead most of the time, and only has the few regular operators, and while not knocking them at all, you do run out of things to say sometimes! Every station contacted on CQ100 has had a nice long chat, and I have yet to hear any bad operating. OK, so it's not radio, but making it available to hams only does help restrict it. I subscribed straight away, $32 well spent. Like most things, if you don't like it, don't use it.
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N7BNT
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 18, 2008 09:18
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5+ Stars for this imaginitive and polished product
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I stumbled upon QSOnet CQ100 after I saw it mentioned on an email reflector I subscribe to.
I was stunned at how nice it is! Beyond that, I think the whole idea of this product is innovative and imaginative, while it's implementation across multiple servers is brilliant. CQ100 reeks of pride and a labor of love by the developer, it is a very polished application with huge attention to even the smallest detail. As a software developer, it is clear to me that a ridiculous number of hours have been spent by the developer making CQ100 and it's supporting network a reality.
Reading several of the other reviews here left me quite puzzled - some reviewers seem confused about the concept of a ** simulator **.
CQ100 reminds me of another amazing (and inexpensive) simulator: X-Plane Flight Simulator. Even though it is an amazingly accurate flight simulator, it would never replace real flying (nor was it ever intended to). But when I'm not flying a real airplane, X-Plane is an excellent alternative. The real thing and the simulator co-exist nicely and cooperatively as they should... (plus I can hone certain flying skills and try things safely in the simulator that I would never try in real flight... imagine landing a Boeing 777 at a tiny neighborhood airstrip!) Plus, I suspect that many, many, many non-pilots purchase X-Plane just for the pure enjoyment of "flying" a plane virtually. (p.s. I have no financial interest in X-Plane, I'm just a long-time customer)
And so it should be with a radio simulator, and I believe CQ100 is definitely on the right track. Using it will be in addition to, and not as a substitute for, actual radio operation for me.
In the best of all worlds, enough people will open their minds to having FUN with CQ100, will find innovative and unique ways of using it, and will share a couple bucks a month with the developer so it can grow and expand.
Should a ham license be required to use it? Of course not... flight simulators do not require a pilot's license. Should there be rules and guidelines for users? Of course there should... to make the experience positive for all. Having a purchase price/subscription fee will serve nicely as a "filter" to keep many of the idiots away.
I found a very nice headset to use with CQ100: a Plantronics DSP 500 works great.
Check it out! CQ100 is free to use for 3 months, then about the cost of a half-cup of Starbucks a month to keep. I strongly recommend CQ100 and hope that it continues to grow and evolve.
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WB2HMY
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 24, 2008 22:27
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HAMS TALKING TO HAMS
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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MADE MORE FRIENDS IN 3 MONTHS,THEN 40+ YRS IN AMATEUR RADIO. YOU DO THE MATH...
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WA8MEA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 24, 2008 17:12
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Great concept & fun!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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For those hams in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, this is a God-send! They can keep in touch with old friends.
Since we no longer use telephone hardware from point A to Point B, radio IS used at some point.
It's a very unique product and fun to take on the road inside your laptop. Well worth the price. The rig itself is nifty looking. Never had any trouble with any QSO. I've also met some very interesting people.
Plus, a lot less fussing, feuding and fighting taking place on these "bands"!
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N7VOJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 23, 2008 23:19
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Most excellent program!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have had CQ100 for a little over one month now and think it is a most excellent program. CQ100 is easy to use, crystal clear, and has some of the most courteous operators I have ever heard. At least I haven't heard anything along the lines of what takes place on 80m at night. ;) It also gives people that are restricted on antennas an opportunity to work the world, and it doesn't have any of the interference that takes place on HF. It also allows operators to experiment with other modes of operation. I believe that VOIP may be a big part of the future of amateur radio. 73's from John, N7VOJ
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