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write your own review of the QSOnet CQ100.
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W7RJR
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Rating: 2/5
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Dec 22, 2007 08:41
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One year followup
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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CQ100 was an innovative idea that was never brought to fruition. At first intrigued, became bored with the lack of effort to improve it. Most suggestions by users for improvement have been ignored/unimplemented.
After a year of subscription I find only a handful of operators using it at any given time despite a claim of 15,000 + members (most of whom no longer use it). I cannot justify paying a subscription fee under such circumstances.
I hope another talented amateur 'radio' programmer will put together a similar system and make it a work in progress.
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G3XBM
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 20, 2007 12:45
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Excellent "non" radio radio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is impressive. It allows you to make what seem like "real" QSOs with stations on one of 5 (simulated) HF bands using a (simulated) real radio - tune the bands, call CQ, have QSOs, analogue dial etc. complete with inter-station hiss. It is the nearest thing you will find to ham radio without it being a real radio.
If you want to make reliable "QSOs" without the variability of HF conditions, this could be for you. Personally I prefer QRP HF operating, although I believe CQ100 has a place too.
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N0FPE
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Rating: 0/5
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Oct 21, 2007 07:10
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3 month followup
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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90 free trial just expired. I will not be paying for this. 15000+ registered user and never more than a hand full on?? It is pretend radio plain and simple. I have to agree it could bite us in the butt! I will have to give the writers a high five for the great interface and program but thats it. And why do folks on CQ100 strive to make it seem like real radio? Its NOT. Heck you dont even need to use your callsign as there is no FCC there.
For all the folks that think its great, more power to you! I personally will be on the REAL HF bands looking for that new contact!
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W9AC
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Rating: 3/5
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Aug 8, 2007 15:58
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See comments below...
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I tried the program several months ago and indeed, the author put a lot of work into it.
What I found frightening is that the program could actually be used to the disadvantage of the amateur radio service. How?
Consider the ham trying to convince a HOA that s/he needs an outdoor antenna. A well-prepared argument could be made from a neighbor or HOA member that hams no longer need antennas. After all, here's a product with ham radio bands, real CW and voice modes and heck, even a "virtual ionosphere." In their view, there's nothing that the ham can't to with CQ100 that can be done with an actual radio. See the potential danger?
The same is somewhat true of Echolink, but it is not touted as an alternative to amateur radio. In fact, it has the capability to interface into the service. It's a simple VoIP program that doesn't pretend to be an alternative with bands, modes, and an ionosphere.
The author is free to promote the product as he wants since it's an unlicensed service over the Internet. But what I object to is its similarity and potential promotion as an alternative to amateur radio.
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K3ROJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 8, 2007 15:18
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Backup review
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Just finished my 90 days and sent the $32 via Pay Pal which is convenient. In just 2 days I have talked to many stations and one that I knew back in 1965. You can't beat it when sitting on the patio drinking coffee using your laptop. I have found that most people who have problems are not using broadband internet. Those guys in Canada certainly know what they are doing and is a shame our techinical geeks in the USA cannot come up with ideas like CQ100. Goodbye to Echolink headaches and it is possble by using 2 sound cards to link into your base station. I like the PSK31 and CW mostly on CQ100. Certain key strokes make an ideal setup for the visually impaired.
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VE7HJ
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Rating: 5/5
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May 28, 2007 12:39
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Top Marks !!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have been a ham for 17 years, trying most of the digital modes. This system allows hams that can't have antennas and radios that generate RF to enjoy a network of amateurs from around the world. It is very interesting to hear CW practice beacons on the system. This system would be idea for the newcomers to cut their teeth before before using the HF Bands. I believe that call it a simulator in the aerospace industry.
Imagine paying $32 a year instead of investing thousands in radio equipment to learn about the hobby. Also all of the hams that are in retirement homes or restricted housing units are now able to enjoy their hobby.
Keeping in mind that users have to have a radio license and need to respect the rules this will make for a nice place to enjoy a QSO.
Top Marks from VE7HJ!!
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K2MJ
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Rating: 5/5
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May 22, 2007 09:39
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Best ham radio VOIP yet
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have been using CQ100 on QSONet for several months now and find it well worth the small subscription fee. A VOIP program in the ham shack is just as important to me as the DX cluster or my logging and CAT software. CQ100 seems to work better for my purposes than Echolink or Skype did.
The program installed without any fuss at all. No router ports to worry about. CQ100 even worked on one of my LAN's that uses a proxy server where I could get no other VOIP program to run at all. The quality appears to be much better than what I get using Echolink with less breaks in the audio. The user interface is excellent and really does make it seem like a real radio. You can tune around, listen to conversations and then join in when you find a group with which you have a common interest. No other internet communications program comes even close to this.
QSONet does suffer some from the same malaise as the rest of ham radio; that is I would expect hundreds of users actively engaged in conversations at any given time but instead there are usually only a couple dozen QSO's. But I find this lack of activity true on all ham radio bands and modes today and it is no fault of the program. Count the number of local repeaters in use in your area at any given time or try to get a QSO on 2 meters on your next vacation trip. Lots of listeners but not many willing to pick up the microphone. The program is relatively new and I'm sure the activity will increase with time and I find that I almost always get an answer to a CQ on the CQ100 calling frequency.
A small number of users re-broadcast HF nets on QSONet or ham radio news bulletins and there are some CW practice and digital mode information beacons as well as some repeaters linked to QSONet. I think this adds value to the software but there is no shortage of space on QSONEt so if the r.f. links, bulletins or code practice beacons are not of interest to you it is easy to QSY to another CQ100 "frequency" or "band".
With the exception of the repeater links and HF net broadcasts CQ100 is a virtual radio and not "real" ham radio since it is not using r.f., but then when I am putting up my 30 meter loop or building my QRP rig or reading my QST magazine I am not using r.f. at the time either so guess that also is not real ham radio but it all increases my interest in the hobby.
It is easy to work CW and other digital modes on CQ100 and I have used QSONet several times to test new digital mode software before using it on the air. The usual internet packet loss that does not bother voice communications does affect some digital modes. Modes that have some redundant error correction work best and those that require 100% perfect copy such as analog SSTV work the worst.
In contrast to the usual signal report exchange with DX stations on the radio, I have enjoyed long conversations with hams all over the world and have even set up skeds to work some of them on the air. I can also keep in touch with friends that used to live in my area or who are temporarily off the air for one reason or another. I find this virtual community to be a great addition to my ham shack. You won't find anything on QSONet that sounds like an evening on the 75 meter phone band or even anything resembling a 20 meter dx pileup but to me that is a plus.
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VK3SC
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 9, 2007 23:55
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Excellent software, needs a few refinements
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I find the CQ100 software excellent as an aid to ham radio were the op is either financially challenged or in a location were antennae is restricted.
The s/ware gives the feel of a real radio, along with all the bells and whistles.
The only two additions I would recommend would be a log book, and a digital decode program for psk and cw to be included. (if anyone has included another decode program and is using it then please email me with the instructions).
Apart from these two refinements I feel the program is extremely good and has gave me a lot of fun since I downloaded it. Well Done.
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N2RRA
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Rating: 3/5
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Mar 26, 2007 07:45
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I agree with VE2CBW!
It is "Not" by all means Amateur Radio Broadcasting. For all the reasons VE2CBW mentioned in his article computer's does'nt have the same R.F. principal's physical transmitter's produce. There for it cannot be call a radio, simple!
It is certainally nothing more than a chat room with the illusion you are operating a radio. Think about that!
One of the biggest's problems I have with that is just like the internet crippled Ham feast's around the world with E-Bay, and many for sale classified sights it's robbed from the hobbie that ham spirit of getting out of that chair, and trying out new things, and getting to really know your fellow ham. Get's you just plain lazy.
What is cool I will admit is the software giving you that feeling of operating a radio. Just because you run your wireless latop @ 2.4 GHz doesn't make it radio being that it has to go to a hub then sent through data wire's at the end.
Anyway I say it just bridge's that gap for communication's. Even indoors I still acccomplish working just about any repeater I want. Not hard to do, and don't need the P.C. to do it.
Who needs to get an upgrade in license when you really don't need it now. You can work the world with absolutely "No Effort". For each their own it's fantastic for those who are on a serious budget, antenna restricted, don't feel the need to upgrade, or want to work the world with least effort QSO Net is the one for you.
Less QRM for us Amateur Radio operator's on the air. Hi! Hi!.
QSO Net is neat, but it's not Ham Radio.
73 and have fun!
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WA3YAY
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 19, 2007 14:36
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It IS radio!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I use CQ100 on my laptop into a wireless router at 2.4Ghz. There is radio in use somewhere in the system, ergo, its Ham Radio!
(bit of a stretch huh)
Yeah it's not radio as we know it. But its pretty neat.
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