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Reviews For: RUFZ CW Practice

Category: Ham Software/Apps - Other than logging

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Review Summary For : RUFZ CW Practice
Reviews: 11MSRP: Freeware
Description:
"XP-native" program, with standard Windows interface. Still the same high-intensity, just-faster-than-you-can-copy CW practice as the old version.

This program is really good for developing keyboard-based copy speed.

Product is in production
More Info: http://www.RufzXP.net
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15114.3
JP3REM Rating: 2023-09-18
RufzXP can be used on Linux Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I use RufzXP daily for CW practice drills. It has helped me step up my comprehension speed.

RufzXP will run under Linux if you use CrossOver (It may also work under Wine).
WA4AOS Rating: 2022-12-02
Great for a while THEN Time Owned: more than 12 months.







i first loaded RUFZXP several years ago on a win 7 system. It worked great for a while but after 30 to 40 sessions, it would no longer open. I got a Win 10 system this year, reloaded rufz and again it was great but after 35 sessions, it locked up and would not reopen. I tried rebooting the systems. win 7 and 10 to no avail. On win 10, I tried to open it as administrator and it came up for about 5 more sessions and locked up again and would not open no matter what.

if anyone has a fix for this please let me know, I sent 2 messages to the rufz support line but never heard back.
I really like the program and it has helped me finally get past 35 wpm but if it's not dependable, what good is it.
My email address is glenn@dsmlabs.com if anyone has a fix for this.
WT8P Rating: 2019-05-19
Good practice for copying call-signs Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This and Morse Runner are two of the primary software tools recommended in CW Academy, each covering different areas. Rufzxp concentrates on call-sign identification only (versus the exchange) and dynamically adjusts itself based on the success or failure rate. The drawback, of course, is as a new student, you really hate getting your posterior handed to you. However, after the initial shock wears off (usually after a month of daily use), it's rewarding seeing how much my copying and speed have improved over time, and how much mood affects things.

Although it hasn't been updated in several years, it still tries to check for updates. Also as far as I'm aware, there are some compatibility issues in running this on Macs with WINE - however, it works great with Parallels.
NI0C Rating: 2010-02-14
Effective cw practice for all skill levels Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I only recently learned about this resource from a link on the CWOPS website. The latest version of this splendid program is called "RufzXP - Tancredi." The website has a charming story of how the program got its name.

It only takes a few minutes to go through fifty callsigns with this program, and I find it helpful for maintaining and improving my short-term memory as well as acquiring some high speed code practice.

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by NI0C on 2010-02-14

I only recently learned about this resource from a link on the CWOPS website. The latest version of this splendid program is called: RufzXP - Tancredi." The story of how it got its name is quite charming (see the website for details), and its authors DL4MM and IV3XYM have done an outstanding service to the CW community by writing and maintaining it.

As I understand it, the scoring points are proportional to the square of the speed, directly proportional to the accuracy of one's responses, and only a logarithmic function of the quickness of one's response. Thus, short term memory is emphasized over typing skills.

It only takes a few minutes to run through 50 consecutive callsigns, so I use the program quite regularly-- sometimes several times in one day.

The program tracks your progress and, when you set a new high score or achieve a new maximum speed, it will setup an e-mail to send to the authors who maintain a weekly "TopList" on their website.
KT8K Rating: 2009-08-16
Great fun and it WILL improve your CW Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a great tool for boosting your CW speed, and it is a lot of fun to compete. I can't imagine how some of the speedsters on the web page can be so fast, but it's fun to chase them.
The program is stable and well written, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. (You can't beat this good a program for free!)
VK4TJF Rating: 2009-08-16
great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
OK i confess I'M addicted to it
excellent tool for learning call signs
and preparing for contests
has helped me heaps
G6LFT Rating: 2007-10-18
Addictive Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
BEWARE - RUFZ IS ADDICTIVE!

I am not one for playing computer games but Rufz has got me hooked. Others have explained how it works so I won't restate it. It is a well written and very stable program and the fact that it is free means that anyone can try it out withouit risk - give it a go!

It is NOT a test of typing but a test of CW, very clever and a great positive feedback learning package.
G0RTN Rating: 2005-12-19
I feel the need, the need for speed! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The premise of the programme is simple - it sends you a random amateur callsign at a pretedermined speed. Get it right and you get a bunch of points and it bumps the speed up a bit. Get it wrong and you might just get a few points if you aren't too far out and it knocks the speed down a bit. The number of points is related to the length of the callsign, and primarily the speed sent.

The constantly varying speed keeps you right at the edge of you ability, and if you persevere with the program over weeks and months your speed improves, imperceptibly, until you are comfortably copying speeds that sounded like a blur at one point.

An added bonus is that, like many of these programmes, it has a competitive international high score table, but more than that, RUFZ is the official program used in the World High Speed Telegraphy Championships.

I've used this program for about 8 years now, and although I sometimes get bored with it, I find myself picking up on it again. With the speed varying between 12 and 147 (!!) words per minute, it really does cater for all abilities.

And it's free, and we hams LOVE free stuff!
KD5QEF Rating: 2003-11-30
Excellent! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
An excellent piece of software for improving code speed and CW practice. This software must run in DOS mode. So, if you have an old computer running Win98 for example, create a shortcut on your desktop and under the shortcut advanced properties, load the DOS driver with "Device=C:\.sys for your computer's sound hardware and if it's an old machine try the RUFZ -NOCHECK option if you have difficulties with "speed errors" (see http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/xedtrgs.htm). If installed correctly and run under DOS (DOS sound drivers in CONFIG.SYS), it works splendidly. What's nice about a DOS program like this is that it will run on all sorts of old computers (I run it on an old Pentium 150 Thinkpad 380 laptop). Many thanks to Mr. Kolpe for making this software available to those of us like me who need to improve our CW copying. Well done!
WA5BDU Rating: 2000-04-14
A high-intensity CW practice program Time Owned: unknown months.
RUFZ might scare you off at first if you're not careful. It's like a video game where the enemy ships keep coming faster as you get better. RUFZ keeps analyzing your copy and cranks the speed to the level where you're at maximum stress. The competitive nature of it keeps practice from being so boring. First, your own scores are on screen so you compete to try to top them. Then, you can post your high score to the RUFZ web page for all the world to see.

Will I ever be able to tell an H from a 5 at 50 wpm?

73, Nick--WA5BDU