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Reviews For: MRP40 Morse Decoder

Category: Ham Software/Apps - Other than logging

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Review Summary For : MRP40 Morse Decoder
Reviews: 43MSRP: 49.90 Euro
Description:
Morse code send receive program, runs under Windows.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.polar-electric.com/Morse/MRP40-EN/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
10433.9
W3ATT Rating: 2014-06-29
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The best decoder out there. I used this software to increase my speed from about 18-20 wpm to over 30. How? I would use is when qso's would get a bit fast for me. To challenge myself, I would copy in my head. If I would miss a word or two and start to lose copy, I could look at the MRP40 to regain my spot in the qso. It wasn't long until I was able to copy with less and less help from MRP40. And now, I can run /m at over 30wpm with no help at all.

While other readers would lose copy in qrn/qrm conditions, MRP40 keeps on copying - especially weak signals (which would kill other readers.)

I'd also like to add that MRP40 makes copy possible when an otherwise poor fist and spacing make it difficult!

Another way that I use MRP40 - even today - is as a zero-beat feature for my older rig. I simply line up my incoming signal with the decoder's 2 red lines. When the incoming signal reads 815hz, I am zero-beat and that's all I need to do - visual zero-beat; nice and fast - especially in contests.

You can choose from several window sizes to fit the MRP40 somewhere on screen with your logging software.

And you can give demos of how cw works when you have visitors in the shack. Very nice to let interested people actually see what is being sent and received (also reads what you send via your sidetone.)

Great customer support from Norbert. I had 2 computer crashes and finally replaced my computer and Norbert was right there with a new product key so that I could keep using MRP40 with a new download - Thanks Norbert!
G0VUH Rating: 2014-06-10
Excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had been looking for a Morse decoder to help me along with my listening speed. This software is amazing!!! Its opened up a whole new world of morse code for me! Decodes morse that i could barely hear and allowed me to have a QSO back with my key, although it sends morse beautifully at any speed you like. Right off for some dx on six in the cw section.
K6EEP Rating: 2013-11-03
Overpriced Commercial software Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The program worked for me. It is an average CW decoding program.
It is way over priced at $67.30. You can get free software that performs better. I like CW Decoder.
This is supposedly Shareware. I don't agree with that classification. It is Commercial software with a 30 day free Trial period.
EI8KF Rating: 2013-02-03
A waste of money Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is expensive software that really hasn't performed as well as other 'FREE' programs since I bought the full version.
I've had a number of problems since I bought it the latest problem being that it crashed and requires a reboot to relaunch the program. I've noticed that at times it simply doesn't decode, despite the presence of a strong signal. CwGet's AutoGTM never fails in locking on to a signal and gives reasonable copy at any speed, MRP40 doesn't always manage this which means I have to manually play with the settings before it starts to decode. I'm not sure why there are options for decoding different strength signals either? How do you determine which is weak signal or otherwise and select the option accordingly?? Again, not an issue with CwGet, it simply decodes as best as it can given the conditions. And there are better filtering options in CwGet!
The interface is very poor and really needs to be updated. It looks ancient alongside other radio applications and appears to be written for BBC computers! It certainly doesn't have the sophistication or styling of Ham Radio Deluxe!!
I found MRP40 to be a disappointment given the cost of the software, my advice, save your money and use any of the free options easily found on the web.
N5RMS Rating: 2012-12-09
Decodes well Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Tried it during ARRL 160 and 10 meter contest. Decoded well. I started logging using the minilog. Ran a few contacts and checked the minilog. I could find no way to open an .ADIF file with this program. Had to use N1MM import function. Log did not record frequency, but did record band, but not MODE! Figured out how to use this program with N1MM for logging. Used audio input mode for MRP40, and just let it decode CW and manually logged into N1MM. Could send CW using N1MM thru comport and keyboard. I think I will look at CWSkimmer and other programs before I shell out $60.
K3GC Rating: 2012-11-16
Not For Me Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have tried MRP40 twice over time comparing it to cwget. Its functionality I rate good. It does as good a decoding job as CWget and there it stops.
The cost is prohibitive - about the same as the much better CW Skimmer which itself is a bit over priced.
I rebuild systems fairly often so the licensing scheme is a real deal breaker.
I have too many better places to put limited resources.
Not for me.
ON6KE Rating: 2012-09-14
mm.. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have CW Skimmer installed for several years now, it's a great help during contests.
I ran across MRP40 the other day and thought why not try it out side by side with CW Skimmer.

It doesn't even come close to CW Skimmer:

1. no simultaneous decoding, CW Skimmer does 100's, MRP40 just 1
2. decode is inferior to CW Skimmer
3. set level required on 'oscillogram'
4. text formatting is dated
5. fixed size windows

Glad I didn't put my money on MRP40 so many years ago.
WA2TGE Rating: 2012-08-13
Nice addition to my shack Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using this software for two years and when I compare it to any other products it shows well. I have been pleasantly surprised with both cw and mcw transmission. While I don't use the type ahead buffer, it is available. I like the ability to type on the keyboard and have the text sent immediately. I use the decoding function when the cw is sent at a speed faster than I can copy. I have found that its decoding accuracy improves dramatically when the rf gain is backed down. This is probabably true for all cw decoders. Generally, the faster the cw, the better it decodes. Slow code allows more time for the agc to recover and put noise between the characters. There are some sloppy operators out there that can only be copied manualy, if at all. If the CW op can send with some degree of proficiency, this unit will copy it. My only complaint is the level of the documentation. Would prefer more information.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by WA2TGE on 2012-02-21

Been using this program for over a year now. I am good decoding to 20 - 22 wpm when the code is sent well. When the code is lousy or too fast MRP saves me a lot of time. I have compared the decoding function to CW Skimmer running both MRP and CW Skimmer simultaneously and MRP decoded more character correctly than CW Skimmer in my test. Sending is a a favorite part for me in that it makes my RA hands sound great. The keyboard gives me no difficulty at all where the SK, paddles and bugs make it very difficult to continue sending good CW after a few minutes. MRP functions either as immediate-keying or in type-ahead mode (pressing a send key when ready to transmit.) Macro capability make it suitable for contesting. It also offers a primitive loging function that saves time also. The learning curve is not steep but it will take a while to learn how to use the software with your radios. Keeping the RF gain backed off is critical to good decoding. I think it well worth the money. I think the support is great.
W4JPA Rating: 2012-08-02
Not for me Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I wanted to compare this program to CwGET and a couple of other CW decoders.
1/ I had to wait an increasingly frustrating amount of time to open the program.
2/ When it came up could see the incoming Morse characters very well defined. But the text decode didn't show at all or random characters appeared!

I guess this guy is protecting his program but I am old fashioned & have no problem paying for something I like. But when I cant test the thing to see what I am getting for my money - well tough luck - I don't want it.
XE2NBW Rating: 2012-03-08
Excelent and work great! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I used this to decode CW position from a Balloon and send to APRS, The MRP40 work fantastic and decode a lot of the valid paquets from CW, i used a single packet like: XE2NL/B DL95UQ 2000 FT 43 where last two digit are the checksum error, this message is get by DDE from MRP40, and a my own program CWIgate post to APRS server.
Yo can view working at: (min 4:03 and up)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F0omlcQGiU
you can view the tracking at:
http://aprs.fi/?call=xe2nl-11&mt=roadmap&z=11&timerange=3600&_s=ss_call

The best CW decoder in the world!