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Reviews For: CW Decoder

Category: Ham Software/Apps - Other than logging

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Review Summary For : CW Decoder
Reviews: 21MSRP: Freeware
Description:
The CW Decoder from WD6CNF is really very amazing. Also has several other useful apps on his site
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.hotamateurprograms.com/downloads.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
23.5214.2
W8IJN Rating: 2023-02-05
Ok but eats up computer resources Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I got this program because, well, it was free. I needed it to keep up with the >40wpm showboat computerized contesters who have ruined contesting. The program/software worked great on receive. It works great on receive. No big deal hosing it up to either my IC7300 or the IC705. Worked a bunch of extremely high speed contest stations the past couple months no problem. Read the call off the screen, make the contact with the radio's keyer and look for the next showboat.

But I did notice that my Dell Inspiron's fan would kick on and end up in high speed run whenever I had the software running and signals were present. Check the machines Task Manager and found this particular software was chewing through about 30% of the processing resources. I kicked off the program and the computer's fan eventually went off. Put the software back up, started copying signals and, bingo, the fan comes on. So I don't use it any more.

Bad enough the '7300 has a fan and the Samlex power supply has a fan and the amp has a fan -- which I expect with devices that cruise through the current -- but having a piece of software that runs my computer into heat and fan range, well, it's so unusual that I don't even like to think about it. So I don't use CW Decoder any more. Went to CWDecoderLogic which doesn't look as nice but at least takes less out of my computers resource box.

So five stars for the software. Two stars for the energy/computer consumption.
K9RE Rating: 2023-01-19
Very good program Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a very nice program and it works well for CW decoding, especially considering that it is free to download and use. It is also small and lightweight. I had it running in no time. It decodes most accurately on machine sent code like W1AW code practice sessions, but any transmissions that are sent correctly will work. I would have liked to use it for sending, but I could not get the prosigns to work. I tested it on two different laptops with no luck. Therefore, I could not adopt it for general use. If you could program the memories for prosigns, that would be effective, but it appears this is not possible. I recommend it for receiving only.
KB0NE Rating: 2021-03-27
Also from the same author: CWTY Decoder Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Also from the same author: CWTY Decoder.
This is a variation on the same software with a little more colorful GUI and according to the author is a later version.
Same operational comments as previous reviews, this works so much better than a lot of other decoder programs that it could be pay-for instead of free ware.
Again the window size is fixed and the software has a hard time with fists that have BAD timing or forget to put spaces between letters. Even I can't decode them by ear.
N5IIA Rating: 2019-01-03
Awesome!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Anyone that does not find this CW decoder the best free decoding software available needs to have their head examined! I just threw out my paper and pencil, and can comfortably copy in my head most of what I need, and refer to the screen to what I missed. This program is almost flawless down into the noise. It copies letters I can't always pick out of the noise and QSB. When I get down to North Phoenix to visit my mother, I am going to look up Grant, and buy him lunch for this program! THE BEST CW decoder I have used in 33 years as a Ham.
VK4VDX Rating: 2018-10-14
Installed and working Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
had some problems installing the software
error messages about conflict....
But I did install the program on another pc
and it is working as it should (my old Laptop)

I went back to the newer Laptop noticed the program installed and I found the Icon on the start menu also and it is all working as it should "conflict, what conflict!")
G3OZN Rating: 2017-10-02
SO SMALL! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
A great piece of software does the job excellently, BUT I can NOT enlarge the display at all? "the square enlarge button" at the top is grayed out, works fine with my Icom 7700 and SignaLink USB sound card device,BUT I can not enlarge the display. Would appreciate any help, my e-mail address is on my entry on QRZ.com
73 Ted G3OZN
KO4OP Rating: 2017-04-15
great cw companion. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
You can try the others, but this is the best. Worked most side by side, can't beat this one. Wished he would add a touch of color to it (screen/letters), but still way above the rest. Thanks wd6cnf.
W1AET Rating: 2016-07-15
CW Decoder Ver # Time Owned: more than 12 months.
To find version number of most software in Windows, click on the help tab at the top, and in the drop down window click on "About". It should show the version number.
K5XOM Rating: 2016-05-29
Doesn't work for me Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
How do now if I have the latest version?
The one I have is ver: 3.51 by WD6CNF.
When I launch it, it says that it cannot find a sound card. My laptop does have audio output.
Also, When I try to exit out of the program, it doesn't shut down and I can't close it out.


W1BG Rating: 2015-06-24
Time To Give It Another Try Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
As a follow-up to my original post, CWDecoder has undergone some considerable rework and the previous problem with a "bad fist" or cadencing issues when sending appear to HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. If you've previously tried it and didn't like it, I'd suggest giving it another try.