New Slow-CW Software
QRS Version 1.16

Rik Strobbe, ON7YD, has written a Windows program to send extremely slow CW, a mode which has been used with much success on the noisy LF amateur band in Europe. Instead of measuring code speed in words per minute, though, experimenters have been using speeds that translate to minutes-per-word. The resulting very low information bandwidth enables communication under extremely difficult conditions. Of course, bandwidths of a fraction of a Hertz are not practical to copy by ear. Many of our readers are familiar with Richard S. Horne's "Spectrogram" program, which now has provisions for copying extremely narrowband transmissions (see our File Library section), but Rik has devised the first Windows tool for keying QRS transmissions. The program is named QRS for the Q-signal indicating to send at a slower speed (and also happily includes Rik's own initials). Speeds are selectable down to 60 seconds per dot. The user can store several text messages for transmission, either repeated a predetermined number of times, or endlessly. Changes from QRS version 1.08 to 1.16: * Test mode added (suggestion of G0AKN) :     Ability to push and release PTT and key for test and tune purposes. * QSO mode added :     Since QRS often is used in combination with the Spectogram software,     the QSO mode allows optimal use of the screen in combination with     Spectogram. It also allows a text of max. 70 characters to be edited     and transmitted in a single window. * QSK facilities added :     QSK allows you to listen during the 'key up' periods your transmission.     Several timing parameters can be set to optimize the QSK for your     transmitter. The PTT handling is calculated ahead, so QSK will cause no     delay to the CW keying. * Selectable dash to dot ratio :     The dash to dot ratio can be set as 3/1 or 2/1. The 2/1 ratio is     sufficient to distinguish between dots and dashes using 'videography'     and results in an average 20% time saving compared to the 3/1 ratio. * Alarm function (suggestion of DK8KW) :     An alarm function is available that will alert you a selectable time (up     to 999 seconds) before the transmission will end. Requires: a regular COM port on a PC-compatible computer, running Windows 3.1 or later; and a simple transmitter interface circuit to handle keying and PTT. The interface diagram is included in the Help section of the program itself. The downloadable QRS.ZIP file (192027 bytes as of 26 Feb. 1999) expands to five files: - WHATSNEW.TXT - README.TXT - QRS.EXE - QRS.ICO - BIVBX11.DLL An additional file, qrs.set, will be created when you first run the program. You may or may not need to keep the included .dll file, depending on your installation of Windows. Consult the readme.txt file for details. There is no fancy installation required; just run QRS.EXE under Windows 3.x, 95, or 98. (You may choose to create a program item if using Program Manager, or a shortcut if using Windows 95/98.) At the first run you will have to assign a serial port (COM) before you can drive a transmitter. Be sure NOT to assign the same port that your mouse is using! The QRS program is copyrighted freeware, meaning it can be used and distributed freely for non-commercial purposes only.