I'm not sure how long Winwarbler has been around, but it has to be quite a few years since it was first released. I have not used it frequently since I have tended to use Zakanaka, MixW, or Multispk user over the years.
Because Multipsk works very well with the DX Lab Suit, I have recently been using DX LAB applications more and more. I have vacillated between Logger32 and DX Keeper as my default logging software. As much as I like Logger32, I have found some aspects of DX Lab Suite more suitable to my needs and now use DX Keeper, Spotcollector, and Multipsk most of the time. The DX Lab Launcher makes updating the suite of applications so easy that I recently clicked on "upgrade" and updated Winwarbler. This weekend, I wanted to try and mop up a few needed states via the NAQP CW contest. I decided to use my DX Keeper log to track needed stations and use the very useful feature in Spotcollector and Pathfinder that identify stations known to use LOTW. Since Winwarbler just looks "cool", I decided to use the nice layout for some CW macros in the contest. I can report that Winwarbler interfaces very easily with my Microkeyer and the on-board Winkey chip. Nice sent CW, and no lags or missed characters. I found the quick QSL interface with QRZ.com very useful, it allowed me to "cheat" in NAQP, a tad , since I had a head start on what the person's name and state was likely to be. So with CW transmit working well, I thought I would give Winwarbler a whirl on PSK31 and RTTY this morning. It has been years since I used it. I know the authors of software like us to actually read the help files but I like to poke around and see what can be done before actually having to read the file. Winwarbler is fairly easy to figure out. A few quick mouse clicks and I had changed the apparent default waterfall display from monochrome to colour (choose "synthetic" under WATERFALL DISPLAY in the PSK Config area) and the method that identifies where you are on the waterfall to "markers" rather than the default "trace" method . At first I thought that the PSK did not receive as well as Multipsk but I think it was just poor conditions. Below is the decode of a weak 20M signal. Winwarbler NAME îCARLOS, CARLOS . QTH IS PONT CELGADA . AZORµ - HM77DR . BTU, I1S I1FRS DE CU2AO CU2AO K Multipsk: NAME IS CAR, CARLOS . QTH IS PONTA DELGADA . AZORES - HM77DR . BTU, I1FRS I1FRS DE CU2AO CU2AO K The squelch settings on Winwarbler were "slider 31" and in Multipsk the squelch was a '1'. They appear to decode weak signals about the same. For RTTY, set up was just as easy and performance as good as one would expect. I used the default settings In Multipsk with a squelch setting of 3, the decode of a weak signal was CQ CQ CQ DE RZ3AFK RZ3AFK RZ3AFK PSE K CC CQ CQ DA RZ3AFKIMZ3AFK RZ3AFK PSE K CQ CQ DE RZ3AFK RZ3AFK RZ3AFK NSE K In Winwarbler CQ CQ DE RZ3AFKRZ3AFK RZ3AFK PSE K CQ DAFK RZ3AFK PSE K CQ DE RZ3AFK RZ3AFK RZ3AFK PK J Again, not a whole lot of difference and squelch settings not set for exact matching. On this Yahoogroup, we often get people that are totally new to digital modes and are looking for something easy to start with, usually just PSK31. I usually suggest Digipan because it is so easy to set-up and the newcomer can be up and running in no time. I think I will now add Winwarbler to that list of software recommended for the newcomer It is very easy to set-up, GREAT on the eyes, interfaces very well with your electronic keyer, When used with it's siblings (DX Keeper, Spotcollector, DXView, Pathfinder and Propview ) you have some very powerful applications that I suggest the "expert" digital operators should give a try. Winwarbler supports decoding of BPSK31 BPSK61 QPSK31 QPSK63, RTTY,MTTY (23 Hz RTTY), and various filtered adjustments for RTTY affected by multipath and "fluttered" signals" Andy K3UK Skype Me : callto://andyobrien73 www.obriensweb.com
