You might want to actually try a program to see if it will run OK on
your machine, rather than just reading the specs on it. Sometimes a
program author will specify a minimum machine just because that is
what he tested it on. Others may work also.
I have been using WL for RTTY contesting for maybe 6-7 years now. It
made RTTY contesting practical for me, and I can't imagine working
any contest without it or something similar.
Although I am currently running XP Home in a Sempron 3000+ machine
with it, i know it will work well in a 300 MHz Pentium2, which I also
have used with it. I wouldn't expect to see any problems in a 200 MHz
machine under some version of Windows XP. I used to run 98se, but I
think XP runs better, and allows all features to run within WL. 98se
is slightly limited.
I use FSK here. This solves some problems with audio levels, etc, and
is generally preferred.
You will want to read some of the Writelog reflector archives to get
you up to speed, and also the help pages of aa5au and k9jy for help
in setting up.
WL is a MAJOR program. It has features on top of features. So it can
be daunting to learn, if you insist in mastering it. I haven't
mastered it, but don't really want to - I learned how to use it for
RTTY contesting and that is all I need presently. I worked a couple
of CW contests with it a few years ago.
I do SO2R with it, and have two computers networked with two separate stations.
You will still be able to use the MMTTY engine within WL. Again, the
help files/web sites will tell you about this. I presently use MMTTY
in this way as my main decoders.
ent.
IIRC, the up-front investment is $75 to buy WL, and around $30/yr to
keep it completely updated. Most guys that try it keep it, I think.
Good luck. I hope to work you in the contest. I work most of them.
Jerry W4UK North Augusta, SC
At 17:28 11/25/2005, you wrote:
>I am making plans for the RTTY contest and am wondering what software
>those of you in the group prefer. I tried MMTTY a couple of years ago
>and while the decoding was excellent, the logging was terrible for
>contesting. N1MM wont run on my old computer (500 Mhz min), so have been
>looking at Writelog but dont know if it will run on my old 200 Mhz
>contest laptop ($10 at your local hamfest). Been running CT(Dos) for all
>other contests and it is rock stable and lightning fast on that computer.
>
>Also do you run FSK mode or AFSK?
>
>Henry, K4HAL
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