Re: [Tlf-devel] TLF trainer idea

[Rein Couperus PA0R]

Nate, do you mean something like the TLF simulator mode with some
additions like text output? The TLF simulator takes its calls from the
callmaster file and simulates the cqww-cw, (single calls only, as it
uses cwdaemon for output).

I have thought about moving the simulator mode into xtlf, but I am not
sure if it is needed...

One program I use for this purpose is 'Morse runner'. I use it under
ubuntu/vmwareplayer/XP. It would be a LOT of work to port it into Xtlf,
and I cannot do it myself as I am no soundcard programmer.

Rein PA0R

On Thu, 2006-06-29 at 21:38 -0500, Nate Bargmann wrote:
> I had an idea strike me today about some sort of trainer for TLF and
> Morse Code using cwdaemon.  First, some background.
> 
> I have an AEA Morse Machine (sadly no longer made) that has a neat DX
> contest function.  Some years ago I rigged up my computer with CT and,
> if I recall, rigged it to send to the MM.  This made for a good way to
> train and play contester without on the air embarrassment.  :-)
> 
> For some reason all of that came back today.  Maybe it's my mental
> decompression from Field Day where my CW skills (never great) weren't
> as sharp as I'd like.  So I recalled that trainer setup, but I'd like
> to do it with a twist and without additional equipment.
> 
> I am thinking of a seperate program that could extract calls out of a
> file like MASTER.DTA or the file formatted for PED (the CT trainer)
> and
> send it to cwdaemon for playback through the speakers.  The operater
> would enter it into TLF and use its facilities to send the call and
> exchange which could be echoed back to the program which could then
> respond with an exchange based on the contest rules in use.  Finally,
> the trainer could keep its own log that the TLF log could be scored
> against. 
> 
> It sounds like a lot to do, and like XTLF, Perl might be the fastest
> way to get started.  I've only played with TLF a little bit, but from
> what I know, it should need no modification.  I'm not familiar with
> the
> internals of cwdaemon so I'm not sure how difficult it would be to
> enable it to echo the text it receives from TLF so the trainer could
> receive what is sent from TLF.
> 
> The trainer for starters could send its text through cwdaemon and at
> some point would be useful to send to the sound card directly to
> enable
> pile-up, QRM, QRN, QSB, etc. simulation (which would take someone with
> considerable audio programming skill to accomplish).  The trainer
> could
> not only vary the speed but the weighting as well.
> 
> I'm no expert coder and I may start hacking at this in the near
> future.
> Something like this wouldn't just be a good trainer, it could be a
> good
> pursuit in and of itself using the same software as an on the air
> contest.
> 
> If something like this already exists, I'll play with it to avoid
> duplication of effort.  Otherwise, I think this would be a fun
> addition
> to TLF.
> 
> What does everyone think?
> 
> 73, de Nate >>
>