MorseRunner

An excellent morse-code CW Contest Simulator is a program created by Alex Shovkoplyas (VE3NEA) called MorseRunner.

After you set your own callsign and the speed at which you want to send CW you're set to go. I normally set a duration for 15 minutes and then click on the green Run button to kick it off.

The software is surprisingly good at realistically simulating various types of contacts; some slow, some fast, sometimes fading, with crackles and pops in the background.

Below are a few hints to help me better understand how the program works.

F1 - sends your callsign to initiate making new contacts

The outgoing format is always CQ <YOURCALL> TEST

When a contact sends their call, it is usually in one of these formats:

 <THEIRCALL>
 DE <THEIRCALL>
 <THEIRCALL> <THEIRCALL>

simply enter it in the 'Call' field and press ENTER. The software will then send:

 <THEIRCALL> 599 <NR>

   where <NR> is your sequential contact number (001, 002, etc..)

   After this, the contact can respond in several ways

   - R  <THEIRCALL>  acknowledged (roger) of your numbers, after which they'll send their SNR and NR

   - ?   [..--..]  not heard correctly, please send again. Press F2 to re-send my number again

Incoming contact formats:

  <THEIRCALL> 599 <NR>

    where <NR> can be:
        - normal digits (e.g. 001)
        - replacing a zero with a T (e.g. TT4)
 

TIPS:

 - don't wait too long after the contact's call to send your 

Sometimes contacts will prefix their callsign with 'DE', so make sure to listen carefully