DL2CC-REMOTE-CW Docs › Getting Started
Getting Started

Installation & First Setup

This page covers system requirements, installation, first launch, and hardware connection.

System Requirements

Operating System
Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)
Runtime
.NET 9 Desktop Runtime
Audio
WASAPI-compatible sound card
Internet
Required for Chat & Remote Station
Hardware (optional)
DL2CC Remote CW Box
Serial Port
USB COM port driver
ℹ️ .NET Desktop Runtime
Both the .NET Desktop Runtime and the Silicon Labs CP210x USB driver are included in the installer. A separate download is normally not required. If you need the driver on its own, download it from Silicon Labs.

Installation

  1. Download the current DL2CC-REMOTE-CW installer (EXE) from the link you received.
  2. Run the installer. It includes the CP2102 USB driver and the .NET Desktop Runtime.
  3. Launch DL2CC-REMOTE-CW. If you do not see the icon, press the Windows key and type DL2CC-REMOTE-CW.
  4. If you have received a license key, activate it under Settings → Settings → License. See Licensing below for details.
  5. The COM port is normally detected automatically. If you hear an "R" from the Box, it has been found. You can check the selected COM port in File → Hardware.

Running a fixed remote station? DL2CC-REMOTE-CW can create extra shortcuts — Start menu, Desktop, or auto-start with Windows — that open the remote station and connect automatically, handy for unattended host or client PCs. They are optional and set up from inside the app; see Start Directly into Remote Station. For PCs that should recover after a reboot without anyone signing in, also see Windows Auto Logon.

⚠️ Browser & Windows Warnings
Your browser may warn you about the downloaded EXE. This is common for software from smaller publishers. Each release is checked with an up-to-date virus scanner before publication. On first launch, Windows may also show a SmartScreen warning. Click "More info" → "Run anyway" to proceed.
ℹ️ Updating an existing install
Already running an older version? You can install the new one right over it — all your settings are kept. See Advanced → Updating DL2CC-REMOTE-CW.

First Launch — The Dashboard

After installation, DL2CC-REMOTE-CW opens the main dashboard. Features are grouped into three main menus. Click a menu button to open its submenu.

DL2CC-REMOTE-CW main dashboard
DL2CC-REMOTE-CW Main Dashboard — three menu areas: Remote, CW, and Tools & Settings

Dashboard Menus

Each top-level button opens a submenu with the relevant features:

Remote submenu
Remote submenu — Station, DX Cluster, Audio, Keyer
CW submenu
CW submenu — Train, Chat, Compete
Tools & Settings submenu
Tools & Settings submenu — Hardware, App Settings, Tools, Config

Dashboard Overview

Menu Group Modules inside
Remote Operate Remote Station, DX Cluster, Keyer, Audio Decoder
CW Learn Morse Trainer (Koch method)
Improve Advanced Trainer (full character set, groups, words)
Chat Morse Chat (live operators), AI Chat
High Scores See your best results
PileUp PileUp Trainer & Competition
RufzXP RufzXP TX (with keyer), RufzXP Classic (keyboard) — hear callsigns and send back
TX TX Competition, Text Generator
RX Quality RX (Newcomer & Competition), Listening
Tools & Settings Tools TX Decoder, Keyboard Simulator, CW Audio Generator
File Hardware Settings, Settings, Exit
ℹ️ Competition Mode
When Competition Mode is enabled (in Settings), the dashboard is simplified: only the Competition, Hardware Settings, Settings, and Exit tiles are shown. This keeps the screen uncluttered during organised events.

Application Settings

Open Settings → Settings from the dashboard to configure global settings. The License tab is shown first.

Licensing

DL2CC-REMOTE-CW uses license codes to unlock feature sets. Each code is activated on one specific machine and is tied to your Machine ID. You can deactivate a license at any time to free the slot and move it to another PC.

ℹ️ Licensing server & offline use
The software contacts the licensing server at startup to check license validity. Licensing information is cached on your PC, so permanent internet access is not required after activation. Your Remote CW Box usually comes with a license already assigned.
Settings — License tab
Settings — License tab: enter a license code and click Activate. Active licenses appear as badges. Your Machine ID is shown at the bottom.

License Types

License What it unlocks
CW Full CW trainer, advanced trainer, competitions, and all CW-related features
Remote Remote station operation (host and client mode)
Competition Running supervised, on-site events (the Competition Mode toggle in Settings). Issued to event organizers — the competition trainers and scoring themselves are already part of the CW license.

Activating a License

  1. Open Settings → Settings from the dashboard.
  2. The License tab is shown by default.
  3. Paste or type your license code into the License Code field.
  4. Click Activate.
  5. The newly activated license type appears as a badge in the Active Licenses area. Multiple licenses can be active at the same time.
ℹ️ Multiple licenses
Each code unlocks exactly one license type. If you have both a CW and a Remote code, activate them one at a time — both will then appear as badges simultaneously.

Deactivating (Revoking) a License

Deactivating releases the activation slot so you can move the license to a different machine.

  1. Open Settings → Settings → License.
  2. Enter the license code you want to remove in the License Code field.
  3. Click Deactivate.
  4. The corresponding badge disappears from Active Licenses.
⚠️ Machine ID
Licenses are locked to your Machine ID (shown at the bottom of the License tab). Always deactivate before reinstalling Windows or switching to a new PC, otherwise the activation slot remains occupied.
Settings - Chat and AI
Settings — Chat / AI tab: OpenAI API key and chat preferences. A limited number of messages is included for testing. If you want to use the feature regularly, add your own OpenAI key here (https://platform.openai.com/api-keys).
ℹ️ Custom Servers (Advanced)
For custom signaling and relay server configuration, see Advanced → Custom Servers.

Finding the Local Data Folder

DL2CC-REMOTE-CW stores user-editable files, generated settings, window layouts, and imported data in its local data folder, which is always located at: 

%LOCALAPPDATA%\DL2CC-REMOTE-CW

That expands to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\DL2CC-REMOTE-CW. To open it, paste the path into the Windows Explorer address bar, or press Win+R, type %LOCALAPPDATA%\DL2CC-REMOTE-CW and press Enter.

The quickest way is still from inside the app: go to Settings → Settings → Advanced and click DATA. Windows Explorer opens directly in the folder DL2CC-REMOTE-CW is using.

Connecting the DL2CC Remote CW Box

Most TX-related features require the DL2CC Remote CW Box connected via USB (COM port) or WiFi (TCP).

  1. Connect the Box to your PC with the USB cable. The Silicon Labs CP210x driver is included in the DL2CC-REMOTE-CW installer; if you need it standalone, download it from Silicon Labs. Windows assigns a COM port automatically.
  2. Optional (DL2CC-REMOTE-CW will normally find the COM port automatically): Note the assigned COM port number in Windows Device Manager (e.g. COM5).
  3. If you want to verify your COM Port: open File → Hardware Settings.
  4. On the Connection tab, select your COM port from the dropdown
  5. Close Hardware Settings - you'll hear an "R" in Morse Code out of the Box - everything is setup correctly.
✅ WiFi Connection
The Box also supports WiFi (TCP), but the normal recommended setup is now USB serial. The installer can create com0com virtual port pairs, so logger Winkey no longer requires moving the Box to WiFi: enable the Winkey Proxy on COM25 and set the logger to COM26. Use WiFi when a USB cable to the PC is impractical. To use WiFi, scan your network in the WiFi Tab, double click on a WiFi SSID, enter your WiFi password and click APPLY WIFI and CONNECT.
Wait for the box to get it's own IP address (shown at the top), then copy the IP address, go back to the CONNECTION tab and enter the IP address there. Click "Connect hardware through TCP" to use WiFi for the Box. See the Hardware Setup page for details.

Tip: When audio quality matters, USB serial is recommended — on the ESP32 + audio codec board the active WiFi radio can add a little noise to the audio path. WiFi is fine for control, but for the cleanest audio and simplest Winkey setup prefer a USB cable.
⚠️ One COM Port at a Time
Only one DL2CC-REMOTE-CW feature can use the hardware COM port at a time. If you open the TX Decoder while the Morse Trainer is connected to the Box, you will be prompted to close the other form first.
ℹ️ Full Hardware Reference
This section covers the essentials to get connected. For the complete picture — physical connectors, all Hardware Settings tabs, WiFi setup, and programmable buttons — see the DL2CC Remote CW Box page. Firmware updates are covered under Advanced → Firmware Updates.

What to Do Next

📚

Start Learning Morse Code

Start with the structured Koch-method trainer.

Morse Trainer →
📡

Set Up Remote Operation

Configure host and client for remote station access.

Remote Station →
🔧

Set Up the Standalone Keyer

Configure WiFi, sidetone, keyer mode, and PTT.

Hardware Setup →