[1000mp] Logger/Rig Control for Mk V Field?

[Jim Smith]

I have used only 2 contest logging programs, WriteLog and TRLog.  I got 
WL for RTTY contesting.  I far prefer TR and wouldn't consider using WL 
for phone or cw contests.

To call CQ
  WL - hit the CQ key (I think it's F2)
  TR - hit the CQ key (F1 or F2, depending on which form of CQ you want 
to send)

To send the Exchange
  WL - hit the Exchange key (F3?)
  TR - hit Enter

To sent TU QRZ
  WL - hit the TU key (F4?)
  TR - hit Enter

To log the Q
  WL - hit Enter
  TR - nothing to hit, it's already in the log.

In WL, as I recall, there is a yet a different key for the S&P exchange 
because what you send is different.  In TR guess what key you use.  Yup, 
it's the Enter key.  See, you're learning already.

You will notice that I have difficulties remembering which key is which 
in WL.
I have lost many, many QSOs using WL because I forgot to hit Enter to 
log the Q.

WL enthusiasts tell me that they have simply trained themselves to hit 
the right keys, including Enter to log the Q.  Terrific, something that 
requires more training and provides more opportunities to screw up is 
considered a good thing.

Which one would you rather teach your FD crew to use?

They have also wondered why one would want to have the Q logged 
automatically, presumably instead of reviewing it for approval and then 
logging it.  I wonder why anyone would want to review the log entry. 
 You made the Q so log it and get on with the next one.  If you do 
notice a mistake it's pretty easy to edit right then and there.

WL simply requires too many different keystrokes to make and log a Q.   
This translates to more confusion, more errors, lower rate and lower score.

There are all kinds of WL users who will say they can complete a Q just 
as fast as a TR user and I would believe them.  Indeed, lots of WL users 
make scores I can only dream about.  Good for them, they have 
demonstrated a higher level of skill than that needed by a TR user.


FD specific

Computer:
TR will run just fine on a 386.  386s are cheap.  Outfitting a FD setup 
with computers is, therefore, cheap.

Networking:
TR uses a networking scheme that only requires you to daisy-chain 
computers via serial ports.  No wondering about whether or not to use 
NETBUI or...  i.e. you don't have to know anything about computer 
networking to set up TR for a multi-multi, which is what FD is.

I don't know how WL is networked, I presume through Windows in the usual 
way.


Now, TR doesn't have all the bells and whistles that many Windows based 
programs have, e.g. greyline maps.  For FD you don't need them.

TR supports a very large number of contests, 75 the last time I counted. 
 It is very flexible so, if you want to use it for an unsupported 
contest you can usually change the configuration to accomodate.

WL supports a number of contests, not sure how many.  It appears to me 
that it's pretty well unuseable for an unsupported contest until someone 
writes a "module" for that contest.  The documentation on how to write 
these modules was incomprehensible to me the last time I looked at it. 
 Far more skilled programmers than I have sought assistance with this on 
the WL reflector and finally seem to have given up.

TR has a cw simulator which will send calls to you at whatever speed you 
choose so you can practise logging (and cw).  It's just like being in a 
contest (except no qrm).  One can easily spend 2-3 hours at this, 
watching your score pile up.  Don't know if any other contest software 
can do this.

Documentation
Both TR and WL could use better documentation.  WL has fallen into the 
trap of believing that a help file is the same as documentation.  This 
has caused someone to write his own and put it up on his web site for 
all to use.  Sorry, Scott, don't remember your call.  I think it's 
something9FOX.  However, both are better than the Yaesu MkV 
documentation, although not as fancy.


I think most serious contesters use a logging program optimized for 
contesting and something else for general purpose logging, DXing, 
tracking awards, printing QSLs and finding QSL managers.

These comments are coming from someone who does a lot of contesting and 
has won a few CQ WPX/DX, ARRL DX etc for VE7.  (Small frog in small 
puddle)  If you have nothing better to do, do a search for VE7FO in the 
3830 reflector archives.


The FD version of TR is free at http://www.qth.com/tr/free.html

I hope this helps, Rich

73 de Jim Smith    VE7FO



Rich McGee wrote:

> All;
> With Field Day rapidly coming up, I want to be as prepared as 
> possible, and this includes finding the best logging program/rig 
> control I can afford. While I've played with the demo copy of TRX-Man, 
> and found it to be really nice, is there anything out there that 
> people like better?
>
> Thanks!
> Rich de KY6O