[Dx4win] Version 6 new features

[Paul van der Eijk]

Hi,

I'm getting so many emails asking what is new and when version 6 will be shipped, that a message here seems more efficient than answering those emails individually.

1. What is new; see below.

2. When: we are getting close. Steve is putting the final touches on the users' guide, and I'm fixing small glitches in the code reported by the beta testers. Fair estimate; within a week.

3. How much. The upgrade will cost $25; if you bought the program after Aug-1, 2002, the upgrade via email is free. New price has not changed and we do not honor 'competitive' upgrades.

4. We are too busy to take pre-orders now; please wait for an announcement here on the reflector. (the website will take a while longer to update)

5. I have kept long lists of features requested by users. Many make sense, and a fair number have been implemented in this release. If your favorite feature is not in this version, it was either too complicated to implement or did not fit in the general design of the program. But I still have a few items on the list I would like to do, but they have to wait for the next update.

73, Paul
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Version 6.01
Packet
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Added a priority for new band

Added an option to show a DX spot as high priority for an unconfirmed country

The colors for font text and the background can be changed for the different priorities

Added a new column indicating the priority level of a spot

Added wild character matching for the callsign watch function

Automatic refresh interval can be specified in an WWW page for DX spots

VUCC and Grids
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Added a number of new VHF bands plus 4M

Added option to show grid lines on the world map

World map shows current grid square in the header

Searching for a grid value has been fixed

Grid locator can now be copied automatically from the address shown using the Buckmaster or Flying Horse CDROM

QSOs
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The drop-down lists for modes and bands are now split in two sections. Selected bands and modes in the station parameters are shown first, followed by the ones that are not enabled.

Added option to change the QSL method for the selection of QSOs

Added option to modify the QSO date/time for the selection of QSOs

Automatic selection for QSL printing of QSOs for WPX has been fixed

IOTA for a previous QSO is inserted when adding in real-time

A cutoff for 'worked' and 'mailed' with a zero value now means that the cutoff is ignored

Changed the strings for PSK31 to 'PSK31' (was 'PSK3')

KG4xx recognized as Gitmo, KG4x and KG4xxx is USA

Removed ## and ?? from QSO notes if information is not available

When a search fails (F8) the QSO Window is ready for a new search to be entered

The length of county names increased to 22 characters

Added ability to enter aurora / meteor and rain scatter reports; see modes for details.

Added modes JT44 and WSJT

Bad county field will show listing when entering or updating a QSO

When adding QSOs real-time the background color of the time field will remain darker as long as the time is updated automatically.

Summary Windows / Reports
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Corrected double-click in a summary window when adding real-time

SameCall window shows more matching calls

Added progress reports for DXCC, WAS, WAZ and WPX. A progress report shows the difference in the number of countries (states etc.) worked, confirmed etc. for two date ranges in the log.

Labels
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Only the first page was printed in landscape mode when printing QSL labels

QSOs printed for Method=QSLService are sorted by callsign

CW keyboard
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A '+' or '-' in a text buffer (macro) changes the speed

Radios
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Added support for easy switching between two radios

The command for split on or off is now send first to the radio, correcting a problem with some radios when the B VFO was selected

Control
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Added ability to use any COM port / LPT port for keying CW and PTT

Added option to set a bit14 on the LPT line when switching to the second radio

Added option to select between other installed sound card(s) for PSK31

Corrected selection for 6M in band decoder

Added support for ON4AOI band decoder

Map
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Added more map data (Islands, cities and US counties)

Added search function (for country, city and IOTA)

Other
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Reworked and expanded the on-line help

Added delay for Hygain rotator

Added support for GOLIST DLL

Added support to search a website for address and QSL manager information

Fixed problems with IOTA editor

Added new import/export filter for DX4WIN (for longer mode field and county field)

Increased highest COM port number that can be specified
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