[Dx4win] RE: Spot priorities - my confusion

[Jim Reisert AD1C]

Stan, N3HS wrote:

> I have been continually confused as to how to set the spotting to do
> what I need.  I am working toward 5 band DXCC, independent of mode.
> Therefore, I have "alert unfirmed country' checked in the packet1
> preferences screen.  Now the confusion, a country which I had confirmed
> on 20 meters showed up in the spots on 15 meters, where I had worked
> that country, but have no confirmation was shown as priority 5.  I have
> seen this many times in priority 4.  This simply tells me that I do not
> understand the logic on how spot priorities are assigned and that I do
> not know how to interact with DX4WIN on this to get it to do what I
> want.  Reading the help file simply didn't help.

and later followed up with:

> Got no answers so let me pose a question. Today I see a CN on 20 meters
> as priority 4 yet that country is confirmed on 20.  I see others listed
> as priority 4 for which I have no confirmation on the band shown in the
> spot.  How do I get DX4WIN to distinguish between these?

There are 9 spot priorities, from highest to lowest:

1.  Entity never worked on any band or mode
2.  Entity never worked on this mode
3.  Entity never worked on this band
4.  Entity worked but not confirmed on this mode
5.  Entity worked but not confirmed on this band
6.  Entity never worked on this band AND mode (ie. 40-CW or 20-SSB)
7.  Entity worked but not confirmed on this band AND mode
8.  Entity confirmed (but this call not worked) on this band AND mode
9.  This call already worked on this band AND mode

When a spot comes in, DX4WIN goes down the list from 1 through 9 to see which
is the first true statement, then assigns that priority.

> Today I see a CN on 20 meters as priority 4
> yet that country is confirmed on 20

Then you probably confirmed the country on the "other" mode.  It's still needed
on "this" mode, that's why it's priority 4

> Now the confusion, a country which I had confirmed on 20 meters showed up
> in the spots on 15 meters, where I had worked that country, but have no
> confirmation was shown as priority 5.  I have seen this many times in
priority 4.

Yes, that will be true since needed mode countries have priority over needed
band countries.

Now, I like to work everything on every band/mode so the priorities above work
fine for me.  There is no way to reverse the "mode has precedence over band"
priority, but if you ask Paul maybe he can add a switch in the next version.

If you are chasing band countries but not mode countries, try going into your
Preferences, DXCC award tab, and uncheck the "Modes" box under awards.

I hope this makes sense.

73 - Jim AD1C


=====
Jim Reisert AD1C, 7 Charlemont Court, North Chelmsford, MA 01863
USA +978-251-9933, <jjreisert at alum.mit.edu>, http://www.ad1c.us