[Elecraft] Contesting with logging software on a PC (not MAC)

[Don Wilhelm]

John,

I have to agree with Barry, but I will lower that $1k price by a lot.  I 
have found that Windows 2000 and Windows XP are quite stable.  No 
glitches and certainly no "Blue Screen of Death" on any computer worth 
it salt.  Yes, Win95, Win 98, and Windows ME did have unstable quirks.
Right now, one can obtain a very good computer in the 2.6 to 3.2 GB CPU 
speed range as an off-lease machine for $100 to $250 from TigerDirect 
(and possibly other dealers).  I have bought several of the IBM 
off-lease computers from them in the last 2 years and have been very 
satisfied - most are loaded with Windows XP Pro, although some have XP 
Home and others come with no OS loaded (a real bargain for those 
interested in Linux Mint or Ubuntu).

So I have to say to those hams who are clinging to their old 266 MHz 
computers running DOS or Windows 95 (98), that there is a limit to the 
misery that those old computers will create - for myself, I prefer to 
move up to at least Windows 2000.  On my home network, I have 2 machines 
running Win2K, 3 running Win XP pro and 2 running Win XP Home, and have 
not had problems with any of them except for occasional hardware 
failures (power supplies, hard drives, and memory failures do happen on 
occasion), but the OS has been quite stable since Win 2K (OK, skip Vista 
which has its own problems with compatibility).  I also provide support 
for our church network running 13 machines on a Peer to Peer network and 
the experience there has been similar - Win XP is stable (as is Win2k).  
Windows 7 may prove to be good, time will tell.  Do go to Windows Update 
and keep the OS updated to the latest level (turn on Automatic Updates 
if you are on a broadband connection)..

If you are slaved to some DOS applications, I highly recommend you stick 
with Windows 2000, it runs most DOS applications just fine - or do a 
dual boot with DOS 6.22 loaded.

73,
Don W3FPR

Barry N1EU wrote:
> I beg to differ with whatever input you've received John.  A modern, powerful
> windows pc is a great investment for ~$1K.  It's not going to crash during a
> contest, running any of the top Windows contest loggers and will give you
> loads of enjoyment the other 95% of the time.
>
> 73,
> Barry N1EU
>
>
>
> JOHN LAWRENCE wrote:
>   
>> I'm a return veteran contester with lots of wins using the old pencil log
>> with a dupe sheet.
>>  
>> I've tried various new programs attempting to gain a level of comfort so I
>> might consider a serious entry into some contesting again. You should
>> appreciate that I'd hate to feel the pain of getting part way into the
>> contest and be delayed or loose my logs due to a computer freeze, lock out
>> or reboot.
>>
>> For the past year I've been soliciting "contest guru" opinions and come
>> away with conclusions based on inputs of the long term contersters from my
>> past more active years. My conclusion has nothing to do with the
>> suitability of the wonderful K3 as a radio for CW or SSB contesting.
>>
>> I'd use a basic mission critical PC with a 386/486 processor, DOS and CT
>> to run the logging process without connection to the Internet during the
>> contest. CT runs with the K3. The more recent contesting software might be
>> ok but Windows is buggy and may crash during the event. 
>>
>> Lets hope System 7 can be configured to offer mission critical reliability
>> in the new PC platforms.
>>  
>> Lastly, I find this to be mostly an off Elecraft topic.
>>
>> Happy New Year
>>
>> 73,
>> John, W1QS
>>     
>