[Elecraft] Fwd: [FlexEdge] Field Day, Focus and Contest Skins?

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

 > 4.       Or in the alternative, use a second computer for the contest
 > logger... really ugly solution...

Not a "really ugly solution" at all ... where else would the user be
stupid enough to try to run their contest software on the radio <doh!>

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV

On 6/28/2010 3:49 PM, Lyle Johnson wrote:
> I think you'll find this interesting.
>
> Lyle
>
> -------- Original Message -------- Subject: 	[FlexEdge] Field Day,
> Focus and Contest Skins? Date: 	Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:18:15 -0500 From:
> Dr. Howard S. White<drpaper at kleega.com> To:
> flexedge at flex-radio.biz<flexedge at flex-radio.biz>
>
>
>
> Ran the Flex 5000 for Field Day with 2 Flex Newbie's who were Very
> Experienced Contest Operators who regularly win major contests.
>
> The issue quickly became the fact that it was difficult to use the
> Flex in a contest environment because the operators had difficulty
> with the focus of the keyboard in search and pounce mode.  This was
> not an issue when we held a frequency as we did not have to touch the
> radio.
>
> On several occasions, they would be typing into N1MM, then changing
> frequencies, forgetting to move the focus back to N1MM so PowerSDR
> abruptly changed the radio frequencies or bands because they typed on
> the wrong  screen...and of course lost the contact....  It became
> highly frustrating in the heat of battle..
>
> I had the mouse set so that by hovering over a program it would shift
> focus but that was not really good enough in the heat of the contest
> where the mouse needs to be hovering over PowerSDR but typing needs
> to be into the Contest logger.
>
> Bottom Line:      They concluded that the Flex was not ready for
> "Prime Time" Contesting.
>
>
> I seem to recall some discussions on program focus on this reflector
> but it is impossible to search this reflector's archives..
>
>
> A Few of Recommendations:
>
>
> 1.       There really needs to be a Contest Skin which removes about
> 90% of the controls that you never use in the contest...they could be
> "set it and forget it" in the main form and hidden during
> contests..... You really only use frequency via mouse wheel, band,
> filters.
>
> 2.       The Contest Skin needs to integrate a contest logging
> program such as N1MM or Writelog into the Skin so that you never have
> to switch programs...ideally the logger should show inside the skin.
>
> 3.       In the alternative, remove the ability of the keyboard to
> interact with PowerSDR during contests and fix its focus onto the
> Contest Logger while fixing the focus of the mouse wheel on frequency
> changing.
>
> 4.       Or in the alternative, use a second computer for the contest
> logger... really ugly solution...
>
> 5.       There needs to be a detailed Knowledge Base Article on Focus
> for contesting.
>
> One other suggestion... move this reflector to a reflector such as
> Yahoo Groups which has a searchable archive...so you won't
> continually have people asking the same questions all the time.
> __________________________________________________________ Howard S.
> White Ph.D. P. Eng., VE3GFW/K6  ex-AE6SM  KY6LA Website:
> www.ky6la.com<http://www.ky6la.com/> "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished"
> "Ham Antennas Save Lives - Katrina, 2003&   2007 San Diego Fires,
> 911"
>
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> is used for posting topics related to SDR software development and
> experimentalist who are using alpha and beta versions of the
> software.
>
>
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