[FCARC] Field Day Logging

[Craig Szczublewski]

Hi folks,

Turning attention back to Field Day, if you plan on running a radio during
Field Day, or if you are planning on helping an operator log QSOs, it will
help to familiarize yourself with the logging program we use.  It does
require a laptop, but the software will run on just about any version of
windows down to XP, along with macOS and Linux.  If you have an older
laptop not used for anything, it is probably ideal for this software.  The
only requirement is the laptop has an 802.11g as a minimum WiFi controller.

If you do not have a laptop suitable (and think twice about bringing your
high-end laptop out to the Field), let me know, I have several repurposed
older models which I don't care if they get rained on or something
accidentally spilled on them.

The software for Windows can be downloaded here:
http://k8bxq.org/tmp/fdlogexe.zip
There is no installer, just unzip it to the desktop, open the folder and
run fdlog.exe.  Contact me if you need it for Linux/macOS.

If it launches successfully, you should be asked for your call sign, and
then an Authentication Key (just use "tst").  After that, the software
should open and you should see a grid of bands and modes and a logging area.

There is a text manual in the same folder called fdlogman.txt.  A
stripped-down version of the document describing how to log a QSO can be
found here: http://k8bxq.org/tmp/fdlogmanual_excerpt.txt

The first time you run it under Windows, you may be asked to allow it
through your firewall, please allow it for domain/private/public networks.
You may also need to manually allow UDP/7513 and UDP/7514 through your
firewall.

The plan at the moment is to have a quick usage workshop right after the
club meeting on June 21.  So if you have any problems, or just want to test
your install, bring your laptop and we should be able to get through the
usage in less than 20 minutes.



-- 
Craig Szczublewski