[Ham-Mac] Hallucinations from this side of the Pond!

[Jonathan G0DVJ]

Well - the list already seems to have woken up ... but I'll post this 
anyway :) ...

I was just dreaming wildly for a moment before I came back to the real 
world...
What if we Mac-based Amateurs (Hams) who are into contesting had 
software like the Windoze guys do - except of course it would be more 
stable, reliable and usable ...


I was dreaming of something like MacLoggerDX but called 
MacLoggerContest which had all these features ...

- Fast entry (no multiple keystrokes) of only contest logging fields 
(configurable for any contest requirements no matter what the exchange 
required)

- Real-time checking as callsign characters are typed without touching 
other keys/buttons of duplicates, country/band/locator/other multiplier 
analysis, beam headings, potential multiplier status, auto data 
insertion (zones, area codes, reports, locators etc.)

- Summary of scoring per band/mode/multipliers/etc. updated after every 
entered QSO or edit.

- Full log editing and re-scoring in real-time according to the 
configurable scoring parameters set up in advance

- Full support for all popular national and international contests in 
the calendar (or the ability for users to set up such flexibility), HF, 
VHF and UHF contests all supported.

- Display of partial matches to the standard callsign contest databases 
produced by K5ZD for many other contest software (CT, SD, WriteLog 
etc.)

- Import of standard CTY country prefix files used by other logging 
software

- Cabrillo log entry file generation and other post-contest processing 
/ statistics and integration with MacLoggerDX for your main station log

- A tailored contest CW memory keyer feature with very flexible speed 
control, maybe even supporting data modes too like having MultiMode 
built-in :)

- A facility to connect to a public/private DX cluster (either on the 
net or via RF/TNC) which highlights spots which are potential 
multipliers.

- Rig control functions for auto-logging frequency, allowing fast 
changes from a run frequency to S&P VFO

- SO2R support for 2 radio operation

- Inbuilt contest voice "keyer"

- Multi-operator support for logging and statistical analysis of rates 
and mults etc.

- Rendezvous support for Multi-multi operation over ethernet or airport 
networks.

-  Integration with Apple's iChat for IM chat between operators in 
multi-multi situations, spotting stations etc.


And then unfortunately I woke up and realised it was just a dream for 
2005 on behalf of all the Mac Ham Contesters around the world.


Don't get me wrong, I am a great supporter of the fantastic software we 
have available from the likes of Don Agro, Chris Smolinski, David 
Anderson and others ... in fact as I alluded to in various places 
above, many of these features are already available in some brilliant 
software built for other purposes ...

... what a brilliant product could be produced if one or more of these 
guys got together to write the best contest contest software for any 
platform today? ... Hell you never know - even Windoze PC contesters 
might switch to a dedicated Mac Mini in the shack for contesting :)

Apologies if I am wasting anyone's bandwidth with this.   I (and I 
suggest some of the Mac developers reading this list) would be 
interested in knowing whether any of this resonates with others on the 
list or whether I am alone in these views!

73 to all and happy radio for 2005 whether you are into contests or not.
And a special thanks to all those who develop native Ham software for 
OSX.

Jonathan G0DVJ
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