[Ham-Mac] Re: 1st draft at consensus of top 5 MLC feature list
priorities
William Mahaffey
w6eet at cox.net
Wed Mar 16 17:59:44 EST 2005
I know I am late but I am not a contester so I didn't immediately think
of the following ..
A product called "WinKey" was developed for contesters to enable
cw keying and remove that function off the pc so that it can be
done easier/quicker/better (pick one or more.)
I use this for my remote control software that I have written for my
Jupiter
and it works great.
Go to http://k1el.tripod.com/ for info.
Sorry for not mentioning it earlier.
Bill Mahaffey w6eet
On Mar 16, 2005, at 12:03 PM, eugene kraft wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I fully support Jonathan's comments on the five top features and I am
> also particularly keen to have CW memory keying incorporated. I look
> forward to hearing more on how this is proceeding.
>
> 73,
>
> Eugene G4FTP
>
> On Wednesday, March 16, 2005, at 06:54 pm, Jonathan G0DVJ wrote:
>
>>
>> Hi all,
>> (Recipients already on the MLC list have already seen a version of
>> this mail so can disregard it second time!!)
>>
>> A while back, after I initially posted a mail to this list "dreaming"
>> about an OSX native application for contest logging, and some initial
>> debate here on this list, Don Agro set up a specific list to discuss
>> the detail more deeply, and to take it off this general list. At
>> that time, I promised to report back here when the initial stage was
>> complete ... hence this mail.
>>
>>
>> We have had some good debates over the last couple of months - about
>> a lot of detail and some philosophy regarding a potential
>> MacLoggerContest (MLC) program which would in Don's words aim to be
>> "an insanely great contest logger"! We have also had time to
>> deliberate and think through what we believe is important and
>> realistic. The aim has been to draw a number of opinions together
>> to try and achieve some consensus. Just to remind you why getting a
>> consensus was important ... a quote from a direct email (with
>> permission) from Don ...
>>
>> On Feb 2, 2005, at 3:28 pm, Don Agro wrote:
>>> I would really appreciate seeing your original email posted back to
>>> the Ham-Mac list re-written in order of priority - If 20 people on
>>> the Ham-Mac list can agree on the top 5 priorities I will jump into
>>> the fray with MacLoggerContest. The reason I am asking for that
>>> level of detail is not just to get a consensus amongst the
>>> enthusiasts, but to make sure I get a firm grip on what it would
>>> take to make an insanely great contesting program.
>>
>> We are not rushing into this - it takes time to gain consensus; it
>> means we all have to evaluate what we can live with as opposed to
>> what we can't, and I think we have to take the size of the task into
>> account and look at this as a starter top 5 rather than an end-game.
>>
>> Having looked at the original feature list from my mail that
>> originally set this discussion off, and trying to take into account
>> the discussions that have been had since then on the MLC list, I
>> offer a draft top 5 features/characteristics of a possible initial
>> MLC. Please note I am not trying to rank these 5 at this stage -
>> this is not required - rather we are prioritising these things
>> against the other features that are derived from the original list.
>> I have re-worded some of the points where the discussions we have had
>> clarified different items from the original list.
>>
>> You will see I have tried to categorise the top 5 by 4 essential
>> areas of discussion too as I have read them. I have allowed
>> ourselves one initial "bell & whistle" feature at this stage. Each
>> of these contains a certain amount of detail based on the discussions
>> we have had. I felt I had to bulk some related items together given
>> that there are just a certain number (>5) features that all contest
>> loggers need! The remainder of the items from the original list I
>> posted are listed again in no order of importance for reference
>> afterwards. I hope I have managed to achieve a very difficult task
>> at least to some extent.
>>
>>
>> *** Please consider this initial attempt at a consensus and if you
>> can give it some support at this early stage, please either post a
>> simple note to that effect to this list or direct to Don or via
>> myself if you prefer. ***
>>
>> (I have copied this to Don explicitly for those that want to reply
>> direct and can't recall his address)
>>
>>
>> As we continue discussions on the MLC list, I will occasionally
>> report back here for those not ardently following or subscribed to
>> the other list.
>>
>> Thanks & 73,
>> Jonathan G0DVJ
>> --
>>
>>
>> Top 5 : (in categories but NO order of importance) - 1st draft:
>> ---------
>>
>> SETUP:
>> - Easy but flexible configurable set-up for any contest requirements
>> no matter what the exchange required and the scoring schemes defined.
>> 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.
>>
>> ENTRY/EDITING OF QSOs:
>> - Fast entry of required contest logging fields through a
>> "bullet-proof" data entry routine. Auto insertion of relevant data
>> from radio connection (such as Band/Mode) but also enabling other
>> radio communication features as and when. Auto suggested data
>> insertion (zones, area codes, reports, locators etc. as appropriate).
>> Entry includes the important aspect of editing a QSO easily and
>> quickly.
>>
>> CHECKING & INFO FOR OPERATORS:
>> - Real-time checking (preferably as callsign characters are typed
>> without touching other keys/buttons) of DUPLICATES, but also
>> country/band/locator/other multiplier analysis, beam headings,
>> potential multiplier status ) plus re-scoring in real-time &
>> continuous summary of scoring per band/mode/multipliers/etc.
>>
>> INTERFACES & STANDARDS:
>> - Use of all existing "standard" file formats used by other similar
>> software such as:
>> - Partial matches to the standard callsign contest databases
>> produced by K5ZD,
>> - Use of standard CTY country prefix files
>> - optional Cabrillo log entry file generation
>> - ADIF generation for integration with MacLoggerDX and other
>> loggers for your main station log
>>
>> INITIAL BELL & WHISTLE:
>> - A contest CW memory keyer
>>
>>
>> Other outside top 5: (not in any order).
>> --------------------------
>>
>> - 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.
>>
>> - SO2R support for 2 radio operation
>>
>> - Inbuilt contest voice "keyer" for CQ parrot calling.
>>
>> - 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.
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