[HCRA] FD Logging Program

[Jim Mullen]

Hey there Field Day people! There is only four weeks to go until the fun
begins in Dufresne Park. I hope you have set aside the days and are planning
on having one heck of a time!

I'll be running 40 CW again this year and am always looking for some
operators. We should have a great station. IC756 ProII, computer logging
with CW generation and a good antenna. Drop me a note if you would like to
play CW for a little while this FD.

Speaking of logging programs, I'm also the one who volunteered to pick the
logging program  we will use this year. Programs we have used in the past
are CT and Writelog. CT works very well, is free, but is sometimes a
struggle to learn all the key combination for new users. Writelog is nice
windows based program but is also difficult for a new user. Last year we let
each band captain pick what ever program they desired and we combined the
logs at the end of the event. Although the score keeping was not much of a
problem an operator going from one station to the next sometimes had to
learn a new logging program at the same time.

This year I've been looking closely at the alternatives. This investigation
has made me aware of a nice little program from N3FJP. Although not free,
it's only $6 so the cost in certainly not prohibitive. I've downloaded and
tested a copy and found it to work quite well. Unless I find some problem
over the next few weeks I will probably be recommending the N3FJP logger for
this year's Field Day. I was able to download, install, have it talk to my
rig and send CW with very little problem.

So... At this point in time I would ask any band captains to please visit:
http://www.n3fjp.com/FD.htm, download version 2.3 (not the network version)
and take it for a spin. Let me know your comments so we can address them and
have everyone on the same page for this year's FD.

Please, don't wait until FD to learn how to use your logging program. There
is so much going on at that time you really don't need the distraction of
fighting with a logging program!

Thanks & 73...

Jim
KK1W