[PaQSO] RE: PaQSO Digest, Vol 28, Issue 8 - PQP software complexities

Sun Aug 13 12:57:35 EDT 2006

I am in the process of taking the code for my Mid-Atlantic QSO Party
logging program and reworking it as a PA QSO Party logging program, with
the goal to handle as many (ultimately ALL) of PQP's quirks as possible.
(The MAQP has some unusual rules as well!)  This replaces an ancient
DOS-based PQP program whose source code I no longer can compile because
the compiler is on 5-1/4" disks.  I am waiting for Borland to add Turbo
Pascal 6 to their collection of downloadable ancient software tools.
Currently the new version handles logging county-line stations without
complaint, gives dual credit for PA counties (work PHI, get EPA as well)
and applies the 1.0/1.5/2.0 point values for contacts based on mode and
band.  It is also aware that a station with "/M" stuck on the end can
come from multiple counties.  The MAQP did not have a rover category, so
those still get rejected, but that's a simple fix.  The next thing I
will be dealing with is the bonus station and I will be sure that this
particular call (like rovers and mobiles) will be accepted from multiple
counties.  As noted by recent messages on the bounty of counties it will
likely be heard from this fall.  I am holding off on the code to apply
the other bonuses as it sounds like there is the possibility some may go
away, like the Novice-Tech bonus.

My MAQP program was strictly single-op, and I don't want to go beyond
that at the moment.  (It DOES have a crude log merge function, but it
has never been used "real world".)  

If anyone wants to hear more or do some testing, let me know.  If I am
the sole tester I will not release this program to the public to avoid
having to deal with post-contest issues with bugs and other logs.

73, Allen, WG3E

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Subject: PaQSO Digest, Vol 28, Issue 8

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: N3SH 2006 Bonus Station Update 08/06... (K3YD at aol.com)

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Message: 1
Date: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 15:57:20 EDT
From: K3YD at aol.com
Subject: Re: [PaQSO] N3SH 2006 Bonus Station Update 08/06...
To: ke3ht at ke3ht.org, paqso at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <bd7.2f9178f.320f8ca0 at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 8/12/2006 13:16:08, ke3ht at ke3ht.org writes:

<< I would like ask the 
"Software Developers" 
to stick their heads UP and tell us what they support or if they do not
support everything this contest offers? .... I have tried a couple that
say 
they support PAQSO but do not support county lines as an example
(Without paper 
on the side).>>

Hi Tim,

I'm answering some of your comments from the standpoint of being a
longtime 
semiserious contester.  PAQP is a very unique contest in several
respects (i.e. 
1.5 point QSO's, county-line stations, rovers, double mults [county and 
section with one QSO]).  From a programming standpoint, the possible
alternatives 
which must be logged and scored are huge and I cannot imagine writing
the code 
to handle every possible alternative.

I have used several different programs over the years, CT, NA, KA3JWE,
N1MM 
logger among others.  They are all good, they are are helpful, and all
require 
just a little bit of operator ingenuity at times to handle some
situation.  I 
operated PAQP back in the days before computer logging was commonplace.
Any 
halfway decent logging program is a quantum leap better than the days of

stubby pencil!

Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I don't see anything wrong with taking a
few 
notes during a contest to record a situation which doesn't fit neatly
into 
program data fields.  My favorite example is the FLA., NY, TX and CA
station who 
know their county, but not their ARRL section.  (I'm picking on those
states 
because each has many sections within it's borders.)

73 and see you in the contest!

Blair, K3YD

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