[W1SMH] Logging Software - More than you may want to know

Wed Jun 17 09:24:45 EDT 2009

there's no configuration needed for the bands and modes and all, once it's 
installed, you just use the band menu and select your mode on the mode menu, 
and you're good to go. Yes, make sure you start saving early on at the 
start, if it's a default or not I forget but if you establish a file to save 
it on from the start, it can be set to it will auto save all contacts, on 
the hard drive or your place of choice. As for the function keys, thank god 
I was not looking forward to another year of asking a chain of people what 
function key does what, with this software it's all in menus.
Another advantage is, we can install the wav files from the site, in the 
program directory, then enable in the menu it to announce what field you're 
in, so those like myself, ka1ig, and anyone else with visual problems can 
log for ourselves if we want to. So long as the sound is turned on on the 
computer, the one I'm bringing it is on, someone else doesn't want to hear 
it, for the one I'm bringing I'll just leave a headset plugged in to it and 
work with it as we go.
yes we would be using the field day logger for field day.
I've run n3fjp software in the 10 meter contest a time or 2 and a couple 
others and played with the field day logger, I'm sure once we play with it 
and get used to it, everyone will like it, just about all clubs I know of 
have made the switch already to it.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "J. Agius" <jpagius at yahoo.com>
To: "Memorial Hospital Amateur Radio Club Sturdy" <w1smh at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 8:51 AM
Subject: [W1SMH] Logging Software - More than you may want to know


>
> More than you may want to know about logging software;
>
> I have looked at the N3FJP software that was mentioned at the Club meeting
> On 16 June 2009.
>
> Basically Logging software is divided into 2 categories
> 1. General Logging software
> 2. Contesting software.
>
> The main N3FJP software is a General logging software program that can be 
> used in
> place of the old manual log book.  It keeps track of all your contacts and 
> can
> generate reports based on countries worked, counties worked, islands 
> worked by
> band, mode, and a variety of different parameters.
> This type of program is great for your general ham needs.
> I use Mlog myself and have a huge DB of all my contacts etc.
> All of these programs generally provide an ADIF format import and export 
> utility
> So that you can transfer files between any two of them to change your 
> likes and dislikes
> As will.
> It is comparable to the General N3FJP software.
>
> There are also programs like N1MM which does the same thing.
> These programs can also connect to your rig and change the band and the 
> frequency
> Directly from your PC.
> In the N3FJP software I do not see an interface for the Kenwood 870 (for 
> rig control) but others may work.
>
>
> This is a description of the N3FJP software that does this:
>
> Amateur Contact Log is designed to serve as a general logging program.
> In addition, it keeps track of your progress towards Worked All States,
> Worked All Counties, Worked All Countries and many other accomplishments.
> The program also features a call book lookup function using data freely
> available from the FCC and RAC websites. (This database is called AC Log
> Calldata and contains U.S. and Canadian call signs.) QRZ and Buckmaster 
> HamCall
> data sources are also supported, and they include many DX calls. AC Log 
> will
> interface with many different radios, send CW and provide DX spotting with
> lists and band maps.
> --- 
>
> With that said, there are also contesting software programs which are 
> specifically
> designed to work with each type of contest such as field day, 10 meters, 
> sweepstakes,
> Etc.
>
> I will assume (which is a bad thing to do so I will just surmise) that the 
> software about which we spoke at the meeting refers to the latter of the 
> above which is a specialized program written for field day by N3FJP.
>
> This program is comparable to CT and other contesting only software.
> After using such a program the file generated is then merged with the 
> former
> mentioned program into the main shack program so that all contact you ever 
> made
> are logged in one place.
>
> With the case of W1SMH field day, we will only use the generated program 
> to submit
> to ARRL since we do not have a general program up in the radio room
> to keep track of all our contacts made there (these of course are 
> theoretically
> entered by any operator who works the transmitter (transceiver) up in the 
> radio room.
> It would be a good project to automated that as well.
>
> Back to the topic at hand -
> Last night it was mentioned that when an operator changes, we should 
> manually log
> the number of the QSO.  As I suspected, there is an option in the field 
> day
> version of N3FJP to do this.
> All the other features which we are used to are also there.
>
> What is not on the screen – as was mentioned there was – are the F key
> Controls, so there is no advantage there over CT but change is a good 
> thing..
>
> Ctrl B - Band Map
> Ctrl C - CW Setup Form
> Ctrl D - DX Spotting Settup
> Ctrl F - Frequency Privileges
> Ctrl P - Phone Setup Form
> Ctrl R - Rig Control Setup Form
> Ctrl W - CW Strings
>
> Other changes are menu driven, which is an advantage for those of us with
> Less than perfect memories.
>
> There will be a learning curve, as with everything else especially for the 
> CW operators,
> which total in the vicinity of 3 or 4 that I am aware of, and so long as 
> we don’t lose the files as has happened in the past on some occasions, we 
> should come  out ahead.
>
> If I have a chance, I will try keying with the program and get a head 
> start..
> John (EWN) are you planning on configuring the program so that it is all 
> set to go for Phone and CW?
>
>
>
>
>
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