PVRC Contest Seminar Contest Logging Software Mark Bailey

PVRC Contest Seminar Contest Logging Software Mark Bailey KD 4 D 20 March 2005

My Biases. . . • I’m an HF Contester – My experience is with CW and SSB – I don’t have any RTTY or VHF Contest experience • I use TR-Log for my single-operator contests – I also use CT and Writelog for multi-ops – I like TR, so I am biased 20 March 2005

Some of the available programs… N 3 FJP Win-EQF CT by K 1 EA 20 March 2005 NA by K 8 CC

Why use logging software? • Have more fun! – See how we are doing during the contest • Rate meters show fast we are making contacts • Programs calculate our score during the contest – Make contacts with less work • Automatically generated CW • Voice keyers for CQ’s, callsigns, exchanges, etc. – Prepare logs for submission in a few minutes 20 March 2005

Why use logging software? • Increase our scores – Automation gives us a bit of free time for strategy or a second radio – Computer logging tells us whether we need a multiplier or QSO on other bands – Submitting a log is easy…so we enter more contests and PVRC gets more points! 20 March 2005

What does the software do? • • • “Super Check Partial” Last 10/Last 100 Rates Multipliers/QSO’s needed by band Transceiver Interface Packet Interface SSB Voice Keyer CW Keying SO 2 R Switching Multi-operator networking 20 March 2005

Integration with the station • Transceiver Control – Modern transceivers use “Serial Ports” to interface with computers – Windows computers can use USB to serial converters to provide more serial ports – DOS desktop computers can use PCI interfaces from www. byterunner. com with DOS drivers – DOS computers use serial ports for TNC’s or packet interfaces – Some programs can use serial ports for CW keying – N 1 NM uses an external box called a “Win. Key” which uses a serial port 20 March 2005

Integration with the station • Parallel Ports – CW Keying – requires relay or transistor interface – DVK (Digital Voice Keyer) control – PTT (Push-To-Talk) – requires relay or transistor interface – CW paddle input – Band decoder outputs – Radio 1/Radio 2 select – requires external SO 2 R switching 20 March 2005

Integration with the station • Soundcards – Primarily useful for Windows these days – SSB and digital modes – Require isolation transformer to interface to Radio inputs • USB ports – Some SO 2 R and station controllers are going to USB interfaces • Note: some new computers no longer have “Legacy” serial and parallel ports 20 March 2005

What Packages do PVRC Members Use? • I conducted an informal poll of PVRC members on the PVRC reflector – I asked about what logging program(s) people use and what they liked or disliked about the programs • I decided to do a quick overview of the top four – CT, N 1 MM, TR-Log, and Writelog – NA and N 3 FJP were tied for fifth place 20 March 2005

CT 20 March 2005

CT • Best Features – – “Point and Shoot” packet Window – K 3 DI Good support for Multi-Multi – N 3 OC CT is simple and always works – K 4 FJ Free! • Worst Features – DOS Program – everybody – Problems initializing LPT ports for some DVK’s – KD 4 D – Very limited sound card support for SSB – KD 4 D 20 March 2005

N 1 MM 20 March 2005

N 1 MM • Best Features – Great Band Maps – W 3 PP – Outstanding developer support and the most active email reflector – numerous – Ease of exporting contest logs – numerous – Soundcard support for SSB voice keyer – Free! • Worst Features – CW can be choppy – W 3 PP (Note: solved with external “Win. Key” keyer – Can’t record SSB messages “on the fly” 20 March 2005

TR-Log 20 March 2005

TR-Log • Best Features – Fast and intuitive SO 2 R Capabilities – K 4 QPL – Everything goes in one window and you can type in a callsign correction without changing fields – K 4 QPL – Separate run and S&P Modes – W 3 CB – Exchange info can be “jumbled” and is entered in a single field N 8 II • WPA 36 Q 735 A 234 STX 76 B becomes 234 B K 5 RAT 76 STX • Worst Features – – DOS only – Everybody Can only edit the last five QSO’s – K 4 QPL No ethernet networking of computers – KD 4 D Very limited sound card support for SSB – KD 4 D 20 March 2005

Writelog 20 March 2005

Writelog • Best Features – Fully integrated logs in a multi transmitter environment (synchronizing multiple computers) – N 4 GG – Very nice CW and voice keyer – W 3 YY – It does not crash – N 3 UM – Built-in CW and RTTY Decoders – W 3 DQ • Worst Features – Some windows can’t be moved everywhere on the screen – N 3 AM – Setup difficult until one goes through the learning curve – W 3 YY – Windows XP keying may be an issue – W 4 KAZ and others 20 March 2005

DOS or Windows? • Windows is clearly easier to deal with • DOS vs. Windows – New computers will run DOS, but configuration is painful • Limited sound card support – laptops are especially problematic • No support for USB to serial port converters • Limited ethernet networking support – DOS drivers are hard to find • Free. DOS works well and is available free from www. freedos. org • All of my computers are set up to dual-boot Windows XP or DOS, but this is tricky to set up 20 March 2005

PVRC Statistics 20 March 2005

“Free Advice” • Remember, free advice is worth what you pay for it! – If you are just starting out, try N 1 MM. It’s free, has very active support, and lots of features. You need a fast computer and may need to buy a “Win. Key” – If you are just starting out or have old, slow computers or a good bit of DOS experience, try CT. It’s free, and lots of people know how to use it – If you love Linux, try TLF • If you want the ultimate in SO 2 R CW programs, try TRLog • If you’re setting up a multi-op station, you probably don’t need my advice! : -) Consider CT or Writelog 20 March 2005

More “Free Advice” • Allow some time before the contest to configure a program and learn how to use it – CW and SSB keying interfaces – Transceiver control – Packet interfaces • http: //www. eham. net/reviews - Ham Software Logging has links and reviews of most of these packages • Remember: Have fun and submit those scores for PVRC! 20 March 2005

For more information • • www. k 1 ea. com (CT) www. writelog. com www. n 1 mm. com www. trlog. com www. k 1 ea. com/cty (CTY Country Files) www. k 5 zd. com/scp (Super Check Partial Files) www. contesting. com – TRLog, CT, and Writelog e-mail reflector archives • www. n 1 mm. com – Select “Yahoo Discussion Group” (e-mail reflector archives) 20 March 2005