Upcoming changes to LOGPlus! v3 =============================== During the past couple of months, I've been extremely busy "TRYING" to locate that ultimate QTH. My major requirement in searching out this QTH is to break the East Coast Curtain, unfortunately; these QTH's are very difficult to find, if not impossible! When I find time (which is very limited at this point), I've been thinking of new and exciting changes I'd like to make to LOGPlus!. I'd like to take a moment and share a few of the changes which have been implemented in the new major release, which is currently in beta testing at my QTH. The PacketCluster monitoring system in both the Dumb Terminal Program and logging modules are the center of my attention at this point. Coming back to the U.S.A. and noticing the drastic differences between the U.S. clusters and Japan, I see major areas in which information can be extracted and alerting provided. Significant changes have been made to this section alone. I'm considering offering a program called LOGPlus! TERM as a separate package for those who use a second computer for monitoring the PacketCluster spots. This program will offer complete PacketCluster tracking as does the DTP. Comments? 1. Country, Zone (CQ/ITU) and Continent information is now displayed on the screen. The new top three lines of the DTP and Lw/P will look like: Date: 08/23/93 Time: 1414Z DX: DL3NY Freq: 7003.3 Country: DL - Germany Zone: 14/24 Cont: Eu Modes Needed: CW SSB RTY MIX Bands Needed: 160 80 40 30 20 17 15 12 10 6 SAT 2. 6 Meters and Satellite (145MHz) spots are now checked. I'm looking at adding 2 meter DXCC reporting also. If I can "SLIP" it in, it'll be there. SPECIAL NOTE FOR 6 METER GRID and IOTA HUNTERS ---------------------------------------------- In an effort to provide as much "HANDS OFF" record keeping as possible, I am looking at providing a means in which the DUMB TERMINAL PROGRAM and LOGGING w/PacketCluster will automatically provide you with the current status of the reported GRID/IOTA. Unfortunately, we suffer from a lack of uniformity throughout the world on how this data should be reported. If the search/reporting feature of LOGPlus! is to become a success, your support is essential. We must make every effort to "EDUCATE" the users on our PacketClusters to report the information uniformly. I would like to suggest the following format be "SUGGESTED" on all local clusters for reporting GRID/IOTA information: DX de KD7P: 50110.0 W1NG CN99 Ken good signal. 1414Z DX de KD7P: 14086.7 VE7IU NA033 Rees on XYZ Isl. 1414Z or DX de KD7P: 14086.7 VE7IU IOTA NA033 Rees XYZ Isl. 1414Z Basically, the GRID/IOTA combination must be the first set of characters sent in the comment field. We must also try to discourage the use of "-" or spaces within the combination. (i.e. NA-033 or NA 033). If we can establish this basic format, LOGPlus! will be extremely successful in providing up to the second information. 3. IOTA - To support the ever popular IOTA system, I have provided a means in which the IOTA database (IOTA.DBF) will automatically be checked if an IOTA REFNO (EU001) is reported in the comment field. With the many methods in which data is reported in the comment field, I can not provided any assurances this system will work 100% of the time. The following will work: a. If the first 6 characters of the comment field are either EU001 eu-001 EU 001 the program will extract the data and alerting provided. ( Basically, any upper/lower case combination ). b. If the word IOTA is found within the comment field, the next 6 characters of the comment field are extracted. As long as the format above is followed, the program will extract the data and alerting provided. Notification will be given in the upper left hand corner next to the date field in flashing GREEN. See below for example. REFNO STATUS BLOCK OF IOTA.DBF ===================================== EU001(N) >> Not found in database -- Needed EU001(A) >> Found -- Approved EU001(S) >> Found -- Submitted EU001(C) >> Found -- Confirmed EU001(W) >> Found -- Worked 4. GRIDS - Each time a 6 Meter spot is reported, the first 4 characters of the comment field will be checked against the 6 Meter database (VUCC50). Notification will be given in the upper right hand corner next to the frequency field in flashing GREEN. See below for example. GRID STATUS BLOCK IN VUCC50.DBF ===================================== CN89(N) >> Not found in database -- Needed CN89(A) >> Found -- Approved CN89(S) >> Found -- Submitted CN89(C) >> Found -- Confirmed CN89(W) >> Found -- Worked EU001(N) Date: 08/23/93 Time: 1414Z DX: DL3NY Freq: 7003.3 CN89(C) Country: DL - Germany Zone: 14/24 Cont: Eu Modes Needed: CW SSB RTY MIX Bands Needed: 160 80 40 30 20 17 15 12 10 6 SAT 5. A Call/Prefix Alert Filter system has been provided to allow a particular call or DXCC country to sound the alarm. Regardless what band or mode the station is heard on, the alarm system will activate. Let say you're one of those guys who needs to work 3Y/p for a new one or perhaps the last one. With this feature, you could enter 3Y/P (must match the DXCC database), or the call 3Y0AK ( no this is not the call of the upcoming DXPedition! This was my 3Y/P call), whenever 3Y/P or 3Y0AK is reported, the system will alarm. 6. A new Band & Mode Alert Filter system has been provided. Individual bands, modes or both, can be turned on/off. Frequency ranges can been set for your particular operating areas. If your a CW operator only, turn on only the CW bands, then sit back. 7. When in a NON-CONNECTED state, LOGPlus! will still log and track DX SPOTS. (YES, THIS IS AN EXCELLENT WAY OF """CHEATING""" IN A CONTEST. HOWEVER, I HOPE WE ARE ALL GENTLEMEN/LADIES AND OPERATE FOR THE THRILL NOT THE END RESULTS). Multiply spots will be checked and only one logged to the SPOT database. (NOTE: I'm looking at REMOVING the SPOT and WWV databases. This information can be obtained from the CLUSTER) COMMENTS? 8. The ALT-K Hot Keys have been extended to provided up to 70 characters of data. This won't be a direct benefit to PacketCluster uses, but RTTY, ASCII etc.. users will love this addition. In addition a new system has been added which will allow 4 unique files to be sent. These files are: BRAG.DTP >> Station information RYRY.DTP >> General RY test tape CQCQ.DTP >> Long CQ tape which is longer than the one liner provided by a standard ALT-K Hot Key. TEST.DTP >> Contest exchange or anything else you'd like (Remember: These are only suggestions of what can be put in these files. However, the file names CAN NOT CHANGE!) a. Establish a ALT-K Hot Key. Example F1: Here is my station information^//BRAG Here is my station information ( ^ is converted to a carriage return, line feed combination and transmitted ) will be transmitted on one line. Next, the program will extract //BRAG and send the TEXT file BRAG.DTP from the \PLUSVx directory. ALL files listed above MUST be created with a generic text editor NOT A WORD PROCESSOR. They must also reside in the \PLUSVx directory. The file can be any length; however, I'd recommend keeping them short so not to overload the TNC buffers. NOTE: The "JERKING" motion you'll see when sending out files is required to allow your TNC time to digest the information. The delay is only 50 milliseconds but sufficient to be noticed. 9. When pressing one of the ALT-K Hot Keys, entering a SPOT or TALK, there was a 50 millisecond delay to give the TNC time to react. This delay was found to be unnecessary and removed. 10. A new more powerful indexing feature has been added. It's currently under BETA testing and results are extremely favorable. You'll immediately notice a 70-90% savings on disk space. Typically, LOGPlus! created numerous .NTX files which on an average took up 2.2MEGS of space for 5100 QSOs. The new system will reduce that to 700K! AND the indexing will be 200% faster!! In addition, I've provided a means in which you can TURN OFF many of the indexing feature of the LOGBOOK. Many of us don't use IOTA and GRID features and hate to waste time creating a file which is never going to be used. 11. Automatic searching of external databases such as HamBase, SAM and possible HAMCALL will also be provide in the Real-Time and Off-Air modules. The operator will have the ability to turn the feature on/off to reduce any slow down. Name, State and county fields will automatically be updated. 12. For the COUNTY Hunters, I'm looking at adding a method of automatically search the logbook, extracting the callsign, cross checking the call with the SAM database THEN automatically update the logbook with the county information. I'm also going to provide a ZIPCODE look up feature which will ZOOM in on any ZIPCODE, CITY and STATE in the U.S. ( Database courtesy of KY7X and the U.S. Postal Service ) 13. I'm also going to add N6TR Contest support. 14. Users have expressed a desire to run programs like GEOCLOCK, MINIMUF, MINIPROP PLUS and other EXTERNAL programs while running LOGPlus!. I'm happy to say that v3 WILL provide this interface. Three external program of your choicing (basically ANY program can be run, even WINDOWS 3.1!, but I highly don't recommend it) can now be set up under the Parameter/Default screen. 15. Deleted countries seemed to be a sticking point for some under v2. With v3, I'm going to provide a much sounder interface to track deleted countries. No longer will CW countries prior to 1/1/75 be counted. 16. A new DXCC Statistics window has been added which will allow you to quickly view your DXCC Statistics by mode. In addition, BAND COUNTRIES (total of all bands) has been added. Basically, you'll have a TON of information right at your finger tips! 17. I've also added a "HIT LIST" which basically allows you to enter calls such as SLIMS, P5RS7, 1Z9A and 1Z9B which are in your log but don't count for anything to be SKIPPED during DXCC updating. This way, your DXCC totals will be exactly what you think they should be. Once the call has been accepted, you can remove him from the "HIT LIST" and update the DXCC statistics accordingly. 18. At the request of N7AVK/Lew, I've developed a PARTIAL CALLSIGN SEARCH ROUTINE. This option can be turned ON/OFF depending on your needs. The partial callsign will allow you to enter let say "7AV", you logbook will be search and EVERY call with 7AV in it will be displayed. 19. SPEED and MORE SPEED!!!! One thing I and most of you hate, is seating around waiting for your system to finish updating the various awards. Because of this, I'm completely rewriting the code with SPEED in mind. Currently two modules have been completed with some very positive results. Please note that I'm using a 486/66MHz system so my times will vary from yours. However, you can be assured you'll see the same improvements: Updating of 5100 records in logbook All times in minutes and seconds =========================================== DXCC Band & Mode Automatic Update v2.2: 4 min 50 secs v3.0: 0 min 33 secs WAZ Band & Mode Automatic Update v2.2: 15 min 13 secs v3.0: 0 min 43 secs Overall, you'll notice some major changes and additions which will greatly enhance the program. If you feel I've left something out, please don't hesitate to make suggestions. Remember, LOGPlus! is a user support software, user input is taken seriously! Bob/KD7P