World of Ham Radio 1997

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Version 5.8 NET-CONTROL PROGRAM May 16, 1992 Although this program was written for the Trans-Provincial Net (Canadian 7055 Khz. LSB) it will work for other nets as well. The "TP NET" operates 8 hrs. daily and the count is passed from controller to controller hourly and that is the reason for an accumulative count (F-2). The requirements for this software are; 1) MS DOS 2.0 or later, 2) Hard drive preferred but not required. (Faster) It will handle 200 check-in's per session and about 1200 calls in the NET-LOG.DAT data file. When the String Memory Area approaches the maximum, you are warned of that fact. You only have room for a few more calls. If it reaches saturation, it allows you to print the check-ins to the printer if you already haven't and gives the current counts. If this is the first time you have run the program, you will have to go through a CONFIGURATION of the options. The first option (if you have a color card installed) will be the color option. Some visually impaired hams have asked for better screen contrast with color monitors. You may now select Enhanced Color or Black and White which I hope will assist those hams. The next option is whether you wish a clock displayed in the upper right corner of the screen. The file called NETCLOCK.COM must be on the same disk or in the same Directory on a hard drive as NET-CTRL.EXE to use this feature. If your system does not have a CGA (Color Graphics Adapter) card, this option will not appear. The system must have a CGA card to make use of this feature. An option is then offered for a hard copy log to be printed on the printer as the calls are checked in. Of course any editing of the CALL, NAME or QTH after entry, will not be reflected in the printed log page. You will then be asked if you wish to save a sorted copy of your NET-LOG.DAT file to disk when you leave the program. If you choose YES, each time you leave the program, the NET-LOG.DAT information will be sorted by call and saved to disk. If you have a slower machine, this may take a while but you are exiting the program anyway. When viewing the NET-LOG.DAT file using the "V" option, it is easier to see the calls in a sorted form. If you prefer to leave the calls in the order which they were entered, then choose NO and the file will remain as entered. You can still sort the data for viewing by using the "S" command which sorts the data in memory but does not write it to the disk in the sorted form. You will then be asked to confirm your choices. Future use of the program does not require configuration. It is written to disk and loaded in when you run the program. However, if you later choose to change the configuration, hit the "ESC" key when the first screen appears and you will be asked to go through the configuration routine again. NET-CONTROL (Page 2) Vers. 5.8 The following screen will then appear......... _________________________________________________________________________ MENU (Alt keys - except [ENTER]) M = MEMORY P = NOTE PAD ENTER = END LIST F = FIND CITY E = EDIT ENTRY N = EDIT NET-LOG T = LIST TRAFFIC C = FIND CALL X = DELETE ENTRY V = VIEW NET-LOG L = LIST ENTRIES D = DROP A CALL Q = QUIT S = SORT NET-LOG --- Use F1 for NAMES in NET-LOG.DAT file or F2 to enter PREVIOUS COUNT --- THIS IS A SCRATCH PAD AREA FOR THE CALL CHECK-IN LIST ENTER CALL? _ YOUR COUNT 0 NET CONTROL By; VE3COO (C) Vers. 5.8 _________________________________________________________________________ Perhaps I should explain here that as calls are entered into the system for the first time, a record is being written to a disk file called NET-LOG.DAT. This will record the station's CALL, NAME and the QTH. ENTER CALL:- (Scratch pad area) At this point the program is waiting for you to enter the calls of stations checking into the net. After you enter each call, the next "ENTER CALL" appears waiting for the next call. I have limited the number of calls that may be entered on each scratch sheet to 10. As when you were writing the calls on a scratch pad, I suggest you only enter the last three (3) letters of the calls as they check in. You won't have time for much more. If it is a two (2) letter call, it is recommended that the number be entered as well. That will avoid some confusion between calls. For example, if you had VE3BC check into the net and you entered "BC". It is possible the program could come up with VE3ABC since this call was the first one it found with "BC" being the last two letters. Of course, if it comes up with the wrong call, you have an opportunity to correct the error. If a mobile or portable station checks in, it is important that you include the "/M" or "/P" after the call. This will give him priority when calling stations into the net. When you wish to cut off the list a simple tap of the ENTER key, with- out an entry, will bring you to the individual call entry. NET-CONTROL (Page 3) Vers. 5.8 INDIVIDUAL CALL ENTRY:- You are then asked to check each station into the net individually. (If a mobile or portable station is part of the check-in list, they will be given priority.) If that station has checked in with you on a prior occasion and is part of the NET-LOG.DAT disk file, his CALL, NAME and QTH will be displayed on the top line. If this is the first time he has checked in with you, his call alone (as entered) will be displayed at the top of the screen. In either case, you will be asked to confirm that the call appearing is the correct call. If the station has been found in the NET-LOG.DAT file and you accept it as correct by hitting the [ENTER] key, you will go directly to the TRAFFIC INPUT screen. If you only entered the last part of the call and he is a first time caller, you will have to enter the complete call at this time. There are several reasons you may want to change the entered call. (i.e. you copied the call wrong, you only entered the last few letters of the call and he is a first-time caller or the computer came up with the wrong call, etc.) Also, at the bottom of the screen it explains that "S" alone will scratch that entry or "M" alone will allow you to go back to the scratch-pad area to enter a breaker. If you had entered the call "ABC" in the check-in list and when you get to him you find that either the call is wrong and no-one responds or the guy left, entering an "S" [ENTER] will scratch that entry from your files and adjust the count accordingly. If during your individual call entry someone "BREAKS", you can go back to the scratch-pad area by hitting "M" [ENTER], enter his call (which will be placed at the end of the list) and return to the individual call check-ins where you left off by [ENTER] alone as before. Now, back to entering the individual calls. If the station is a first- timer, be sure the information you enter is typed correctly. This information will be written to the disk file and used in the future for matching traffic on the hook to him. Even if you later use the "E" editing feature (at the main menu) to clean up your errors in typing for that entry, what you initially enter now is written to the disk and can only be edited using the built-in editor ("N" command in the main menu). ENTERING NAME:- This is straight forward and needs no explanation. NET-CONTROL (Page 4) Vers. 5.8 ENTERING QTH:- A word of CAUTION. The spelling of the QTH is particularly important. Let me give you an example. If someone were looking for "ST. THOMAS" and you had a station on frequency and the NET-LOG.DAT file had his QTH entered as "ST.THOMAS" (without the space or period), the system will indicate there is no station at this time on frequency. You have to develop a system of continuity. Either your going to enter all such items WITH or WITHOUT the space or period. It will be either; ST. CATHARINES or ST CATHARINES or ST.CATHARINES Also the same holds true for SAULT STE. MARIE or SAULT STE MARIE or SOO or SAULT You must be consistent. When entering traffic, it will search for a partial QTH. If VE3ABC checks in and has traffic for Sault Ste Marie and you entered "SAULT", it will search check-ins for any QTH beginning with "SAULT". The same holds true with "SUDBURY"; a simple entry of "SUD" will match up the traffic. If there is traffic waiting for the call or area of the station checking in, it will be indicated on the screen. If the station had already been logged to disk from a previous check- in, you will proceed directly to the TRAFFIC entry routine. ENTERING TRAFFIC:- Once you are in the TRAFFIC routine, you may enter up to five (5) pieces of traffic for each station. As you enter the traffic, the first matching station will be indicated on the screen. It will then ask if contact has been established. If the current station listed traffic as "OAKVILLE" and the first Oakville station has left the frequency, when you enter "N" as NO CONTACT, the first Oakville station will be dropped (along with any traffic he had listed) auto- matically and the program will search for another Oakville station on frequency. If none are found, the traffic will be filed and you will be asked for the station's next piece of traffic. If you answer "Y" (that CONTACT has been established), the piece of traffic listed by the current station is not filed. Hitting the [ENTER] key on a blank space completes that stations entry. If there are other stations on the list waiting, the same routine is followed; 1) the station call appears at the top of the screen; 2) you enter the corrected call sign or [ENTER]; 3) etc. until you reach the end of the call list. At this time you are back waiting for another list of check-ins. NET-CONTROL (Page 5) Vers. 5.8 MAIN MENU:- "ENTER = END LIST" After entering a list of check-ins, an [ENTER] alone (without an entry) will END the list and transfer you to the individual call entry routine. NOTE: The following COMMANDS use the ALT key..... "T = LIST TRAFFIC" Entering ALT-T will list outstanding traffic as well as the listing station. "L = LIST ENTRIES" Entering ALT-L will list all stations who have checked into the net to this time. "F = FIND CITY" Entering ALT-F will allow you to look for a city in the call list. A second screen appears asking for the specific city you are searching for and, if a match is found, it will be displayed on the screen. (This only searches the CALLS ENTERED, not the NET-LOG.DAT file.) "C = FIND CALL" Entering ALT-C is the same as "F = FIND CITY" except that it searches for a call on frequency rather than a city. "D = DROP A CALL" Entering ALT-D allows you to drop a call or traffic from the list. A second screen asks if you wish to drop a call or traffic. If you choose CALL, this feature allows the specified call to be dropped (along with his listed traffic) and adds an "*" to the call in the list, indicating he had checked in but has left the frequency. Anyone listing traffic for him later will be advised that he is not on frequency. If you choose to drop TRAFFIC, you will be asked for the station call that wishes to drop traffic. If that station only has one piece of traffic listed, his traffic will be deleted and you will be returned to the scratch-pad page and menu. If he has more than one piece of traffic, his traffic will be listed and you will be asked which one he wishes to drop. You may drop them all using "A" for all. NET-CONTROL Page 6) Vers. 5.8 "M = MEMORY" ALT-M will display the remaining string space at the center of the bottom line. When this approaches 1000 bytes, you should purge your NET-LOG.DAT file of calls that seldom call into the net. "E = EDIT ENTRY" Entering ALT-E permits editing an entry. If a station has listed more than one piece of traffic, separate entries are established for each piece of traffic adding a "+" to the call of the additional entries. When you enter a call to edit, in the case of more than one entry, it will list them and ask which number you wish to edit. This feature allows you to correct typo's, incorrect spelling of traffic, etc. After editing the call or traffic, it re-checks the traffic list for a match with stations on frequency. "X = DELETE AN ENTRY" Entering ALT-X allows the cancellation of an entry for any reason. This will erase the entry adjusting the count if applicable. "Q = QUIT" ALT-Q is self explanatory. "P = NOTE PAD" (15 lines - 65 characters per line max.) ALT-P brings up a NOTE PAD for entering information. i.e. Flux count, controller requirements, etc. It has a built-in editor. "N = EDIT NET-LOG" Entering ALT-N allows you several options. E)DIT permits editing a NET-LOG.DAT disk file entry. A)DD allows you to add entries to the NET-LOG.DAT disk file. D)ELETE eliminates a NET-LOG.DAT disk file entry (i.e. silent keys, purging infrequent check-ins, etc.). For those with COLOR, any area that writes to the NET-LOG.DAT disk file indicates caution with a RED screen. "V = VIEW NET-LOG" Entering ALT-V permits viewing the disk file in several modes; C)ALL will search and display an entry matching the CALL searched for. (Will search for last 2 or 3 letters of calls) N)AME will search for any entry by NAME listing all matches. Q)TH will list all stations residing in the QTH being searched for. ("N" and "Q" will search for Partial Name or QTH) A)LL will list the complete NET-LOG.DAT file. NET-CONTROL (Page 7) Vers. 5.8 "S = SORT NET-LOG" Entering ALT-S will sort the NET-LOG.DAT file in CALL order. With slower machines, this could take a while if you have a large DATA file. (Does not write the sorted data to disk) "F1" allows a QUICK search of the NET-LOG.DAT file for a CALL, displaying the name and QTH of the station. "F2" permits the PREVIOUS COUNT to be entered. (The previous count and total count will be displayed) I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dan O'Brien of Chicago, Illinois for the Clock routine. His routine was originally named "CGCLOCK.COM". I have included the documentation for his clock program at the end of this documentation for your convenience. You may decide to use it as a stand alone utility. Running NETCLOCK.COM alone toggles the clock ON and OFF. If you run the program NET-CTRL.EXE with a graphics card and use the Clock option, there will be a portion of memory locked out when you end. Since the NETCLOCK.COM program is being loaded into memory after the main program has been loaded, the Clock program is loaded above NET-CTRL.EXE and locks out any memory below it. When you leave the Net Control program, a considerably amount of memory is locked out resulting in OUT OF MEMORY errors. I have provided a NET.BAT file which will load the clock program before the main program is loaded. If you are using a computer with a (CGA), (EGA) or (VGA), run the program called NET.BAT file. If you do not have a color card, run the NET-CTRL.EXE file directly. If you find this program of use to you, under the shareware program, you are asked to forward $15 to the author at the address below. Many hours have been spent in the development of this program and encouragement to develop other HAM software would be appreciated. Any comments may be passed; via Packet Radio at VE3COO @ VE3RD.SCON.ON.CAN.NA or by mail Richard (Dick) Tunks VE3COO 1220 Falgarwood Dr. Oakville, Ontario L 6 H 2 L 3 (C) 1992-VE3COO May 16, 1992 NET-CONTROL (Page 8) Vers. 5.8 REGISTRATION FORM (Net Control program Vers. 5.8) (Please print all information legibly) Date _____________________ FULL NAME ________________________________________ Address (Street) ________________________________________ City ________________________________________ Province/State/? ________________________________________ Country ________________________________________ Postal/Zip Code ________________________________________ Registration enclosed .................... $____________ Any comment regarding the Net Control program? _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ 73 Dick... VE3COO (C)1992 May 16, 1992 (Page 9) DOCUMENTATION FOR DAN O'BRIEN'S "CGCLOCK.COM" PROGRAM ;------------------------------------------------------------------------ ; source available from DAN O'BRIEN upon request via message on ; GENE PLANTZ's PC-BBS in CHICAGO, IL. ;------------------------------------------------------------------------ ; cgclock.asm - real time clock display for color/graphics ; display. adapted from clock.asm found on one of ; the PC-BBS in Chicago. Allows any color for time ; by patching color value using DEBUG. Look for ; "Color value of time display=" ; and set byte follow "=" to BASIC color value. ; Currently set to YELLOW ; (color number is 14 decimal 0E hex). ; ; Displays time in human form not computer, i.e., ; 24 hour military time. ; ; To enable military (24 hour) time display patch ; using DEBUG the statement that says ; "Military time=N" ; from "N" to "Y". ; ; Also beeps the speaker every quarter hour. ; ; To disable beeping on the quarter hours patch ; using DEBUG the statement that says ; "Beep=Y" ; from "Y" to "N". ; ; Timer display is refreshed every N tics as defined ; by a patchable area using DEBUG. Look for ; "Timer tics before time display refresh=" ; and the value after the "=" is binary 4. Patch to higher or ; lower value as you wish to lengthen or shorten interval ; between refreshes. Tics occur 18.5 times a second, ; and after 4 (default) the display is refreshed with the ; time. ; This keeps overhead of running cgclock to about 4 percent. ; ; To start cgclock just enter "cgclock". ; To toggle off and on enter "cgclock" repeatedly. ; ; NOTE: ; 1. Uses user timer exit int 1Ch for timer display ; 2. Defines int 60h to toggle time off and on. ; 3. Displays time without annoying "snow"! ; Technique from PC-Tech Journal Premier Issue. ; 4. Developed under DOS 2.0. Not tested under DOS 1.1 ; but should work. ; CGCLOCK.DOC cont...) (Page 10) ; adapted from clock.asm by DANIEL M. O'BRIEN - 9 July 83 (Version 1.0) ; ; 1) meaningful labels added ; 2) made to work on color/graphics ; 3) use user timer exit int 1ch instead of 08h directly - slows down ; disk drives, also allows BASIC to gain direct control of timer. ; And use int 60h instead of 44h (44h defined by DOS 2.0)! ; 4) allow patching of time display color using DEBUG (Version 1.1) ; 5) meaningful comments added ; 6) include salutation ; ; DMO - 10 July 83 (Version 1.2) ; 7) beep on quarter hour and allow patching off ; 8) 12 hour clock with AM and PM indicator and allow patch for military ; time ; ; DMO - 21 July 83 (Version 1.3) ; 9) keep counter and update screen only after specified tics count. ; currently set to 4 which yields an overhead of about 4 percent. ; if set to 1, i.e., update every clock tic, then cgclock has a ; overhead of about 20 percent. ; ; DMO - 31 July 83 (Version 1.4) ; 10) move some temporary data areas below init routine for less ; resident space requirements. ; ; DMO - 12 Sept 83 (Version 1.5) ; 11) try different algorithm to stuff display into memory to reduce ; possible interference with BASIC display to terminal ; 12) fix bug whereby BX was not being saved and restored when BEEP ; occurred ; 13) fix bug whereby direction flag not set causing stray characters on ; display ; 14) speedup entry and exit when not time to display ; ; FUTURE work ; 1) date ; 2) alarm clock ; 3) any suggestions? ;---------------------------------------------------------------