Night Owl 9

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Night Owl 9 / Night Owl CD-ROM (NOPV9) (Night Owl Publisher) (1993).ISO / 028a / sd511.zip / SD-READ.ME < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1993-05-13 | 51KB | 1,140 lines

Super-Duper The Contest Logging Program by EI5DI. A comprehensive contest logging program that's really easy to use, and which caters for the following contests. ARRL DX Contest - DX Side ARRL DX Contest - W/VE Side. ARRL 10 Metre Contest - including mixed-mode. CQ WW Contest. CQ WPX Contest. IARU HF Championship - including mixed-mode. RSGB HF Contests with County Codes - DX Side. RSGB HF Contests with County Codes - UK Side. RSGB CW Field Day. RSGB SSB Field Day. RSGB RoPoCo and AFS Contests - (General Purpose option). Helvetia Contest. PACC Contest. King of Spain Contest. Allows user-defined multipliers for many other contests Main Features - Version 5.11 * Fast, simple logging and editing - in "Expert" and "Novice" modes. * No multiple keystrokes used for logging or editing. * Instant duping, whether 4 or 4000 QSOs logged. * Generates Check Lists, Multiplier Lists and Summary Sheets. * Partial Callsign enquiry by prefix or suffix. * Unique feature - checks log for consistency after each QSO or Edit. * Permits any combination of on-line or off-line logging. * Built-in memory keyer. * Log is 100% ASCII - edit with any text editor. * Export to SHACKLOG or TurboLog, to print QSL labels & integrate with station log. * Prints log by band, with page totals. * Fail-safe - updates log file after every QSO. Super-Duper is different! It's particularly easy to set up and to use - new users can be contesting and having fun within two minutes of loading the program. It's also professional - serious contesters will find all the main features needed for a winning entry. I developed Super-Duper originally for the DX side of the ARRL Contest, because I felt that other logging programs for this contest were either inadequate or were too complex for newcomers to on-line contest logging. Now I've extended it to cover the major international contests and most RSGB contests, and I hope you'll agree that Super-Duper is faster and simpler than the others. It may not have all the bells and whistles you see in some other programs, and it doesn't offer PacketCluster connection - it's just faster, simpler and more efficient at logging and editing, and at helping you take decisions about your operating strategy. In the 1990 ARRL DX SSB Contest, the EI5V multi-op team used it to score almost 2 million points. In the 1991 ARRL 10 Metre Contest, EI5DI gained first place DX in the mixed mode, low power (150w) section. Please read this manual fully before using Super-Duper, as otherwise you're likely to miss some of the features that make it so quick and efficient during contests. Since it's so easy to start using the program, users sometimes skip the manual and then, months later, realise what they've missed. Also, you should read the HISTORY.DOC file to review recent additions to the program. If you've already used other contest logging programs, you'll find a few innovations with Super-Duper. For example, you always press Enter when you complete a field. In many other programs you press Enter only when you're ready to log the QSO. In general, Super-Duper knows when the QSO is complete, and lets you concentrate on keeping the QSO rate up. In addition, the commands and procedures are absolutely consistent across all contest types. Super-Duper is fast when other stations are calling you, and it's also efficient, i.e. fast, when you're hunting them. I have assumed that you are familiar with MS-DOS concepts and utilities. If not, please take some time to get to know them before using the program. You should practise with Super-Duper before using it for real. Why not experiment with QSOs from a previous contest? If you're new to contest logging on computer, you'll soon realise that the computer demands more attention than your radio, and you'll need both hands free. In phone contests this means a boom mic and either VOX or a foot-switch - anything less will slow you down. Finally, you should ensure that your computer and peripherals are "clean" - that is, you can't hear them on your receiver, and also that they're not affected by RF. CAPACITY. Super-Duper uses conventional memory, the lower 640k. If you have extended memory and MS-DOS Version 5, there is typically room for 4100 QSOs in the ARRL DX contest and 3500 QSOs in other contests - the exact number depends on the parameters in your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files. With no extended memory, or with earlier versions of MS-DOS, typical figures are 3500 and 2900. With 512k of memory, you can have 2300 QSOs in the ARRL contest and 1700 in the others. The program lets you know when the memory is nearly full, and you can then start a new contest file to log further QSOs. The compiler I'm using does not support extended memory. Therefore, I have used the RAMdrive facility in DOS in another version of SD to give 10,000 QSOs. This requires you to allocate one megabyte of extended memory to RAMdrive. If you are registered and want this, please send a blank formatted 3.5"disk plus 2 IRCs, or 4 IRCs outside Europe. You don't need a hard disk for SD, and can even use a PC with a single 720k 3.5"drive. Duping is instantaneous, even with 3000 QSOs on an 8088 or 8086 machine running at 4MHz, because that's been a priority in the program design. No matter how slow your drive may be, logging will not be delayed even if you're working them at 200 QSOs per hour. REGISTRATION. Super-Duper is not shareware and is not free. You are entitled to use it only if you are registered - with the sole exception of evaluation copies licensed to "DEMO" that have full facilities in the ARRL DX contest, and also RSGB contests, for DX entrants, but are limited to 30 QSOs in other contests. EI5DI retains the copyright and reserves all rights. A group or club registration, whether complimentary or otherwise, does not entitle individuals in the group to use the program under their own callsign. You are registered only if your callsign is shown on the opening screen following the words "Licensed to". When you register you will receive a copy of the latest version of the program identified with your callsign, together with a printed manual, and you'll be entitled to telephone support for 12 months. During this time you can have updates on request (on receipt of a blank formatted 3.5" disk together with 2 IRCs for return postage, or 4 IRCs outside Europe). Please note that 5.25" disks are not supported. You'll see, from the HISTORY.DOC file, that there has been a history of constant improvements to the program. To benefit from recent improvements, you should request updates every few months. At present, there is no copy protection on the program and registered users may make copies for backup purposes only. I know and you know that I'm taking a risk by releasing Super-Duper without copy protection. I've spent hundreds of hours developing and testing this program and I don't like being ripped off. So, if someone asks you for a copy of the program, other than one licensed to "DEMO", please realise that he or she is asking you to steal. Give them my name and address so that they can order a copy for themselves. Super-Duper is a bargain at the price! A separate VHF version is available that uses locators for radial ring and distance scoring. Please send your registration fee or enquiries to Paul O'Kane EI5DI 36 Coolkill Sandyford Dublin 18 Ireland Telephone: (01) 295 3668 From UK. 010 353 1 295 3668 Elsewhere +353 1 295 3668 You can use the form included in the file REGISTER.DOC. The program is supplied only on 3.5" diskettes. The initial registration fee, until 31st December 1993, is £20.00 or $35.00. After twelve months, you will have the option of renewing your registration at a cost of 60% of whatever initial fee applies at that time. You are not obliged to re-register, but will not otherwise be entitled to support or updates. Without continuity of registration, you may re-register by paying the initial registration fee. STARTING SUPER-DUPER. If your computer has a hard disk, you should create a new directory (suggest SD) and copy all the files to that directory from the disk supplied. You will find the relevant instructions in your MS-DOS manual. You start the program by typing SD, then press Enter. If you follow this command with the name of a specific file, it will open the file if it exists, and will create it otherwise. The characters used in the name may be any combination of alphabetic or numeric, up to a total of eight. Other characters will be ignored. For example: SD ARRLCW92 will open, or will create, a contest file called ARRLCW92, which will have an extension .ALL. If you're using a B/W monitor or a portable computer, the display may be more legible if you type SD - (that's SD followed by space followed by minus). You may include the contest file name immediately after the minus sign. SD -ARRLCW92 opens contest file ARRLCW92 for a black and white monitor. The first screen records cover sheet information such as Callsign, Name and Address. You may omit many of these fields, but the program will insist on getting the mode, SSB or CW, and other information as appropriate for that contest. If you record your name and address, it will be shown in the Summary Sheet. For RSGB contests you give the points per QSO and the Bonus Points per new County. If the contest scores Counties as multipliers, then all you do is set the Bonus Points to zero. You also indicate whether you're single or multi-op. To exit from this screen, press the TAB key rather than the Enter key when you have finished editing. UK entrants should complete the County Code field so that it will be picked up by the memory keyer in CW contests. EXPERT and NOVICE MODES. In the second screen you enter the Band, in metres, and the program loads any previous QSOs for this contest and then requests the Operator callsign if you have selected multi-op earlier. The next choice you make is to the question "RST always 599", and which defaults to Y if you press Enter. This determines whether you will be logging and editing in "expert" mode or in "novice" mode. These descriptions are really misnomers, and a better choice would be "urgent" and "casual", since they are intended to reflect the type of contest and your approach to it, rather than your contesting experience. The main difference between them lies in whether or not you are happy to always send 59(9). In some contests, and for casual or QRP contest operation, you will probably prefer to vary your reports, and you can do so by answering N to this question. Should you change your mind, or suddenly find yourself at the sharp end of a pileup, you can change modes instantly from the callsign field while logging. In urgent mode, once you have entered the callsign you are taken directly to the Serial or State/Zone/County field. In this case you don't have to think about the RST received unless it's anything other than 59(9). In casual mode you are taken in sequence between Callsign, RST Sent, RST Received, Serial and State/Zone/County. The RSTs are preset at 59(9) and the cursor is positioned on the second digit ready to amend the signal strength if needed. If no change is required, then press Enter to access the next field in the QSO. The last question on this screen refers to on-line logging. You answer Y to take the QSO times from the computer clock - don't forget to set the time to GMT, and the date to correspond. If you answer N to this question, it is assumed you will be entering QSOs off-line that were worked earlier. LOGGING QSOs. The main thing I've tried to do with Super-Duper is to make logging as simple and fast as possible, but without taking any shortcuts that might be questionable. The urgent and casual modes provide separate no-compromise approaches to each operating style. Whichever mode you're using, you press Enter (also known as Return or CR) after every field unless you need to delay logging the QSO for some reason. This feature alone makes Super-Duper faster and easier to use than many other contest logging programs. You just keep using Enter unless there's some reason not to. In addition, and unlike other contest logging programs, the Space bar is used solely for spaces! In most cases, particularly in urgent mode, you need to record only the Callsign and State/Zone/County or Serial received. When logging or editing a serial, there's no need to enter leading zeros - the program will take care of them for you. A received report of 59(9) is assumed, but can be easily changed if necessary. You move from one field to the next by pressing Enter (or TAB). Normally you press Enter. The QSO will not be logged until sufficient information has been recorded. By pressing TAB you can move between fields without logging the QSO. However, you need to press TAB only when another field must be amended or completed before logging. For example, you might need to complete a Callsign or modify the RST received. Whether or not you use TAB to move between fields, the QSO will be logged only after an Enter, and only if all fields are valid (and non- blank). In contests with serial numbers, it may happen that the other station does not give a serial. In this case, you enter 0 (zero) and this will appear as blank, or spaces, in the final log. To summarise, keep pressing Enter after each field, or use TAB to amend or complete an earlier field. The QSO will be logged only following an Enter. If you miss one or more characters in the Callsign, you may replace them with asterisks or question marks. These are known as wildcard characters and should be edited before submitting your entry. HELP. You'll get a summary of most commands or edit functions by typing HELP, followed by Enter, in the Callsign field. You should refer to the command summary at.the end of this document. Please experiment with them all. Some displays relate to specific contests and not to others. For example, F4, F5 and F6 have no relevance in the ARRL DX Contest for non-W/VE entrants. EDITING FIELDS - Call, RST ,Serial. I've provided versatile editing functions for data entry as summarised below - you should take time to get used to them before the contest, so that you'll know, without having to stop and think, the appropriate commands or keystrokes when it matters. I've tried to keep things simple by eliminating the need for multiple keystrokes that are all very well for computer enthusiasts but are not so convenient when you're new to keyboards. Esc Deletes or clears a field - a second Esc will restore it. Minus - Abandons QSO Entry or Edit - returns to QSO Entry mode. (Think of this as "take away" - it's useful if you get into trouble during an edit or if making corrections to a new QSO would take too long - it lets you start again from the beginning.) Remember: Esc and Minus update the Quick Memo Table. Home or [ Moves to the start of a field. End or ] Moves to the end of a field. Delete Deletes the character under the cursor. Backspace Deletes the character to the left of the cursor. Use the arrow keys to move right and left. CALLSIGN ENTRY MODES. There are two modes of entry for Callsign fields - Overwrite and Insert. The default is Overwrite, as shown by OVR under the Callsign field. You can switch to Insert mode, shown as INS, by pressing the Insert key. In Overwrite mode, anything you type replaces what's under the cursor. In Insert mode, whatever you type is inserted (added) before existing characters, if any, in the callsign. Insert mode is useful when you have missed the prefix in a callsign and need to complete it after recording the remaining QSO information. In this mode, when you return to the Callsign field, the cursor will be positioned at the first character, ready for the prefix. In Overwrite mode, the cursor is placed to the right of any existing callsign. When you check for Partial Calls by prefix, the Callsign entry mode is automatically switched to OVR. A check by suffix switches the mode to INS. However, you can stay in Overwrite mode at all times (Note: this is the only mode for fields other than Callsign). In Overwrite mode, you press the space bar to create spaces which you then replace with the missing letters of the callsign. Please experiment so that it will be automatic when you need it. DEALING WITH DUPES. If you don't have a computer, dupes will be a nuisance because you'll have to update a manual check list after each QSO. In the later stages of some 48 hour contests, dupe rates of 10% or more are common, but with SD they're no problem. When you type a callsign, followed by Enter, you'll hear a warning beep - "II" in Morse - if it's a potential dupe. If it's not a dupe, you'll hear "R". In this way you'll know whether you can go ahead without having to look at the screen. If you don't want to log a dupe, press Enter once again and the QSO logging line will be cleared, ready for the next callsign. To log the QSO as a dupe, enter State/Zone/County or serial and press Enter. The summary score will be updated accordingly. Since this is a dupe, it wouldn't make sense to record a State/Zone or County other than the one logged in the original QSO, and the program will check this. If you've worked the station already, but on another band, you'll hear "V", and you'll see the earlier QSOs replacing the multiplier window. There's no particular logic in the choice of this letter other than it has a distinctive sound. It indicates that the same State/Zone/County, as already logged, will be entered and you just press Enter to log the QSO. You can suppress all sounds, apart from dupe warnings, by typing NOSOUND in the Callsign field, and SOUND to restore them. If other stations are calling you, and one turns out to be a dupe, it's usually quicker to work him and log the contact rather than tell him he's a dupe. There's no point in getting annoyed with stations who are dupes - after all, not everyone has the luxury of a computer for logging. All dupes will be flagged in the log and none will score. For duping purposes, Super-Duper ignores /P /M /A /MM /AM /QRP For example, if GI3OTV has already been logged, GI3OTV/P will be flagged as a dupe on the same band. This feature applies both to new QSOs and to edits of earlier QSOs, and has proved invaluable in eliminating unmarked dupes. HUNTING AND POUNCING. Unless you're very fortunate, you'll spend a large proportion of each contest searching for stations needed on the current band. Super-Duper provides options to make this as easy and as quick as possible. When hunting other stations, type the callsign and press Enter. You'll hear "R" if it's OK to call, otherwise you hear "II" and a potential dupe is reported. If the latter, just press Enter and the logging line will clear, ready for the next callsign. If it takes too long to type the full callsign, just type the first 2 or 3 characters followed by comma to get a list, in alphabetic sequence, of all stations already worked with that prefix on any band. Callsigns shown in bold, and in upper-case, are needed on this band. If the station you're interested in has already been worked, type Esc to clear the Callsign field ready for the next callsign or prefix. If the callsign isn't shown, then it hasn't been logged on any band and you can go ahead and call. In the same way, full-stop (period) lists all stations worked with any given suffix. As noted above, the callsign entry mode will be OVR after a prefix check, and INS after a suffix check. If the entry mode shown is not appropriate, then press Insert to change it. SKEDS and REMINDERS. SD allows you to record scheduled events of which you would like to be reminded, and you can also record comments or memos for reference after the contest. Skeds, Reminders and Memos are initiated simply by pressing F7, or by typing SKED or MEMO followed by Enter, in the callsign field. This will write a timed record to a disk file called NAME.MMO, where NAME is the name of your contest file. The difference between a Sked (or Reminder) and a Memo is that you include a time with the former. For a Memo you leave the time blank. SD keeps track of all your Skeds and Reminders and displays a warning one minute before the due time, and also during the relevant 60 second period unless another Sked is due. To see the next 7 events you have scheduled, press F8. They are displayed in a table that replaces the Score window. To return to the Score window, press Minus. You can abandon data entry for a Sked from either the Time or the Comments field by typing Minus. You might use the Memo facility to log QSOs with stations that don't qualify for points in the contest concerned, and which would otherwise be scored. There's no need to include the time with such comments, because the current time is automatically written to the .MMO file together with your comments. If you do enter a time, SD assumes you're recording a Sked or Reminder. In the IARU HF Championship, you identify IARU National Society HQ stations by giving them a Zone of 99 to flag them as multipliers. You then use F7 to record the actual society initials, for inclusion in your entry file using an external text editor or word processor. To change mode in the IARU HF Championship, type BAND followed by Enter. QUICK MEMO. Whenever you use Esc to delete a callsign, or Minus to delete data on the logging line, whatever was in the Callsign field is recorded in a table in memory. The eight most recent entries are held, and can be recalled by F10 that displays them in a new window. You might use this as a reminder for callsigns or frequencies, while you work other stations in the meantime. It's worth trying it out for yourself - you probably won't realise how useful it is just by reading about it. Any of the entries can be retrieved and placed in the Callsign field by using the Up or Down Arrow keys followed by Enter. Any other key will return to normal logging. You might think of this as an 'undo' facility to quickly retrieve any one of the last 8 callsigns you may have wiped with the Esc or Minus keys. MULTIPLIERS - STATES, PREFIXES. As QSOs are logged, the multiplier window shows States/Zones/Counties worked and needed on the current band. Those needed remain in bold type, whereas those worked are dimmed and appear in lower-case. In the ARRL DX contest, the 49 American multipliers are separated from the 13 Canadian multipliers. This makes it easier to see when you're close to "Worked all States" on a particular band. You can quickly check multipliers for other bands by using F1 and F2 to go up and down the bands. In this contest, Alaska and Hawaii do not qualify as multipliers, and the extra (49th) multiplier is DC - District of Columbia. In the ARRL 10 Meter Contest, all 50 States + DC, the 13 Canadian provinces, and all other DXCC countries, in each mode, count as multipliers. The State field will accept from 1 to 4 characters. Almost any sensible abbreviation will work. In most cases two characters are necessary - you might use the standard abbreviations shown in the multiplier window. In some cases, such as Florida and British Columbia, the first character is sufficient to uniquely indicate the State. Beginners often need help with the standard state abbreviations. To get help type the first character only, press Enter, and the corresponding States will be shown alongside. Note that QSOs with Quebec will be logged as PQ - even if you enter QUE. In the RSGB CW Field Day contest, multipliers have no relevance in terms of the score. However, I've marked new countries on each band since they may be of interest to operators and visitors. In addition, QSOs on 10 and 160m score double points but are logged with the normal points as required by the rules. Further, edits which change the band logged - using F1 or F2 - adjust the score as necessary. NAVIGATE THE LOG. To see earlier log entries, use the following keys in the Callsign field (which should be empty). Page Up Back 6 QSOs. Page Down Forward 6 QSOs. Home Back 50 QSOs. End Forward 50 QSOs. To see all QSOs for a particular callsign - enter the callsign and press F9. Use this to find the QSO number or the serial corresponding to a specific QSO, in the event that you want to edit the log entry. If you press F9 when the Callsign field is empty, you'll get the information for the most recent QSO (or Edit). EDITING LOGGED QSOs. This could hardly be easier, and I've provided two simple methods for getting to the QSO you want to edit. The first is to use the Up Arrow or Down Arrow keys until you reach the QSO you want. You'll find that these keys work so long as you don't change any field in a QSO. Once you do, you must log the edited QSO (with Enter), or abandon the edit (with minus) before editing another QSO. As an alternative, you can go directly to any QSO by typing the QSO number in the Callsign field followed by Enter. To find QSO numbers for any callsign, type the callsign followed by F9. Use Esc to clear the callsign. If you enter a number in the Callsign field and then press TAB, Super-Duper assumes you've entered a partial callsign, and will take you to the next field. When editing, TAB from one field to another as necessary. Press Enter to log the changes, if any, and you'll be returned to the QSO entry line. If you get into trouble during an edit and need to abandon it, whether or not you've made any changes, then Minus is the way to do so. Edits take effect only when you Enter. After any change in callsign, the program examines all QSOs logged for dupes to be marked or unset, and updates the log and the score as necessary. In addition, Super-Duper ensures that the State, Zone or County on the edited QSO will be reflected in all other QSOs with the callsign concerned. For example, if you have already logged W3LP as being in Delaware (DE) and you edit the Callsign to W3LPL, you should be aware that all QSOs with W3LPL will have the State changed to DE which may not be what you intended to do. Super-Duper is designed to ensure consistency, since that's the only way your dupes, multipliers and points can be accurate, and therefore edits take priority over previous log entries. This works to your advantage, in that you can change the State/Zone/County for all QSOs with a particular station merely by editing any one such QSO. Basically, the program won't allow you to do anything inconsistent, but remember that it may not stop you from doing something wrong! You can edit any combination of fields and everything will be kept consistent, with the dupes, multipliers, and points correctly recorded. No other contest logging program does this! Needless to say, the report received can be edited - either alone or in combination with the Callsign and State, Zone or County. In urgent mode it's assumed you always give a report of 59 or 599. You can toggle between urgent and casual mode simply by typing RST in the Callsign field followed by Enter. In Field Day contests, portable and mobile stations qualify for extra points. Edits which add or remove /P or /M will adjust the score. EDITING THE BAND LOGGED. It may happen that you change band on-air but forget to do so on the computer. You correct any QSO concerned by moving to it, as for an Edit, and then using F1 or F2 to go up and down the bands as required. This takes effect only if you have not already changed any field in the QSO. As before, Super-Duper checks the complete log for consistency and displays the correct multipliers and score, on both the old band and the new band. For example, in the WPX Contest, QSOs on 40, 80 and 160m score double points, so band edits from 20m to 40m and from 160m to 10m (and vice versa), will cause the score to be adjusted. I've gone to a lot of trouble in my efforts to handle all edits correctly. If you find a combination that doesn't work, please let me know. If you do spot an error, you can correct the relevant NAME.ALL file with a text editor. The correct score will then be shown when you reload your contest file (see the warning later about using external editors on the log). CHANGING BANDS, OPERATOR OR MODE. To change bands, or to go from on-line to off-line logging and vice- versa, simply type B or BAND in the Callsign field and hit Enter. You'll be returned to the second screen. Enter the new band, or the same one if it's unchanged, and answer Y or N to "On-Line Logging ?" as appropriate. In the IARU HF Championship, and some other contests such as the Helvetia contest, mixed mode entries are permitted, and here you will be asked for the current mode. In multi-op contests, you'll be asked for the op's callsign. Finally, this screen gives you the opportunity to change logging mode (urgent or casual). Here's a quicker way to change bands from the Callsign field in the logging line. Just type B20, followed by Enter, to go to 20 metres without changing mode, B80 for 80 metres, etc. The scores for the current band will be highlighted in the Summary Score window. You can also go off-line or on-line by typing OFF or ON in the Callsign field followed by Enter. To change operator from the Callsign field, type OPR followed immediately (no space) by the new callsign. To switch between urgent and casual logging modes from the Callsign field, type RST followed by Enter. QSO RATES. The table on the lower RHS of the screen gives the QSO rate per hour for your last 10 QSOs, last 100 QSOs, and overall rate - since the start of the contest. The values are updated every 10 seconds, so you can't relax for long without seeing your rates going down. If you haven't logged 10 or 100 QSOs, then the figures relate to the actual number of QSOs completed. With the exception of the overall rate, these figures will be accurate only when on-line logging is selected for all QSOs, and they are for guidance during the contest. They have no significance after the contest. There are two other items shown on the bottom RHS of the screen. The number represents the approximate number of QSOs remaining (within memory), and also the name of your contest file. MEMORY KEYER. A simple circuit will interface your computer with your keyer or radio (positive keyed only). The program assumes you'll be using COM1, the standard serial o/p port on your computer. You'll need a general purpose small signal NPN transistor, such as a BC182A or BC317, and a 1k resistor that will both fit inside the cover of your DB9 or DB25 connector to the computer. If you have a DB25 connector, then pin 20 is DTR (Data Terminal Ready) and pin 7 is signal ground. For a DB9 connector, pin 4 is DTR and pin 5 is signal ground. As you might expect, signal ground connects to the ground on the transmitter key input. The 1k resistor goes between the base of the transistor and DTR. The emitter goes to signal ground, and the collector goes to the positive line of the transmitter key input. You should connect the TX end of this lead in parallel with the output of your present key(er) rather than connecting it to any of your keyer inputs. If you boot your computer with the cable connected, DTR may be set to ON which will key your rig. Once you use the keyer from within the program, DTR will be set to OFF. You toggle between keyboard mode and logging mode with backslash "\", or single apostrophe "'" or hash "#". The initial speed is 28 words per minute, and you can adjust it up or down between 60 wpm and 12 wpm (all indicated speeds are approximate) with Up-Arrow or Down- Arrow. If you're not happy with the weight, you increase it with Right- Arrow, reduce it with Left-Arrow, and restore it to 50% with the Home key. I've included this mainly because there are slight timing differences with different computers, but you might want to experiment anyway. You must be in keyboard mode to change speed or weight. When you're in keyboard mode the function keys have no effect. When you're not in keyboard mode, i.e. when in logging mode, you can use Super-Duper's standard messages as follows. (Note: these were formerly Alt-F1 to Alt-F10) Ctrl-Z TEST Call Call TEST (Where Call is from the opening screen) Ctrl-X His call Ctrl-C Exchange: RST + info (if a serial, it's the current value) Ctrl-A Exchange: RST + info (if a serial, it's the previous value) Ctrl-S TU Ctrl-D Call Ctrl-Q QRL? Ctrl-W ? Ctrl-E Current serial Ctrl-R Previous serial If you're used to other contest logging programs that use individual Function keys for the memory keyer, your first impression will be that this implementation is less convenient. In practice it's just as easy because you don't have to move your hands to the Function key row after entering the callsign. When other stations are calling you, type the callsign (don't press Enter at this stage) followed by Ctrl-XC which sends their callsign and the complete exchange (you press Enter at any time while the exchange is being sent). When you receive your exchange, type Ctrl-SD to send TU followed by your callsign (then press Enter to log the QSO). If you're working them continuously, you can take a shortcut here by typing only Ctrl-S or Ctrl-D to send TU only or your callsign only. When calling other stations, Ctrl-D sends your callsign. Then, after receiving the exchange, type Ctrl-SC to send TU followed by the exchange, or just Ctrl-C if you're in a hurry. Even if you're not a touch typist, you'll soon find yourself using the keyer without looking at the keyboard. If you use the keyer, make sure that you do not have the command BREAK=ON in your CONFIG.SYS file, as otherwise there will be a conflict with Ctrl-C that will stop the program. The following keyer options work only while you are in keyboard mode, and not logging mode. DEMO versions of the program are fixed at 12 wpm. (You're in keyboard mode only when the keying speed is displayed on the bottom line.) Down-Arrow Decrease speed by 2 wpm - minimum 12 wpm Up-Arrow Increase speed by 2 wpm - maximum 60 wpm. Left-Arrow Reduce weight. Right-Arrow Increase weight. Home Restore 50% weight. To change the messages in Alt F1 or Alt F5-F8 - which are now Ctrl-A and Ctrl-SDQW, you do so with Shift F1 etc., which will display the current message and invite you to enter a new one. If you don't enter anything, the original message will be unchanged. If you get into trouble, either in keyboard mode or when sending a preset message, Esc will stop the message and empty the keyboard buffer. When you use this keyer, make sure it's connected in parallel with whatever alternative keying method you use. If you make a mistake in entering a callsign, it's often quicker to send it on your normal key and then correct the computer entry later. LEAVING THE PROGRAM. To leave the program, type END or QUIT in the Callsign field. If you're using Super-Duper off-line, END and QUIT can be entered in the Time field. What happens if the power to the computer fails? Super-Duper is fail-safe, and updates the log file on disk after every QSO or edit. So, when power is restored, simply type SD followed by your contest file name, go to the QSO entry screen and you will see the last QSO logged immediately above the data entry line. Note that if you use your computer for Windows 3.1, Smartdrive may cache disk writes which could delay updating your disk file. The following line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file will inhibit caching on disk writes (for drive C). C:\WINDOWS\SMARTDRV.EXE C A COPY OF YOUR LOG. To take a copy of the current contest file, without leaving Super-Duper, type DUMP or DUMPFILE, followed by Enter, in the Callsign field. This writes your file, with an extension .DMP, to a write-enabled diskette in Drive A. This way, you'll have a backup copy of the log to be printed or analysed on any other computer. You should be aware that, depending on the number of QSOs logged and the speed of your drive, DUMP may take a significant time during which you cannot log further QSOs. Super-Duper does not support printers directly, because printers can be temperamental and you probably wouldn't want logging to be interrupted due to a minor printer problem. SENDING IN YOUR ENTRY. Finally, you'll probably want to send in your contest entry. There's often no need to send a printout, as some contest organisers accept entries on diskette. Simply type WRITE, followed by Enter, in the Callsign field and your log will be written in the recommended format to a file called NAME.LOG, where NAME is the callsign you entered in the opening screen. ARRL and RSGB both accept logs on disk. Send a copy of the .LOG file on a diskette together with a printed Summary Sheet. Do not edit the .LOG file in any way, for example to include headings or to split it by band. The .LOG file generated by Super-Duper is formatted, as appropriate, to the specific and precise recommendations of both ARRL and RSGB. To get a printout, enter PRINT in the Callsign field. This creates a disk file named NAME.PRT, where NAME is your callsign and you have a choice of individual bands or all bands. To print it, use the COPY or PRINT commands in DOS. The printout is formatted to 40 QSOs per page, with breaks every 10 QSOs, with multiplier and points totals on each page and grand totals on the last page. A separate program SDCHECK is supplied which generates Check Lists and Multiplier Lists for each band, together with a Summary Sheet for the contest. These are CHECK.LST and SUMMARY.DOC, and they can be printed with MS-DOS commands. Note that they are formatted at 66 lines per page which is the norm for continuous stationery. You may have to edit the spacing if you use a laser printer. The Check List is a sorted list of callsigns together with the time of the QSO. Dupes are indicated by an asterisk before the callsign. Note that, in RSGB Field Day contests, a separate Cover Sheet is required for each band. If you use a general purpose logging progam you will be able to import contest logs from Super-Duper. Both SHACKLOG and TurboLog support Super-Duper logs, and will generate QSL labels. The .CTY files are your references for prefix and country multipliers. You are free to edit them with a text editor or word processor. Please let me know of any errors or omissions so that I can update my copy. A word of warning - do not place a comma anywhere in the files or Super-Duper will come to a sudden stop. When editing the CTY files, please be sure to keep to the correct format in each record (line) in the file. If you omit any semicolons or colons, or get them reversed, the program will halt with an error message (usually Error 5). Spacing is not critical in this file. I've kept fields aligned vertically just because it looks better. EDITING THE .ALL FILE. Super-Duper creates two files. The first is NAME.ALL where NAME is whatever name you gave the contest when you started the program. This holds all the internal reference information for keeping multipliers and points consistent, especially during and after edits done from within SD. When the contest is finished, you use the WRITE command to create CALLSIGN.LOG, where CALLSIGN is your callsign. The contents of the .LOG file are essentially a reformatted version of the .ALL file, but without the internal reference information. 1. Take a copy of your contest file. For example COPY CQWW92.ALL TEST.ALL, and then work on TEST.ALL 2. Use a text editor such as EDIT which is distributed with Version 5 of DOS (I use Brief, now supplied by Borland). Don't use a word processor. Where I've used the words "edit" or "editing" from here on, I'm referring to the use of the EDIT program (or any other text editor you use). 3. Remember that you must not change the length, in characters, of any line in the .ALL file. Spaces count as characters. 4. Do not edit the .ALL file until after the contest. If you edit it during the contest, and then go back to logging, the results will be unpredictable. 5. If you get into trouble during or after an edit, go back to Step 1. QUESTIONS and ANSWERS. Q. I've got some QSOs in the .ALL file that I want to delete. What do I do?. A. Go ahead and delete each record. Make sure you delete the record, the whole record, and nothing but the record. That's why you're working on the copy file, aren't you? You cannot delete a QSO from within SD. When you log a station that doesn't count - don't worry about it, and edit it out of the .ALL file after the contest. Q. Some QSOs are multipliers, and the program hasn't picked them up. How can I correct my score? A. Mark them with M in the appropriate position - you'll see the M corresponding to other multiplier QSOs. When you reload the .ALL file (SDI TEST), the points, multipliers and summary will be correct. Similarly, you can edit the points for any QSO by changing the last 2 characters in the QSO record. Q. Is there any snag about making a QSO a multiplier with EDIT? A. Yes, but only a little one. The multiplier list generated by SDICHECK will probably show one multiplier twice, and not show the new multiplier at all. You can edit CHECK.LST to correct this. You can also edit the Operator files for multi-operator contests. They have an OPR extension, with each record holding the Callsign (6 characters) followed by the starting QSO number for that operator. Q. What should I do if the program stops with some strange error message? A. There's quite a lot you can do to help yourself. The first thing to do is to make sure you haven't run out of space on your disk. The program does not check specifically for this. Assuming there is room on your disk, try reloading your contest file. If the program still doesn't run, then start another contest file. If you have time to examine the .ALL file, check with a text editor that it appears to be formatted correctly. If the last record appears to be corrupt, delete it and reload the contest file. If you delete any record other than the last record, and then reload the file, you may not be able to do much more than continue to log - editing will give problems. Error 5. Perhaps an incorrect CTY file. Error 7. Out of memory. Error 14 Out of string space. Error 57 Device I/O error. Error 61 Disk full. Error 68 Device unavailable (COM port perhaps) Error 70 Disk is write protected. Error 71 Disk drive not ready. Error 72 Disk media error. In Version 5 and later, there's provision to vary the RST Sent. This means that each QSO record in the log file needs 3 additional characters which, in turn, means that you will not be able to access contest files created with earlier versions of Super-Duper. You should store Version 5 in a new directory on your hard disk, suggest NEWSD, and keep the old version of the program until you are sure you don't need it any longer. Version 5 also introduces significant changes to the program in terms of supporting additional IARU national society contest types - i.e. those similar in structure to Type 4 - RSGB contests for DX entrants. At a later stage, this feature will be extended to Type 10 - RSGB contests where UK entrants work both UK and DX. Basically, County, Zone and State multiplier IDs are now held in separate text files corresponding to each contest type. For example, the RSGB county codes and corresponding descriptions are now held in RSGB.MLT. Similarly, the Swiss Cantons are held in HELVETIA.MLT. Multipliers for Spain, Poland, Holland and Hungary are also held in separate files. There are two main benefits. The first is that this information is no longer hard-coded in the program (with some exceptions for the ARRL contests). Therefore, the program is smaller, which permits additional QSOs to be logged in all contests. However, the major benefit is that you can edit the multiplier files, using a text editor, to reflect any necessary changes in existing contests and, more significantly, you can set up new files to cater for other contests. All you have to do is to use the same format as in the existing MLT files. This is a 2 or 3 character multiplier identifier (always the same length for a particular contest - trailing spaces are allowed), followed by an equals "=" sign. You have the option to include a description of the multiplier after the equals sign. You can have a maximum of 96 multipliers. For the multipliers to take effect, you must copy the appropriate file to SDTYPE4.MLT, and select Type 4 when creating your new contest log with SD. For example, if you want to take part as a DX entrant in the Helvetia contest, type the following DOS command - COPY HELVETIA.MLT SDTYPE4.MLT When you do start to experiment, make sure you keep backup copies of your original MLT files. NOTE : You are advised not to overwrite any multiplier file other than SDTYPE4.MLT. If you edit the others, the results may be unpredictable, and I will not be able to offer support. THIS IS THE SMALL PRINT. Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of EI5DI. EI5DI reserves all rights, but does not warrant that the program will work as described on your computer. Please refer to the latest SD-READ.ME file for information on known bugs. You should take a copy of your contest file with DUMPLOG or with the MS-DOS COPY command before using any external editor or word processor. Super-Duper is an MS-DOS program. However, it will not run in a DOS window under Windows 3.1. You should not modify the country files, DXCC.CTY or RSGB.CTY, between the time you start the contest and the time you complete your entry including the generation of county multiplier lists with SDCHECK. If you do, the country multipliers listed may not correspond to the ones you actually logged. Zone, state or county multipliers will not be affected. Known Bugs - Version 5.11 In CQWW and SSB Field Day contests, callsign edits which change the continent of the station worked may not have the correct points allocated. In CQWW and IARU contests, no Zone checking is done following callsign edits. When you edit the callsign it's your responsibility to also edit the Zone. In the ARRL 10 Meter Contest (Type 5), do not edit W/VE callsigns to DX callsigns and vice versa after the QSO has been logged. If you do, the points and multipliers may not be consistent. In RSGB contests (Type 10) where UK entrants work both UK and DX, do not edit UK callsigns to DX callsigns and vice versa after the QSO has been logged. If you do, the points and multipliers may not be consistent. In the RSGB 7 MHz contest for UK. entrants, callsign edits which change the continent may not adjust the QSO points correctly. In the RSGB RoPoCo contest, no consistency tests are performed apart from dupe checking. Use this contest type as a general purpose contest logger. Super-Duper scores /AM and /MM callsigns according to the home callsign. This is correct for some RSGB contests, but may not be appropriate in others. SUPER-DUPER COMMAND SUMMARY - V5.11 SD NAME - Colour display SD -NAME - B/W display. LOGGING Enter Accept a completed field. TAB Accept a partial or completed field - delays logging. Esc Delete or clear a field. A second Esc will restore it. Minus Abandon QSO entry. Esc or Minus update the Quick Memo. Home or [ Move to the start of a field. End or ] Move to the end of a field. Delete Delete character. Backspace Delete character to the left. Arrow keys Move left and right.. Page Up Back 6 QSOs. Page Down Forward 6 QSOs. Home Back 50 QSOs. End Forward 50 QSOs. When warned of a Dupe - To work it Enter Zone/State/Serial. else Press Enter. Contests with Serials. No serial given - Enter 0 (zero). Commands valid in Callsign Field. END QUIT BAND BXX - Change to band XX HELP TUNE ONLINE OFFLINE SOUND NOSOUND WRITE SPLIT DUMP PRINT RST OPR+Callsign SKED MEMO MULTIPLIER ENQUIRIES. F1 Multipliers next band HF. F2 Multipliers next band LF. F3 Zone/State/County Summary - all bands. F4 Countries by Continent. F5 Countries worked by band. F6 Single country status by band. Skeds, Reminders, Memos F7 Record them. F8 Display Skeds and Reminders. HUNTING & POUNCING Comma Partial call search by prefix. Full stop Partial call search by suffix. F9 List QSOs by callsign. EDITING. Use Up/Down keys or enter QSO number. Callsign + F9 gives QSO numbers. Use TAB between fields. Enter when complete. F1 - Edit Band HF. F2 - Edit Band LF. Minus Abandon Edit KEYER. #'\&< Toggle keyboard/logging mode. Down-Arrow Decrease speed by 2 wpm. Up-Arrow Increase speed by 2 wpm. Left-Arrow Reduce weight. Right-Arrow Increase weight. Home Restore 50% weight. Ctrl-Z TEST Call Call TEST Ctrl-X His callsign. Ctrl-C Exchange: RST + info (if a serial, it's the current value) Ctrl-A Exchange: RST + info (if a serial, it's the previous value) Ctrl-S TU Ctrl-D Call Ctrl-Q QRL? Ctrl-W ? Ctrl-E Current serial Ctrl-R Previous serial Shift-F1 to Shift-F10 Redefine above. QUICK MEMO (undo) F10 Recall table. Enter Retrieve data. Any other key Return to logging. CALLSIGN ENTRY MODE Insert Toggle INS/OVR. Callsign - Entry or Edit * and ? allowed as wildcard characters. Super-Duper Copyright 1990-93 Paul O'Kane EI5DI All Rights Reserved.