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Monster Media 1993 #2
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DXHUMOR1.TXT
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1993-05-16
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113 lines
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DX BOOKWORM Edited by Jack Mann
This time we examine a computer program that will give you time
to read more books and spend less time at the radio. What a
deal!
GET OUT THE PC!!!
Now, from paper to floppy disk - a brand new computer program
for the DXer from CompuDX - PC-Listlogger! Yes!!!, as the name
implies, this is the perfect program for the DXer who prefers to
spend time with his IBM compatible instead of his DX receiver.
With judicious use of the program, you can continue to contribute
to all your favorite DX bulletins even if you haven't turned on a
receiver in months! PC-Listlogger is completely menu driven, and
so easy to use that it's advertised on WLIQ, The Voice of the
International Inquirer!!
PC-Listlogger contains all of the most current DXlists,
including the FISH, WRTH, PWBR, and randomly chosen frequencies,
stations, and schedules from various DX club bulletins. This is
combined with the program's in-depth understanding of how SW
propagation works.
The initial set-up menu allows you to set default receivers,
antennas, and your latitude and longitude. The default settings
can be easily bypassed, for example, if you take your computer on
vacation or to the family cabin. After loading the program, you
are asked to input the date and time range for the loggings to be
made, e.g. May 17, 1993 from 0952-1137 UTC. Optionally, you may
also indicate specific frequency ranges or geographic regions to
be logged. If you don't, the program will choose these for you.
Next, you will be asked to type in the latest A and K indices.
(No, you don't have to tune in WWV - dial them up by telephone at
(303) 497-5000!) Finally, you will be asked to choose a level of
experience: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, or Senior DXer.
One of the most useful features in truly personalizing your
loggings is the options menu. In the default mode, no loggings
will overlap and the will range from 10 to 30 minutes in length.
However, you can vary these from a minimum of 1 minute to a
maximum of 120 minutes. Also, if you've checked the 'multiple
VFO/memories receiver' box in the original set-up menu, some
loggings will even overlap, as if you were switching back and
forth between VFOs and memories.
My favorite feature in the Options Menu is the "Personalize
loggings" submenu. With this, you can instruct the program to
add appropriate personal comments on either randomly chosen
loggings, or specific ones you have chosen yourself. These
comments vary according to the level of experience which you have
indicated. An example from the Novice mode would be "Wow! I
never thought I could hear Italy on the radio! I was so excited
that I ordered a pizza to celebrate!" Another example, from the
Senior DXer mode, is "Although this station is located in the
central department of Pasco, the announcer clearly spoke with an
accent from southern Cuzco department. This concurs with Muir's
theories on the migratory patterns of Peruvian radio announcers."
Loggings can be printed to a file or printer in a variety of
formats, e.g. by frequency, country, time, etc, consistent to the
various DX publications that you may contribute to. PC-
Listlogger also keeps tabs over which stations you have logged
and IDed with the program. A station might be logged as
tentative the first time, and then IDed a few days later - or
maybe even a year or two later. It can also be programmed to
make loggings over a period of several days (up to 45 days).
Certain stations will then be treated as "cumulative" logs, with
a little bit of detail added over several days. Very realistic!!
Finally, the program is thoroughly documented in a 243 page
manual with lots of charts and diagrams. Also included is an
8x12 cardboard chart summarizing the major commands for quick
reference. The manual even includes step-by-step instructions of
how to use PC-Listlogger to advance from novice to Senior DXer in
just four years without turning on a radio! If you have trouble,
help from CompuDX is just a phonecall away at 1-800 LIST LOG.
How good is PC-Listlogger? For a hefty honorarium from
CompuDX, I've been giving a prototype of the program a "dry run"
for almost a year now. Every logging I've submitted to DX
publications in that time has been generated by PC-Listlogger -
and no one has called me on a one of them!!!! Now, that's what I
can "user-friendly", HI!! HI!! (In fact, now you know how I find
the time to read all the books that I review in this column.) I
expect to keep using PC-Listlogger for a long time. Now, if
CompuDX could just come up with a program that generated loggings
AND stuffed them into envelopes and mailed them. Then I could
stay active in the hobby for years without even thinking about
it!
Whoops ... looks like the bookstore's closing. See you next
month with a review of Harry Exeter's latest book "So Your Washed
Your Shortwave Radio".
******************************************************************
NOTE: The above item is excerpted from the 1991 edition of
BLANDX.
Contributions are currently being accepted for the 1993 BLANDX.
************************************************************
* *
Don Moore * What were once vices *
MOORE@tmu1.mcrest.edu * are now *
11434 140th St. * good DXing habits. *
Davenport, IA * *
52804-9538 USA * BLANDX 1990 *
* *
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