═══ 1. Introduction ═══ SSLogger is a native OS/2 logger designed specifically for the ARRL November Sweepstakes. This logger includes the following features:  Dupe Checking.  Log window that contains a scrollable list of log records though which previously-written log records can be edited.  Section window that tracks sections worked.  Status window which shows various contest statistics.  Break Records. SSLogger can record breaks taken during the course of a contest.  Built-in transceiver control for the Kenwood TS-940S.  Facility to export the log to ARRL Suggested Standard File Format. ═══ 2. Installation and Configuration ═══ To install SSLogger, perform the following steps:  Unzip the file SSLog11.zip. As usual, place the .dll files in some subdirectory included in your LIBPATH, the .exe and .cmd files in some subdirectory in your PATH, SSLogger.hlp in some directory specified by HELP, and SSLogger.inf in some directory specifed by BOOKSHELF. The values for LIBPATH, PATH, HELP, and BOOKSHELF typically are all set in config.sys.  From the same subdirectory in which SSLogger.exe resides, execute SSCrIcon.cmd to create an SSLogger icon on your desktop. You can move this icon to any folder you choose. After you create the icon, bring up the Settings notebook (reached by pointing to the icon with the mouse and clicking button 2) and specify as the working directory the directory where you want to store your log files by default. Of course, the directory specified must exist. If you execute SSCrIcon.cmd from a subdirectory other than the subdirectory that contains SSLogger.exe, the path to SSLogger.exe will also need to be corrected.  Specify in config.sys the directory in which you want to store SSLOGGER.INI. SSLOGGER.INI is used to save various settings, and you typically will want to use those settings regardless of which directory you invoke SSLogger.exe from. Its location can be specified by setting SSLOGGER_INI to the desired subdirectory. A good place to store SSLOGGER.INI would be the same directory that contains SSLogger.exe. If SSLogger.exe is contained in the directory c:\bin, for instance, the following line would be added to config.sys: SET SSLOGGER_INI=c:\bin If you do not set SSLOGGER_INI, the current directory is used. ═══ 3. Running SSLogger ═══ SSLogger.exe is the logger program. It can be executed in the following ways:  Double-clicking on the SSLogger icon. See the section on Installation and Configuration for instructions on how to create an SSLogger icon.  Double-clicking on a Sweepstakes Log icon for an existing log file. This icon can be accessed by viewing the folder that contains the log file.  From the command line simply by entering sslogger. Tip: CrLog.exe, described below, can be used to create a sample log for you. Please read the notes on CrLog.exe before executing it. ═══ 4. Creating and Opening a Log ═══ To create a log, select the File->Create menu option from the SSLogger main window. Before the prompt for the file name, a succession of three dialog boxes will appear, from which SSLogger will obtain information necessary to create the log.  Contest Information. This dialog box is used to obtain contest dates and times, and the contest mode. The contest times are for documentation only and do not impose any limits which log data times must fall within.  Station Info. Via this dialog box, provide station info, e.g., callsign, precedence, check, and section.  Time Setup. SSLogger does not require you to set your system clock to UTC. Use this dialog box to indicate your system clock's offset from from UTC. For example, EST would be -5. SSLogger uses this information to convert times based on your system clock to UTC. These dialogs can also be accessed at any time under the Settings menu option. To open a log file later, select the File->Open menu option, or open the folder that contains the log file and double-click on the log file's icon. ═══ 5. Logging Contacts ═══ Log records are entered from the SSLogger main window. Before you can log any contacts, you first must create or open a log file. Having done that, you must then begin contest operation. The actual operation begin and end times are used for statistics. To begin operation, select the Actions->Contest Operation->Begin menu option. Select Actions->Contest Operation->Terminate when you are finished with the contest. Of course, you can change your mind and select Actions->Contest Operation->Begin again to continue operating, in which case, a break record will be written to record the interval of no contest operation. Make sure that you select Actions->Contest Operation->Terminate when you're finished operating, so that the statistics presented in the Status window are accurate. However, if you do forget, the operation times are editable, and the statistics are adjusted accordingly. The operation period can be edited at any time with the Edit Operation Time dialog box, accessible via Actions->Contest Operation->Edit Contest Operation Time menu option. Note that dates and times cannot be changed so as to conflict with other log data already recorded. Once you have begun contest operation, you can log contacts. Select the proper band and fill in the log data into the SSLogger main window entry fields. You can tab and backtab through the fields. The space bar also acts as a tab. The Esc key will clear the current field data. Pressing Esc again will clear all of the fields and place the cursor in the Callsign field. F12 will clear all of the fields and place the cursor in the Callsign field. Press F4 or the Enter key to log the contact. A dupe check will be performed if you change the Callsign field as soon as you tab out of the field, or if you press F4 or the Enter key to log the entry. If a dupe check detects a dupe, a message box will pop up and give you the option to cancel the entry (the normal case) or to force the log entry. If you force the log entry, no points will be scored for the previous log entry for that callsign. To change bands, use the Ctrl+Tab key to tab to and from the Band control. ═══ 6. Editing Log Records ═══ Log records can be edited from the Log window. To edit a log record, make that record the highlighted entry and press the Enter key, the Edit pushbutton, or simply double-click on the desired log record entry. A dialog box will the pop up and allow you to change any log record field. The date/time of a log entry cannot be updated so that it falls within the range of a break already recorded. Similarly, it must fall within the Operation Begin and Operation Terminate times. If contest operation is in progress, the log entry date/time cannot fall before Operation Begin. Finally, the log record date/time must fall between the previous entry and the next entry in order to preserve the sequential nature of the log. The band entry in a range of records can be edited in one operation from the Range Edit: Band dialog box. This feature exists in case the operator is not using transceiver control and forgets to change the band on the logger. From the Range Edit: Band dialog, the operator enters the contact numbers for the beginning and ending log records in the range to be edited and selects the correct band. The default beginning contact number is the that of the log record currently highlighted in the log list, and the default ending contact number is that of the last log record in the log. Updates to large blocks of records may take several seconds, but once the update is initiated, you can return to the main SSLogger window and resume logging. An individual log record can be updated while the range update is in progress, as long the record is outside the range being updated. The Range Edit: Band dialog box can be reached by selecting the Range Edit->Band menu option in the Log window. ═══ 7. Recording Breaks ═══ ARRL requires you to indicate all breaks taken during the contest. To begin a break, select the Actions->Break->Begin menu option in the SSLogger main window. During a break, logging is disabled. To end a break, select Actions->Break->Terminate, and logging is then re-enabled. Actions->Break->Cancel can be used to cancel a break in progress. The break menu options are disabled until Actions->Contest Operation->Begin has been selected. If you select Actions->Contest Operation->Terminate and later decide to continue operation and select Actions->Contest Operation->Begin, a break record will be written for that period of no operation. Breaks of any length may be recorded, but ARRL only counts breaks of 30 minutes or more. Thus, the Status window only counts breaks of at least 30 minutes. Similarly, the log exported to ARRL Suggested File Format will only show breaks of sufficient duration. Breaks may be listed and edited with the Edit Break Times dialog box. You can bring up this dialog by selecting Actions->Breaks->Edit Break Times. Note that break times cannot be updated so as to conflict with other log data already recorded. For example, it would be an error to edit a break period so that a log record already written falls within that interval. Similarly, the break must fall within the time of operation. ═══ 8. Windows ═══ SSLogger provides three windows in addition to the main window, which can be left up while using the logger:  Log Window. Contains a scrollable list of log records. Log records can be edited from this list.  Section Window. Contains a list of sections that indicates which sections have been worked.  Status Window. Displays various contest statistics. These windows are always kept up-to-date. A window may be minimized and redisplayed by selecting it from the Windows menu option again or by pressing its respective "fast-path" key, shown along with its menu option title. All window positions and sizes (if resizable) are automatically saved so that the windows always come up in the arrangement you have selected. Options specific to a given window are also automatically saved. ═══ 8.1. Log Record Window ═══ The log record list in the Log window can be used to scroll through records in the log. Log records may be edited from this window. To display the Log window, select the Windows->Log menu option of the main SSLogger window. Included in the log record list is a column with the heading of Dupe. This column is normally blank. If a log entry was forced, creating a "dupe" entry (see Logging Contacts), the entry is marked as such with a Y in the Dupe column. This means that the contact is a duplicate and no points have been scored for the contact, and of course, is not counted in the Section window or the Stats window. The Log window is resizable. To set the vertical size of the Log window, position the mouse pointer to the bottom border of the Log window and drag it until the window is the desired height. The amount of desktop space consumed can be reduced by making the Log window height no larger than required. Similarly, the Log window width can be adjusted. The relative sizes of the columns in the list are preserved, so you might be able to save a little desktop space by squeezing in the columns a little. Log records can be edited from the log list. Please refer to the section entitled "Editing Log Records" for details. Log Window Options Log window options can be accessed through the Options menu option. Option choices are automatically saved and used in subsequent logging sessions. Font The font for the log record list can be changed. Using the smallest font that you can comfortably read can save a lot of desktop space over the system font, which is the default. To change the font, select the Options->Font menu option. Tip: Alt+L provides a quick way to access the Log window. You can leave it on your desktop, minimize it, or close it, although reopening the window will take longer if it is closed. Alt+M can be used to quickly return to the main window. ═══ 8.2. Section Window ═══ The section list can be used to track sections worked and to look up the correct abbreviation. To display the Section window, select Section under the Windows menu option in the SSLogger main window. Sections not yet worked are colored blue, while sections already worked are "de-highlighted" with a more subdued gray color. Section Window Options The Section window has different options available. They can be accessed through the Options menu option. Option choices are automatically saved and used in subsequent logging sessions. Font The font for the Section window can be changed. Using the smallest font that you can comfortably read can save a lot of desktop space over the system font, which is the default. To change the font, select the Options->Font menu option. Columns The number of columns in the Section window can be set in order to achieve the desired window dimensions. Section Abbrev's Only By default, the section list includes section names and abbreviations, and is sorted by section name. This can be useful for abbrev lookups during phone contests. In CW contests, the section name is not really necessary. The Section Abbrev's Only option can be used to display only the section abbreviations, sorted by abbreviation, to make the Section window require much less desktop space. Tip: Alt+S provides quick access to the Section window. You can leave it on your desktop, minimize it, or close it. Use Alt+M to quickly return to the main window. ═══ 8.3. Status Window ═══ The Status window displays current statistics, including number of contacts/hour, contact count, section count, score, time off, actual time spent operating, and total time (op time + break time). Only breaks of at least the minimum duration allowed by ARRL are reflected in the break time. Similarly, a break in progress is not reflected until its duration reaches the minimum allowed. Tip: Alt+T provide quick access to the Status window. You can leave it on your desktop, minimize it, or close it. Use Alt+M to quickly return to the main window. ═══ 9. Transceiver Control ═══ If you have a Kenwood TS-940S with the option for computer control, you can let SSLogger perform some control and monitoring. First, you need to perform some basic setup. Select the Xcvr->Settings menu option in the SSLogger main window to bring up the Transceiver Settings dialog box. In the Transceiver Settings dialog box, set the Serial Port spin button to the serial port your transceiver is connected to. You will also find a list of frequencies, one per band per mode. These frequencies are used by SSLogger when you switch bands using the Band control in the SSLogger main window. When you have selected a new band, the transceiver switches to the corresponding frequency displayed in the Transceiver Settings dialog. SSLogger is constantly monitoring your current frequency. You can opt to switch back to the most recently used frequency for a band if you check the checkbox with a like heading in the Transceiver Settings dialog box. If you use the transceiver to change to another band, SSLogger will automatically update the logger band setting accordingly. Connect to the transceiver by selecting Xcvr->Connect->Kenwood TS940. You can disconnect from the transceiver by selecting Xcvr->Disconnect. Note: There is a bug in the TS940S computer control firmware (even the latest update) which causes the transceiver to momentarily transmit on the received frequency when the T/R relay is closed while the transceiver is communicating with the computer. Release 1.0 of SSLogger polled the transceiver four times per second, which caused annoying results, since the operator usually has the RIT control set to a non-zero offset. The bug is particularly annoying when operating CW in break-in mode! To alleviate the problem, SSLogger now polls once every 20 seconds. If you use the transceiver to change bands (although changing bands with the logger is better), there will usually be a short delay before the band on the logger is updated accordingly. SSLogger's saving the last frequency used is similarly affected. ═══ 10. Exporting to ARRL Suggested Standard File Format ═══ The ARRL accepts log entries in ARRL Suggested Standard File Format on diskette or via internet. To produce a copy of your log in ARRL Suggested Standard File Format, open your log file and select the File->Export to ARRL Format menu option. In the ensuing dialog box, enter the desired file name or use the default provided. The resulting file is an editable ASCII file. The start and end of each break of sufficient duration (at least 30 minutes) that has been recorded in the log is reflected by the log records in the ASCII file that bracket the break. ═══ 11. Creating a Sample Log File ═══ CrLog.exe has been included to generate relatively quickly a large log of 1000 records that you can use to familiarize yourself with the various SSLogger functions. CrLog.exe has one parameter: the computer clock's offset relative to UTC. For example, if the computer clock is set to CST, invoke CrLog as follows: crlog -6 For maximum data integrity, SSLogger uses synchronous writes so that data is written immediately--not buffered and written whenever the filesystem driver decides to write the data. This means that you should be able to press Ctrl-Break at any time during the execution of CrLog.exe and end up with a consistent log. The last contact logged will appear in the log unless the write operation to disk did not complete. This also means that CrLog will run very slowly. Of course, in normal operation, you are not writing such large amounts of data so quickly and you should not notice a significant performance degradation. ═══ 12. Author Comments ═══ I offer SSLogger as freeware and am asking for no fees or donations. I hope you enjoy SSLogger and find it useful and effective in your November Sweepstakes Contest operation. If you would like to be notified of updates, please send me e-mail at the address given below. I welcome any comments and suggestions. Will Edwards, WA5WZA 14803 Chicadee Circle Pflugerville, TX 78660-8168 edwardsw@bga.com ═══ ═══ For more information on the November Sweepstakes contest, or about amateur radio in general, contact: American Radio Relay League 225 Main St. Newington, CT 06111-1494 http://www.arrl.org