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ReadDX_v1.01
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1990-08-31
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ARRL International DX Contest Program
August 8, 1990
NOTICE:
ARRLDXLog_v1.01, ARRLDXScrn_v1.0, and ARRLDXPrt_v1.0, were developed by
George R. Leone, K6SG, a member of the River City Contesters, an Amateur
Radio Club, and also a member of the Sacramento Amiga Computer Club (SACC)
These programs are in the public domain and may be freely copied and
distributed for non-profit purposes only. The developer assumes no
responsibility for any losses incurred by the use of these programs nor
is he responsible for debugging or maintainance of the programs. Use them
at your own risk! Have fun!
GENERAL:
It is suggested that this "readme" file be printed out for ready reference
purposes.
The two principal programs are ARRLDXLog,(version numbers will no longer
be given) a logging, dupeing and message sending program; and ARRLDXPrt, a
printing program which will print out all required reports. The additional
program, ARRLDXScrn, will allow viewing all reports on the screen and making
any corrections needed without printing out hard copy of the reports.
ARRLDXLog permits the usual contest logging functions and sends your
preprogrammed customized contest exchange messages. Several other
features are included.
Continuous display of running score, QSO rate, number of stations
and new country multipliers worked, sending speed, and the amount of
operating time used and remaining, though not required by contest rules.
Provision for sending a partial call with your exchange and entering
the complete call when copying the other station's message as well as
asking for and giving fill-ins. Acknowledgement of receipt is made using
the complete corrected call.
The computer can be toggled between Contest to Chit-Chat mode if
you want to chat with an old friend during the contest.
Each QSO is logged in a random access file on a disk so that data
cannot be lost in the event of a power failure.
ARRLDXPrt permits correction to any log entry, the same as ARRLDXScrn,
and will print a complete log, summary report, call sign dupe sheet
in accordance with the contest reporting requirements. QSL card labels as
well as a list of multipliers by band can also be printed out.
OPERATION:
Copy these programs plus the DXPrefix-Country.lib and AMIGA BASIC to a
working disk or preferably to your hard disk. Click on ARRLDXBoot and select
ARRLDXLog. Operation of the programs is relatively simple. Just follow the prompts
and provide any information reqested which will personalize the
preprogrammed messages and printing of reports. Contents of preprogrammed
messages, other than information provided at the prompts, can be changed by
loading the program and stopping it with the mouse after it is completely
loaded. Locate the text of the message you want to change, put in your own
text, and then SAVE the program.
The ARRLLog dupeing array is DIMensioned to handle 3000 QSOs as are arrays
used in ARRLDXPrt and ARRLDXScrn. If you expect to make more than this
number of contacts, you must redimension these arrays before you start the
contest. Load the program, find the array dimensioned 3000, change to your
requirement and SAVE.
If you want to keep an accurate account of operating time you must sign "ON"
at the beginning and "OFF" at the end of each operating session. Keeping
track of your operating time is not a requirement in this contest but it
is interesting to keep track of the hours used.
The program is designed so that you must enter certain essential information
such as ON or OFF, Y or N, last two digits of the contest year, and CW or
SSB in order to proceed. To change bands just enter the band (10,15,20,40,
80 or 160) at the call sign prompt.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
It take several seconds for the logging program to load and present the
first prompt. Be patient. It takes about 4 minutes for the print program
to sort 1000 calls to print the dupe sheet.
For proper dupe and multiplier checking and record keeping it is MANDATORY
that stations operating portable be properly entered in the log. ANY STATION
OPERATING AND SIGNING PORTABLE MUST BE ENTERED IN THE LOG PORTABLE LOCATION
FIRST!
e.g ja2tut/jd1 MUST BE ENTERED jd1/ja2tut: k6sg/xe2 ENTERED AS xe2/k6sg
The portable location must be identified by a bon-fide country prefix and
not a country abbrevivation. e.g. ce3abc/ei won't work since you will only
get credit for ce3 but ce0a/ce3abc will credit you with Easter Island (CE/EI).
I would recommend you print out theDXPrefix-Country.lib for reference purposes.
DX stations using ARRLDXLog must make a minor change in the first line
of the PRT.IT sequence AND DELETE the second and third lines to allow entry
of W and VE contacts. Minor changes also need to be made in ARRLDXPRT to
personalize the printing of reports and labels.
The transmission of messages is accomplished by an outboard "black box"
which contains an audio amplifier, rectifier, and keying transistor. You
have to build it! A schematic is yours for a SASE. If anyone out there can
make the serial port key a transceiver, I would appreciate knowing how it's
done! If you choose not to build the "black box" and use a keyer or bug to
key your rig, you can still use the program "as is" for all paperwork
functions.
When you correct the call sign by using the backspace key, the error will
be transmitted followed by the error signal and the corrected call. You
can correct the call by pressing DELETE to clear the screen and enter the
correct call which will then be transmitted without the error signal.
Sometimes only two or three letters of a call will be copied due to poor
receving conditions. You can send your message with that portion of the
call, and when you receive his message with his call, you can correct it
at the prompt 'Correct call or press RETURN'.
The print program, ARRLDXPrt, was written for the Epson EX-800 and should
work with other Epson printers. You may have to modify it to work with
your printer.
HELPFUL HINTS:
To facilitate operating, you can make a template of heavy paper or light,
white cardboard marked with the following information to fit over the
function keys until you learn it:
F1 - CQ TEST Sends CQ TEST plus your call
F2 - MSG Sends his call plus your exchange message.
F3 - R+Ur Call Acknowledges receipt of his message. Make
sure all repeats are completed before you press RETURN.
F4 - CALL Sends your call ONCE for each time you tap the key.
F5 - His Call Sends his call once for each time you tap the key
F6 - QSO B4 When a dupe, automatically sends his call and tells
him you worked him before followed by your call.
F7 - NR? Queries his number
F8 - My NR Sends my NR
F9 - Vacant
F10- Vacant
Shift 1 - C.Cal Sends his corrected call + my NR
Shift 2 - R + MSG Sends R plus your msg. Used when he sends you his
message first
Shift 3 - QRL? Sends it
Shift 4 - QSY Sends QRL Pse QSY + your call
Shift 5 - ? Sends ? A general repeat signal asking for a repeat
of last transmission
CTRL K - Toggles Contest/Chit-Chat modes
Up and Down arrow keys increase and decrease sending speed only when
not in sending mode.
To override the dupe routine when a station is in your log but insists
that he didn't work you before, just append / to his call and work him, and
resolve the problem after the contest. The / is sent with his call, but
that shouldn't bother him. As a matter of fact, this is a good way to flag
any contact which might require attention after the contest.
MISCELLANEOUS:
The ARRLDXLog program utilizes information contained in the DXPrefix-
Country.lib file. ARRLDXLog generates a random access file in which
all information pertinent to a QSO is stored. The random access file name
contains the year of the contest and mode (CW or SSB). When the contest is
over this file may be left on the working disk or copied to a data disk which
can be used to store files of many contests. The program also sets up a 4
element array used for call sign dupeing and multiplier checking. The
DIMension of this array is set at 3000 as previously mentioned. The programs
have been generously annotated for those interested in what is going on.
Any comments or suggestions for improvement are welcome.
George R. Leone K6SG
3631 Kiekebusch Ct.
Carmichael CA 95608