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Call History Lookup

In some contests part of the exchange is known if the callsign is known. So it would be easy to have this information shown (or already prefilled) if the callsign is entered. Lookup examples are names (Friends file in RTTY contests), gridsquares for VHF contests, ages in All Asian dx contests etc. In all cases the possibility to use this lookup function means changes in the contest class by the programmer. A lookup is only done when the cursor is in the callsign field in the Entry window and SPACE or TAB is pressed.

Call history is implemented in a separate table in each database. This table is called CallHist. The entry window menu options for Call History Lookup are:

Note: Currently, there is no way to export from a contest log to the call history table yet, filling the callhist table has to be done by importing a text file.

Creating a lookup file for importing in CallHist table

The import function expects a text file with on each line the information as mentioned in the order below.
Order: Callsign, Name, Grid1, Grid2, Section, State, CK, Birthdate
The delimiter between the fields may be a comma, a semicolon, a space or an equal sign. The delimiters may be mixed in the file but not within one line! The callsign is needed, all other fields are optional. The equal sign is introduced so a friends.ini file used by many RTTY contest programs can be used without converting.

A missing CK must be entered as -1, since any check from 00 through 99 is valid (ARRL Sweepstakes).
Birthdate is expected to be used for the AA contest to compute the other stations age. This will obviously be a little tricky to deal with.
Be sure to put birthdates in a universal format, e.g. 1980-12-31

Example call history file:

Only name needed for contest   
   Grid Square needed             State needed       
N1MM,Tom    PI4GN,,JO33II,JO33jf,    N1MM,Tom,,,,CT  
N2AMG;Rick    PA5DD=Uffe=JO22ic=    K3ZO;Fred;;;;MD  
WW3S=Jamie    PA1T,Timon,JO33jf,    

Or

K1CC,RICH,FN31,FN32,,,-1,1900-01-01
KG1D,LES,,,,,-1,1900-01-01
N1MM,TOM,FN31,,CT,CT,61,1949-10-01
# this is comments (line starts with a #)
W1RM,PETE,,,,,-1,1900-01-01

Tip 1 by Kenny, K2KW

For those of us with limited dB skills, there is a relatively easy way in Excel to get the data into the right format. Start off by parsing out the data from an old log into different columns. (In Excel, there is a Text to Columns conversion, if your data starts off in one line). Once you get the basic data extracted and parsed, insert additional columns for all the fields as required. Then insert a field for every comma you need, resulting in 8 data fields, separated by 7 fields with single commas in them. By now the data should look exactly as you need it, but in 15 different columns. Then in yet another field, use the Excel Concatenate function:"=concatenate(A1, B1, C1, etc)" You will list every column. This function will then concatenate all the data into one long string, and then just copy and paste all the columns (you can do it all at once) with data into an ASCII file. I had just done this at work last week and it works great. Sounds complicated, but it's quite easy.

Tip 2 by Tom, N1MM

In the log window, choose 'Select All' and use 'Copy Generic Print String' to speed up this approach. The data in the clipboard can then be pasted into Excel.

Tip 3 by Thomas, PA1M

Use 'Thucydides' by Carel, PC5M . Check out the chapter 'Third Party Software' for more info.

Importing and exporting message Function keys

The CW messages and SSB wav file messages are not contest-specific, but rather portable between contests.

When you get the message keys set up for a particular contest do the following: File > Export > Export Message Keys to File > CW Keys (for example) This saves the message key setup as a Macro file. Name it after the contest. You can recall that set of function keys any time you like by importing them: File > Import > Import Message Keys from File > (select file)

This way you can make and reuse different files for all the different contests.  Just import the message keys for the contest de jour.

Getting ready for CQWW (and other contests)

Top contesters have a checklist of things to do prior to a major contest. Please consider adding these logging program related items to your list:

  1. Make a few dozen test contacts in the contest.
    Make several qso's in 'running' mode and several qso's in S&P mode. Press the CQ function key to set yourself to 'running' mode. If it does not, make sure the 'Configurer | Function Keys tab' matches your button setup.
  2. If you plan to use any of the following features, make sure they work as you expect:
  3. Get the latest CTY.DAT and install & test it. The About window will tell you the version you are using.
  4. Get the latest MASTER.DTA and put it in your install directory. The Check window at startup will tell you the version you are using.
  5. Prepare your CW fucntion keys, SSB wav files, or CQ/RTTY messages. Test them!
  6. Make sure that RF does not get into your cabling.
  7. Make sure you have selected the correct options in the contest setup dialog. For CQWW your exchange field should contain only your zone.
    Read the contest rules so you know how to setup the contest, Function keys etc.
  8. Run Cabrillo output and check for proper generation.
  9. Sync your time with an internet time standard, if possible. I use a freeware program called Dimension 4 and resync periodically (every hour?) during the contest.
  10. Review "Key Assignments" in the help. Print it out or print out a keyboard template which can be found on the N1MM website under 'Downloads', select in the 'Download' menu, 'Other Files'.

73, & GL in the contests

Tom Wagner - N1MM

How to record Wav files for the Function keys used in SSB contests.

By Tom, N1MM.

  1. I use Cool Edit 96, but there are later versions.
  2. Record **all** of the messages on one wav file. Make sure you have a quiet room. Record each message at least TWICE. Sound excited!
  3. Leave 5 seconds of empty space at the beginning of the recording.
  4. Record.
  5. Save the recording as "Raw CQ" or some such.
  6. Use Cool's noise reduction feature. Mark the blank part of the wav, and set the noise reduction, then noise reduce the whole wav file.
  7. Save the recording as "Noise reduced CQ".
  8. Perform bass reduction, treble boost or whatever other transformations and save them as you do them.
  9. You can use compression, but I don't recommend it.
  10. Split the wav file into the separate messages, saving the best of the two recorded.

Recording ALL your messages in one recording and afterwards splitting them up using a wav editor will avoid the pops at the start and end of recording, as well as making it more likely that all the messages will be recorded at the same volume level and sound the same.
Don't ask why you need Cool Edit. Just get it.

Here is what is recommend by Uffe, PA5DD

Another nice program is Audacity and this one is freeware. This program can scale the peak amplitude of all the audio files to be the same. In order to set the audio level out of the computer, I recorded 10 seconds of a 800 Hz tone. Scaled the amplitude (peak = mean) and assigned it to F7. I call it cal.wav.
I turn off the speech processor, and turn up the computer volume just until full output is reached. Although not guarenteed, the peak amplitude of my audio files should now be in the dynamic range of my transceiver. Afterwards I turn the processor on again.
P.S. Ok then, I admit to sometimes turning the volume just 1 or 2 ticks higher to be on the safe side.........

Place the Wav files you have made in the N1MM Logger\wav directory and call them  cq.wav   n1mm.wav   59.wav   etc. Just what you like!
In the program I specify them as:

CQ   wav\cq.wav
N1MM   wav\n1mm.wav
Exch   wav\59.wav

NOTE THERE IS NO LEADING \ before wav !
This notation means to start looking for the directory at the current directory (N1MM Logger or whatever).

When making also all letters and number wav files these have to be placed in the N1MM Logger\letters directory.

Examples:

letters\1.wav
letters\2.wav etc

? = letters\query.wav
/ = letters\stroke.wav

Below some extra information from Mario, S56A, N1YU

NB. When using WAV files turn off Windows sounds in ' Control Panel - Sound' and select: Scheme : No sounds.