DXKeeper QSL Configuration

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Configuring DXKeeper is primarily accomplished via the Configuration window and thne QSL Configuration windows. Defining bands and defining or eliminating modes, however, are accomplished by editing files.

DXKeeper's Configuration window presents 9 tabs: 

General Tab

 

Preset 'QSL Requested' checkbox 

When checked, the Capture window's QSL Requested checkbox will be set for each new QSO
Confirm multiple QSOs per QSL

  • when checked, multiple QSOs will be confirmed on each QSL card and label as long as the Operator and myQTH fields match, and as long as there is space on the card or label

  • when unchecked, each QSL card or label will confirm exactly one QSO
Add Needed requests all with same call when checked, the Add Needed function will request confirmation for all unconfirmed QSOs with a station for which there's a QSO whose confirmation is needed
Add Needed requests all with same mgr when checked, the Add Needed function will request confirmation for all unconfirmed QSOs having a QSL manager from whom confirmation of a QSO requiring confirmation will be sought
Add Requested no dup band-modes when checked, the Add Requested function won't generate a QSL Queue entry unless doing so would give the receiving station a new confirmed band or mode, or unless the QSL Via panel is set to LotW or eQSL.cc
 

QSL Cards Tab

The Page Layout panel lets you specify whether DXKeeper prints 

If you choose 4 QSL cards per page, guides that make it easier to separate the cards will be printed if you check the Page Layout panel's print separation guides box.

If you check the print grid lines box, the generated QSL cards will include grid lines that separate the rows and columns of QSO information, as shown in the above layout.

This tab's Frequency panel allows you to specify whether generated QSL cards show a QSO's frequency or its band.

This tab's Card Dimensions panel allows you to specify the geometry of each card:

Width the width of each QSL card in inches or millimeters as specified by the Inches and Millimeters selectors
Height

the height of each QSL card in inches or millimeters as specified by the Inches and Millimeters selectors

Side border the width of the left and right side border of each QSL card in inches or millimeters as specified by the Inches and Millimeters selectors
Top border the width of the top border of each QSL card in inches or millimeters as specified by the Inches and Millimeters selectors

Additional panels on this tab provide control of information printed on QSL cards generated by DXKeeper. You can individually specify the font name, font metrics (bold, italic), and font color of the callsign, confirmation statement, and information positioned in each corner of the card. Double-clicking a font name, font size, or font color control displays a dialog box that facilitates selection of the desired parameters.

If you are printing QSL cards on blank cardstock, check the Operator Callsign Display box so that DXKeeper will print your callsign at the top-center of each card. Note that the callsign printed is taken from the QSO's Op field, not the from the Operator textbox in the General panel on the Configuration window's General tab; this allows you to operate with multiple callsigns within the same log -- e.g. AA6YQ and AA6YQ/1 -- and print the correct callsign on each QSO. 

If you are printing QSL cards on cardstock preprinted with your callsign, then uncheck the Operator Callsign Display box.

If you want the contents of the QSO's Via item to be appended to the confirmation line if those contents are a valid callsign, check the Confirmation panel's Include QSL Manager box.

Information from the following QSL Information fields is printed on every QSL card using the specified font parameters and color:

Upper Left Text

up to 4 lines of text positioned in the card's upper left corner

Upper Right Text

up to 4 lines of text positioned in the card's upper right corner

Lower Left Text

up to 1 lines of text positioned in the card's lower left corner

Lower Right Text

up to 1 lines of text positioned in the card's lower right corner

Typically, these QSL Information fields are used to print information about your QTH -- your city, county, state, grid-square, etc. If you are printing QSL cards on cardstock preprinted with your QTH information, then simply leave the QSL Information fields blank. If you always operate from the same place, then you can directly enter your QTH information. But if you operate from multiple locations and want your QSL cards to accurately indicate the QTH from which you made the QSO, then you must

  1.  specify each QTH, assigning each a unique identifier
  2. make sure that each QSO's myQTH field contains the identifier for the QTH from which that QSO was made
  3. use appropriate substitution commands in the QSL information fields

By using substitution commands in the QSL Information fields, you can establish one QSL card style that will correctly print QSL cards for QSOs made from a variety of locations. Each substitution command found in a QSL Information field is replaced by the appropriate information for the QTH from which the current QSO was made, as shown in the following table:

Command

Replacement

<opname> your name (associated with the QTH)
<email> your email address (associated with the QTH)
<rig> your station equipment (associated with the QTH)
<streetaddress>

the QTH's street address

<city>

the QTH's city

<county>

the QTH's county

<state>

the QTH's state

<postalcode>

the QTH's postal code

<country>

the QTH's country

<latitude>

the QTH's latitude

<longitude>

the QTH's longitude

<grid>

if the QTH's grid square is specified, then the replacement is the word "grid:" followed by the specified grid square; otherwise, the replacement is empty

<iota>

if the QTH's Iota designator is specified, then the replacement is the specified Iota designator; otherwise, the replacement is empty

<cq>

the QTH's CQ zone

<itu>

the QTH's ITU zone

<txpower> your transmitter's power
<callsign> the callsign of the station specified in the QSO
<via>

if the QSO specifies a QSL manager, then the replacement is the word "via" followed by the QSL manager's callsign; otherwise, the replacement is empty

<destination> the QSL manager's callsign if one is specified, otherwise the callsign of the station specified in the QSO
<propmode> if the QSO specifies a propagation mode, then the replacement is the word "prop: " followed by the propagation mode; otherwise, the replacement is empty
<satname> if the QSO specifies a satellite, then the replacement is the word "sat: " followed by the satellite name; otherwise, the replacement is empty
<satmode> if the QSO specifies a satellite, then the replacement is the phrase "sat mode: " followed by the satellite mode; otherwise, the replacement is empty
<rxfreq> if the QSO specifies a satellite, then the replacement is the phrase "rx freq: " followed by the receive frequency; otherwise, the replacement is empty
<rxband> if the QSO specifies a satellite, then the replacement is the phrase "rx band: " followed by the receive band; otherwise, the replacement is empty
<dxccentity> the station's DXCC entity
<name> the station's operator's name
<qth> the station's QTH
<contestid> the contest identifier
<stx> the transmit serial number or exchange logged with the QSO
<srx> the receive serial number or exchange logged with the QSO

The substitution command <via> lets you include contents of the QSO's Via item on the QSL card. if the QSO's Via item is specified, then the replacement is the word "via:" followed by the contents of the Via item; otherwise, the replacement is empty. The <propmode> and <satname> fields work in a similar fashion. The <satemode>, <rxfreq>, and <rxband> commands only produce replacements if the QSO specifies a satellite name.

QSL Labels Tab

Each QSL label is composed of a confirmation line and a table with a header row and one row for each confirmed QSO.  You can individually control the font name, font metrics (bold, italic), and font color of each of these elements. Double-clicking a font name, font size, or font color control displays a dialog box that facilitates selection of the desired parameters.

The following settings are used to specify the geometry of the QSL labels you're using.

Label model # manufacturer's model number for the label in use (serves as a reminder to the user)
Labels per columns

the number of labels in each column

Row 1 offset

distance from the top edge of the label sheet to the top of the first row of label, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel

Row height

distance from the top edge of the one row of labels to the top edge of the next row of label, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel

Column 1 offset

distance from the left edge of the label sheet to the left edge of the first label column, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel

Column 2 offset

distance from the left edge of the label sheet to the left edge of the second label column, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel; if 0, only 1 column of labels per page are printed

Column 3 offset

distance from the left edge of the label sheet to the left edge of the third label column, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel; if 0, only 2 columns of labels per page are printed

Label width

the width of each label, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel

Include QSL Mgr in confirmation When checked, the contents of the QSO's Via item will be appended to the confirmation line if the contents are a valid callsign (2-column labels only)
Include QSL Mgr & Pse/Tnx QSL When checked places the following information along the bottom margin of each 3-wide label using the font metrics specified in the Bottom Line panel:

  • the contents of the QSO's Via item if it is a valid callsign

  • if all QSOs on the label have been confirmed, 'tnx QSL'; otherwise, 'pse QSL!' 

 

Envelopes Tab

The following settings are used to specify the geometry of the envelopes to be addressed, and the location of the address on the envelope, and the return address to be printed.

Return address

your return address (up to 5 lines)

Top margin

distance from the printer's top of page to the top edge of the envelope, in inches

Left margin

distance from the printer's left edge to the left edge of the envelope, in inches

Address top offset

distance from the top edge of the envelope to the first address line, in inches

Address left offset

distance from the left edge of the envelope to the left edge of the address, in inches

Airmail Indicator

check to have "Airmail, Par Avion" printed on each envelope

Printer orientation

set to "portrait" or "landscape" as required to reliably print envelopes on your printer

Print DX address in upper case check to print the DX address in upper case

If you always operate from the same place, then you can directly enter your return address; even if you operate from multiple locations, you may want all QSLs returned to the same address. But if you operate from multiple locations and want QSL cards returned to the location from which you operated, you must

  1.  specify each QTH, assigning each a unique identifier
  2. make sure that each QSO's myQTH field contains the identifier for the QTH from which that QSO was made
  3. use appropriate substitution commands in the return address

By using the following substitution commands in the return address field, you can establish one return address specification that will correctly print envelopes whose return addresses are specified by the operating location. Each substitution command found in a return address field is replaced by the appropriate information for the QTH from which the current QSO was made, as shown in the following table:

Command

Replacement

<streetaddress>

the QTH's street address

<city>

the QTH's city

<county>

the QTH's county

<state>

the QTH's state

<postalcode>

the QTH's postal code

<country>

the QTH's country

 

Address Labels Tab

The following settings are used to specify the geometry of the address labels you're using.

Label model # manufacturer's model number for the label in use (serves as a reminder to the user)
Labels per columns

the number of labels in each column

Row 1 offset

distance from the top edge of the label sheet to the top of the first row of label, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel

Row height

distance from the top edge of the one row of labels to the top edge of the next row of label, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel

Column 1 offset

distance from the left edge of the label sheet to the left edge of the first label column, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel

Column 2 offset

distance from the left edge of the label sheet to the left edge of the second label column, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel; if 0, only 1 column of labels per page are printed

Column 3 offset

distance from the left edge of the label sheet to the left edge of the third label column, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel; if 0, only 2 columns of labels per page are printed

Label width

the width of each label, in inches or millimeters as specified by the Units panel

Print DX address in upper case check to print the DX address in upper case

 

QSL Msgs Tab

This tab provides 8 standard QSL messages, any one of which can be selected as the default QSL message via the General tab's QSL msg selector. You can also chose from among these messages using the Capture window's QSL msg selector, and make modifications there. Double-clicking one of these messages invokes a Field editor. A QSL message's label will be highlighted in red if the maximum length is exceeded).

You can use substitution commands in QSL messages to include information determined by your current location.

eQSL Tab

Username

your eQSL.cc username

Password

your eQSL.cc password

Maximum time difference... if a downloaded QSL in consistent with a QSO's callsign, band, and mode, this parameters specifies the maximum difference in minutes between the QSL's begin time and the QSO's begin time for the QSL to be deemed a match for the QSO  
Upload an eQSL...

when checked, clicking the Capture window's Log button automatically uploads an eQSL (eliminating the need to depress the Ctrl key each time)

Initialize eQSL Sent to 'R'...

when checked, logging a QSO via the Main or Capture windows, or importing a QSO records the eQSL Sent field as 'R' (for requested)

Don't upload QSOs whose operator callsign isn't the specified Username when checked, only QSOs whose operator callsign matches the eQSL.cc Username will be uploaded to eQSL.cc by the Upload to eQSL.cc function
Prompt the user to specify a file containing the already-downloaded contents of an eQSL.cc Inbox when a Sync eQSL.cc QSLs operation is performed when checked, the Sync eQSL.cc QSLs operation prompts you to specify a file containing the contents of an eQSL.cc Inbox that you have already downloaded

 

LotW Tab

 

Username

your LotW username

Password

your LotW password (use the web account password)

Initialize LotW Sent to 'R'... when checked, logging a QSO via the Main or Capture windows, or importing a QSO records the LotW Sent field as 'R' (for requested)
Set outgoing card/label QSL? to "thanks!"... when checked, an outgoing QSL card or label's QSL? field will be set to "thanks!" if the QSO is already confirmed in LotW  
PC has no internet connection (prompt operator to manually query LotW) when checked, DXKeeper will prompt you to manually upload a signed .TQ8 file, and to manually query LotW and place the query results in a designated file; this option should only be selected when your PC does not have a direct connection to the internet
Handling of LotW QSL detail inconsistencies

this setting controls the resolution of inconsistencies between a downloaded LotW QSL and its matching logged QSO in the country code, CQ, ITU, Gridsquare, Iota, State, and/or County fields:

  • always replace the logged data with the LotW QSL data

  • always preserve the logged data, ignoring the LotW QSL data

  • display a dialog presenting the logged data and the LotW QSL data so that the operator can choose
Limit  Add and Sync operations to this operator callsign

When this setting specifies a callsign, and QSL Via is set to LotW,

When this setting is empty, the Sync LotW QSOs and Sync LotW QSLs operations download and synchronize all QSOs and QSLs in your LotW account, respectively
Report unmatched QSOs or QSLs as errors

when checked, 

  • the Sync LotW QSOs operation will report any downloaded QSOs that don't match any QSO in the current log

  • the Sync LotW QSLs operation will report any downloaded QSLs that don't match any QSO in the current log
Exclude operator callsign when matching downloaded QSOs & QSLs to logged QSOs when checked, 

  • the Sync LotW QSOs operation will consider a downloaded QSO to match a logged QSO if the callsigns, bands, modes, and begin times are all identical; when unchecked, the operator callsigns much also be identical.

  • the Sync LotW QSLs operation will consider a downloaded QSL to match a logged QSO if the callsigns, bands, modes, and begin times are all identical; when unchecked, the operator callsigns much also be identical.

Full pathname of TQSL.exe

specify the location of the LotW application TQSL on your PC's hard drive

  • TQSL is free, and available via https://www.arrl.org/lotw/getstart

  • if you already have TQSL installed, verify that it is version 1.1.0 or later by running it and invoking its Help:About menu item

  • By default, TQSL is installed in c:\Program Files\TrustedQSL\TQL.exe

  • If you installed TQSL in another location, use the Browse button to locate and select TQSL

TQSL station location Select the TQSL station location to be used associated with the uploaded QSOs; if no station location is selected, TQSL will ask you to select one when it invoked by DXKeeper during the LotW upload process.

If you add, modify, or delete a station location in TQSL, click the Update button to update the station location selector.

 

 

 

Printer Tab

Name

the name of the printer on which QSLs will be printed

Paper Size

select the printer paper size

Paper Source select the printer paper source
Print Quality

select the desired print quality

 

 

 

 

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