Rudi - ZS6DX

Computers are everywhere these days, even in most ham shacks !. There is a huge amount of software available for the ham, some very expensive but also a lot of free software.

With the availability of soundcards in most PC’s today lots of software has been written that uses these cards to emulate modems and other specialized hardware, this has caused a revolution in the use of computers in amateur radio. Anyone who has played with SSTV or PSK31 will agree with this !

I am hoping to discuss a wide selection of software here in Radio ZS (that is if you and the Editor want to hear about all this !).

1     Logging programs as well as contest logging software.

3     SSTV, ATV and weather satellite software.

4    Programs to decode digital messaging services like POCSAC.

6    QSL route and call lookup software, including international callbooks and online lookup software.

7    Antenna simulation and design software.

8     Software to computer control your radio.

9    Packet radio and cluster software.

10    Electronic simulation and design software.

11    General software tools useful in amateur radio.

I will provide full details of where to find these programs, on the Internet for those who have access to the Internet or on stiffy for those who don't. I have a huge collection of software that I will make available to readers. I will also provide information on minimum hardware requirements to run the software so you can be sure it will run on your computer.

Some of these subjects are vast and it will take several issues to cover all the main packages but I will try to vary the content.

Most of these packages are written for Windows 9x or NT/2000 but there is also a lot of software for DOS and Linux. Some of them, like some of the software used to run high speed packet on a soundcard as well as the software used to run PACTOR on a soundcard is very specific as to the soundcard hardware used but most will run on almost any hardware.

If you can think of any specific subject you would like to see covered or you are looking for some specific software please feel free to contact me and I will do my best to help. If you should discover, or write, some amazing piece of software please let me know so I can share it with our readers.

For those who do not yet have a computer in the shack I will try and make some suggestions as to what they should look for when buying a new or used system and for readers who have one a few suggestions on maybe upgrading when the time comes.

One of the first pieces of software that most amateurs start using once they get a computer in the shack is a logbook program. Not only is this easier and neater than writing in a book but it is also capable of providing lots of information, like any previous contacts with a station, DXCC information and lots of other statistics. It is great to know if you have had a contact with a person before and if you have had you can recall all the information on the previous contacts. It can also keep track of the QSL status of a contact so the next time you work a guy you can remind him to send you a card!

If you are a keen contester it is almost mandatory that you use contest logging software, without it you will spend many hours trying to sort out your logs after the contest and you will have lots of duplicate contacts! Depending on the contest you want to enter you will have many options, for a start this issue I will discuss one of our locally produced contest logging software packages. This is the program SARLHF Contest Logger, written by Nico – ZS4NS. This software was awarded the Tinus Lange award this year for software written for amateur radio. This software was written specifically for the SARL SSB and CW contests. It does real-time logging so after the contest it is very quick to produce the paperwork needed to enter the contest. It is great to see a program written for a local contest so THANKS Nico!

1. Real-time logging, this means that once the contest is complete the log is ready for entry, this can often be the most painful part of the contest!
2. It checks for 3 banders and Zones worked, it will check for a possible 3 bander is you work a station for the second time on a different band, this will allow you to ask the other station to QSY to the third band for extra points. (see the SARL contest blue-book for full contest rules)
3. The program will warn you if the station you are working is a duplicate on the current band.
4. The program keeps a running total of your points as you log contacts during the contest so you know how you are doing.
5. It will display the zones as you work a new zone so you know all the time what Zones are needed.
6. The preferred frequencies are displayed on screen so you know where to look for other contest stations and it helps you to stay within the rules of the contest, remember we are only supposed to use certain parts of the bands.
7. It calculates QSO point according to Zone points and 3 banders.
8. It will produce an ASCII log that can then be edited with a word processor or with Notepad after the contest.

One you have installed it please read the VERY complete documentation that comes with it and you should have no problems.

To customize the program with your personal details like call and address edit the HFDETAIL.INI file with Notepad or your favorite ASCII editor, this file can be found in the c:\program files\sarlhf directory. Once you have changed the details in this file from Nico’s details to your own you can save the file (in the same directory) and the run the program by double clicking on the SARLHF.EXE icon. The program will now be functional so have fun but remember to practice using it BEFORE the contest!

This program makes it very easy to enter these local contests so I hope to work all of you during the next round!

Now we need a version of the program that will cover the SARL VHF/UHF contest as well as the PEARS VHF contest (Nico?)……

That’s all for now, hope to hear from everyone soon, till next time,

73, Rudi de ZS6DX