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CONTEST.DOC
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PC-HAM CONTEST.DOC Version 2.0 PAGE 1
PC-HAM Version 2.0
G3ZCZ AMATEUR RADIO CONTEST PACKAGE VERSION 2.0
(C) Copyright 1985, 1986 - All Rights Reserved
By Joe Kasser G3ZCZ
POB 3419,
Silver Spring,
Md., 20901, USA.
PC-HAM is a set of DATA Processing Amateur Radio programs for
the user of a microcomputer in Amateur Radio. The BASIC language
programs may or may not be described in or be based on programs
described in the book, SOFTWARE FOR AMATEUR RADIO written by Joe
Kasser, G3ZCZ, published by TAB Books (Number 1560), Blue Ridge
Summit, Pa., 17214. The DBASE2 programs perform database
operations on logbook information.
PC-HAM is written and supported by Joe Kasser, G3ZCZ.
The program is distributed as a Shareware product. You may
freely copy and share the product with your friends, associates
and other radio hams. If you decide to use the product, you are
asked to become a registered user by sending a QSL card and a
contribution to the author (suggested amount of $36.50 (ie.
half of 73) or equivalent in foreign currency (See registration
form below).
The contribution covers the cost of distribution of the updated
disk, and supports the continual development of "Software for
Amateur Radio". Upon receipt of your contribution, you will
receive one free update disk ), mail (electronic and regular)
support, and notice of further releases. The update disk will
contain any new versions of the software on this disk (converted
programs from Northstar BASIC to IBM) plus new software,
accompanying the series of articles currently being written on
the applications of data processing concepts of microcomputers
to amateur radio.
Under no circumstances may this product be sold or distributed
with another product without the express written permission of
Joe Kasser, G3ZCZ.
Joe Kasser, G3ZCZ will only support unmodified copies of this
software. Your comments and suggestions for changes are however
welcome. If you are the first to suggest a change that is
implemented, you will be sent a complimentary copy of the disk
with the change incorporated.
PC-HAM CONTEST.DOC Version 2.0 PAGE 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 DURING THE CONTEST
3.0 COMMANDS
3.1 QSL (Function Key 1)
3.2 Band (Function Key 2)
3.3 CALL (Function Key 3)
3.4 *QRT (Function Key 4)
3.5 RPT RX (Function Key 5)
3.6 Fudge (Function Key 6)
3.7 XMT RPT (Function Key 7)
3.8 /PX CHK (Function Key 8)
3.9 LOG (Function Key 9)
3.10 ?CLN (Function Key 10)
3.11 WATTS
3.12 MODE
4.0 AFTER THE CONTEST
5.0 SAMPLE DISK FILES
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Contests are a natural application of computers in amateur
radio. After all the purpose of a contest can be stated as
gathering data (the calls and reports of stations worked) in
such a way as to avoid duplicates. When working contests in a
manual (non computer) mode, if you desire to avoid
duplicates, you usually have to keep two sets of records for
each contact. The log entry has to be made, and a duplicate
sheet of some kind has to be kept to give real time notice of
potential duplicate contacts.
The use of a good contest logging program simplifies the paper
work during and after a contest and allows the operator to
concentrate on working stations.
During the contest, the operator has only to perform the
following tasks.
* Enter the call sign of the station worked.
* Enter the report received.
* Tell the computer to log the contact.
The computer takes care of the rest of the data handling. The
computer thus performs the following tasks.
* Keeps a check list in memory to notify the operator if a
PC-HAM CONTEST.DOC Version 2.0 PAGE 3
contact has been made on the same (duplicate) or an other
band.
* Updates date and time information automatically.
* Stores the contact data in a floppy disk file.
2.0 DURING THE CONTEST
The contest program on this disk maintains the check list for
duplicates in memory, logs all contacts to disk and can if
desired (and so it should be) print a running log of contacts
and/all callsigns to the printer as the contest progresses.
This print operation is desirable in case of a power failure, or
operator error in which a contact was not logged by mistake.
BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE, SET THE CAPITALS KEY SO THAT ALL
CHARACTERS ARE ENTERED IN CAPITAL LETTERS.
The program is invoked by loading BASIC and then loading and
executing the contest program in the usual manner for programs
written in BASIC.
When the program begins, a sign on message such as that shown
below will appear.
G3ZCZ CONTEST LOGGING PROGRAM VERSION 2.61
IF TIME IS NOT SET TO UTC, STOP NOW AND SET THE CLOCK IN DOS
At this time, if the clock has not been set to UTC before you
loaded the program, break the sequence and return to DOS to set
the date and time to the correct UTC values.
You will then be requested to give the computer the name of the
file you wish be the log. The computer checks the disk to see
if the file exists. If it does, the computer will load the data
in it into the check list, and display the calls worked as it
goes along. If there is no such file on the disk, the computer
will create one. You will then be asked about your running
print requirements. You have the option of printing the logged
contacts and/or just the calls (as you enter them) as you go
along. Reply with the CAPITAL letters please as in the examples
below.
Enter name of lOG file (D:NAME) Log type .LOG Assumed ? FIELD85
Do you want a running log printed out (Y/N) ? Y
Do you want CALL SIGNS printed out (Y/N) ? Y
If the log file is new, the computer will prompt you to enter
the Mode, Band and after a short pause, it will request you to
enter the Transmitter Power information before getting down to
PC-HAM CONTEST.DOC Version 2.0 PAGE 4
the contest.
If you are loading an existing file, after a break for example,
the computer will load the check list from the log file and
display the calls as it goes along. When the log is loaded, the
computer will pause and wait for you to touch the 'ENTER' key
before setting up the main screen. A typical example from the
FIELD85 log is shown below.
166 G4NWG 54019
167 G4TSH 55024
168 G4OVF 57001
169 G4EKT/P 55592
170 DF0WB/P 53
Waiting,touch ENTER to continue ?
You can see the entry number, followed by the call sign od the
station worked and lastly the report received. The remaining
data in the log file associated with each contact is there but
is not displayed at this time.
When the program begins a new contest log, you will be presented
with the following screen.
G3ZCZ CONTEST LOGGING PROGRAM VERSION 2.60 DUMMY
-------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT ENTRY
1 ?
QRU ?
The top line contains the version of the program and displays
the name of the disk file you are using as the log. It is
recommended that the name be somewhat representative of the
contest. Use names such as WPX87, ARRLDX86, FIELD85 and so on.
The blank area following is where the last few contacts you made
will be displayed. You thus have an ongoing display of the
last contacts . It is very useful to see how you are doing and
in the Worked All Europe contest you can use that data for the
QTC information (if you are located outside Europe).
PC-HAM CONTEST.DOC Version 2.0 PAGE 5
The lower part of the screen contains the CURRENT ENTRY
date. This is the data concerning the contact in progress. In
this case the next contact is the first or number 1, and the
call data is blank because nothing has been entered.
As you work the contest you will pick up information from other
stations. This information will consist of call signs and
reports. In some contests (eg. The ARRL Sweepstakes) the report
is relatively complex, in others it is simple. You do not know
in which order you will get the data for each contact. This
program thus lets you enter the data in any order. You tell the
computer which piece of data is going to be entered by typing a
single letter followed by the 'ENTER' key.
In order to speed up that operation, the function keys have been
set up with those commands, and are displayed during the contest
for your convenience.
3.0 COMMANDS
The contest logging program gives the operator the following
choices. If you do not wish to use the function keys, you have
to type the first letter followed by the 'ENTER' key.
3.1 QSL (Function Key 1)
Displays the log entry data on the screen . This command
may be used for example to verify that the correct band
data is set after changing bands.
3.2 Band (Function Key 2)
Enters the band information for the checklist and log. Use
the following designations for the different bands, 160,
80, 40, 20, 15, 10, and 2.
NOTE, changing the band will clear the call and report data
elements form the display.
3.3 CALL (Function Key 3)
Enters the Call of the station to be or being worked.
When the call is entered, the computer will perform a
check to see if that call has already been worked and if
so on what band. If the call has been worked on the
band in use at that time it will also display the word
DUPLICATE and BEEP an audible alarm. The beep is a must
at 0330 hrs local time.
If you change your mind, type the 'ENTER' key and the call
in the display will not be changed.
3.4 *QRT (Function Key 4)
PC-HAM CONTEST.DOC Version 2.0 PAGE 6
This command terminates the program. It saves the data
associated with the last 12 contacts in a file with the
".CHK" extension so that when the program is
restarted, the operator will not even notice that a
break occurred. The disk files are closed and any previous
log file present from the start of the session is named as
a backup file.
Since you have the potential to lose a number of QSO's
(while recovering) if you invoke this command by mistake,
the computer will ask you to verify that you meant to do
what you just asked for. You will be prompted to confirm
your request with the following message.
ARE YOU SURE ?
At this time, type the letter Y for "YES" followed by the
'ENTER' key if you want to got QRT for a while, or if the
contest is over. Any other key will abort the sequence.
3.5 RPT RX (Function Key 5)
Enter the Report received into the log.
3.6 Fudge (Function Key 6)
This command is used to flag an erroneous log entry. Since
the log on disk is a sequential file, and the log data is
not double buffered by the program, once an entry is
written to the log, it is gone. This command deletes the
call from the list checklist and puts a "/*" entry into
the logbook.
Since you have the potential to delete a QSO if you invoke
this command by mistake, the computer will ask you to
verify that you meant to do what you just asked for. You
will be prompted to confirm your request with the following
message.
ARE YOU SURE ?
At this time, type the letter Y for "YES" followed by the
'ENTER' key if you want to fudge the last contact. Any
other key will abort the sequence.
3.7 XMT RPT (Function Key 7)
Enter the signal report Xmitted to the other station into
the log.
3.8 /PX CHK (Function Key 8)
This command is used to scan the contents of the check
list for prefixes. You use this when you are sure that
PC-HAM CONTEST.DOC Version 2.0 PAGE 7
you have worked a station but the computer tell you that
you haven't. You may also use it to check if a prefix has
been worked as a help in deciding if you want to get into a
pile up or pass it by. NOTE however that the response is
not instantaneous. It takes a good few seconds to scan the
4000 slots in the check list. The computer will prompt you
to enter a prefix. If you want to look at all the calls in
the check list, enter an asterisk (*) as the desired
prefix and you will get a list of every call in the check
list in the order in which they are hashed in the check
list.
3.9 LOG (Function Key 9)
Enter the QSO information into the Log book/check list. The
data is written into the log file in ASCII format delimited
with commas. This makes it easy to modify with a word
processor and read into the program used by the second
computer. You may also list the contents of the log file to
the screen under DOS using the "TYPE" command.
Logging a contact clears the call and time data.
THE COMPUTER WILL NOT LET YOU LOG THE QSO UNTIL YOU HAVE
ENTERED BOTH A CALL SIGN AND A REPORT. This traps one type
of error that can be made in the heat of the moment.
3.10 ?CLN (Function Key 10)
This command clears the screen dialog lines. It is
normally used rarely, only in the event that the BASIC
interpreter generates an error message in response to
a user input. The typical one normally seen is "REDO
FROM START" which results from an alphabetical response
to the BAND interrogation, where BASIC is looking for a
number, not a string.
3.11 WATTS
Enter the Transmitter Power used in Watts into the
logbook.
3.12 MODE
Enter the Mode used in the contest in the log. You may
enter anything, but the most commonly used ones are SSB
and CW.
4.0 AFTER THE CONTEST
When the contest ends, or you take a break, the computer will
close out the log and 'CHK' files and ask you if the contest is
over. The following messages will be displayed.
PC-HAM CONTEST.DOC Version 2.0 PAGE 8
SAVING LAST ENTRY STRINGS BEFORE CLOSING
Is the contest over (Y/N) ?
If you reply with the letter N for NO, the program will end. If
the contest is over, and you reply with the letter Y, the
program will proceed to process the contest log data. It will
delete entries flagged for deletion and optionally will number
the contacts in the comments column. The program prompts for
instructions as to the number option as follows.
CONVERTING (CLEANING UP) CONTEST LOG TO STANDARD LOG
Do you want the contacts numbered (Y/N) ? N
The computer will put a dummy entry into the first position of
the log identifying the contest. It will thus request you to
give it the name of the contest. You must use a name that
contains 10 or fewer characters. The questions is posed as
follows.
What is the name of the contest ? FIELD85
The program first generates a reference entry for the contest
log. It then reads each line of log information, strips the
report part from the comments and puts it into the report space
and if it as been so instructed, adds the serial number of the
contact into the comments space. When the program has done its
job, the original log has been renamed with a ".RUN" file
extension while the converted log data file has the extension
".LOG".
The computer generates a running display as the data processing
job proceeds, a typical example of which is shown below.
85/09/08 -CONTEST SSB FIELD85
85/09/07 1646 G4ANT/P 20 59 59 SSB 200 - - 064
85/09/07 1647 DF0KD/P 20 59 59 SSB 200 - - 131
85/09/07 1648 G4AAX/P 20 59 59 SSB 200 - - 086
85/09/07 1649 YU4EXC/P 20 59 59 SSB 200 - - 198
85/09/07 1651 DF0SSB/P 20 59 59 SSB 200 - - 160
85/09/07 1659 G3WAS/P 20 59 59 SSB 200 - - 089
85/09/07 1703 YU4EZC/4 20 59 59 SSB 200 - - 219
-------
85/09/08 1305 G4NWG 15 54 53 SSB 200 - - 019
85/09/08 1306 G4TSH 15 55 59 SSB 200 - - 024
85/09/08 1307 G4OVF 15 57 53 SSB 200 - - 001
85/09/08 1323 G4EKT/P 20 55 59 SSB 200 - - 592
85/09/08 1330 DF0WB/P 20 53 53 SSB 200 - -
10 Entries were corrected/deleted
OK
Note that the date is set to the date at the end of the contest,
not the date at the start of the contest. When the job is over,
you will be shown how many entries were corrected or deleted.
PC-HAM CONTEST.DOC Version 2.0 PAGE 9
You may examine the log with a word processor (non-document mode
please), or better still APPEND it to the DBASE2 logging package
for further processing. Since the logging package processes
the data so well, a program in BASIC to display the log was
deemed unnecessary.
5.0 SAMPLE DISK FILES
The following sample files of an extract from the 1985 Field
Day contest log are presented on the disk as an aid to
understanding the operation of the CONTEST package.
FIELD85.RUN As run log of contest.
FIELD85.LOG Log, ready for conversion to .DBF format.
FIELD85.CHK Last few entries in log.
FIELD85.DBF Log, in DBASE2 data base format.
FIELD85.NDX Index file for DBASE2 log database.
