CQ/X: GPS-Enabled Software for Mobile Contesting
Check out this new program developed by a veteran state QSO-party mobile operator: www.no5w.com.
N1MMLogger
For N1MM information and downloads go here. Latest version (10.4.0) has some very useful new features for those operating in multiple QSO parties at the same time! K4XU found a nugget from the latest N1MM Logger References, 2010-02-27.pdf regarding handling of the three overlapping QSO parties:
5.1. Same weekend: 7QP, Indiana QSO Party and the New England QSO Party
THREE major QSO parties - the 7QP (7th Call Area QSO Party), the Indiana QSO Party and the New England QSO Party - are all on the same weekend. Wondering how to operate in all three at the same time? Changing logs each time you find a station working one of "the other" QSO parties is cumbersome. A three-in-one list of sections will allow you to work counties in any of the three QSO parties (7QP, InQP and NEQP) and log them using N1MM Logger. Check out the website from VA7ST (Google for "va7st 7qp n1mm"). The scoring won't be correct, because you're logging all QSOs in the same log. However, you will be able to submit your all-in-one log to the 7QP and the NEQP.
While this deals more with someone NOT inside either of the three areas, it is also useful to any of the inside 7QP participants who want to send their logs to the other two parties. It allows you to log what they send and have it count for all. For example, if W1YK sends WORMA as his exchange, it is properly parsed as MA for 7QP purposes.
N1MM now has a ROVER category. It allows a mobile to change all the F-key messages at once by including the {ROVERQTH} macro. It also clears the dupe log allowing you to work everyone again. Pretty cool.
1.1. How Mobile/Rover Works
First, set >File >Open Log in Database >Contest tab >Mode Category = "Rover" on the contest setup page, else none of this works.
Typing "roverqth" into the callsign field and hitting Enter pops a window for you to input the county designator, typically 3 or 4 characters (hit Enter again). This changes the current QTH. The new "RoverQTH" is displayed in the top border of the Entry window, beside the frequency display. The new macro {ROVERQTH} when placed in your F-key messages will always send the current county designator... and log it as such. Note the "RoverQTH" column in the log window. Now, a mobile/rover in a QSO party/VHF contest will have a quick, easy way of changing counties and re-programming F-key messages in one step. Also, you will have a complete, composite log. No cutting and pasting Cabrillos anymore.
RoverQTH can be 10 characters long but most Cabrillo output is five or six characters long. The macro {ROVERQTH} sends the RoverQTH.
TR4W
Supports 7QP.
Go here for more information and downloads for TR4W.
SD from EI5DI
SD has excellent support for 7QP. "Enter Send Messages" mode is now supported, like CT, N1MM, and TR. SD is now a shareware product, but the quality of support and development is excellent.
Go here for more information on SD.
CT
(CT information provided by Jim, AD1C)
CT can be used to log the 7-Land QSO Party using the NEQP (New England QSO Party) contest. The appropriate multiplier files for 7QP can be found here.
There are two multiplier files in the 7QP.zip archive:
- 7QP.DAT - multiplier file for outside 7-land
- 7QPSTAT.DAT - multiplier file for inside 7-land
These files must be copied in place of the NEQP files that come with CT:
- 7QP.dat replaces NEQP.dat
- 7QPSTAT.dat replaces NEQPSTAT.dat
The easiest way to get set up for 7QP is to create an empty directory for logging the contest, then copy the two files as shown above into the newly created directory. This will prevent you from over-writing the real NEQP files.
When setting up the contest in CT, pick the correct contest name:
- If you are operating inside 7-Land, select "NEQP (W1)"
- If you are operating outside 7-Land, select "NEQP (non-W1)"
If you are logging inside 7-Land, CT will only accept a 4-character abbreviation. That's OK because it only counts the first two letters of the abbreviation (the state) towards your multiplier total. Those outside of 7-Land can log the full 5-character county abbreviation.
TR Log
Download the appropriate configuration and multiplier files: non-7th-area stations use 7QP.cfg and 7QP.dom; 7th-area-stations use 7QP-W7.cfg and 7QP-W7.dom.
TR currently won't generate a 7QP Cabrillo file, so use the following procedure (whether you are in or outside the 7th call area):
1. Make a _copy_ of your 7qp log.dat file and name it "[YOURCALL].dat".
2. Make and save a new config file, "[YOURCALL].cfg" with two lines:
MY CALL = [your call]
CONTEST = New England QSO
3. Start POST, select [yourcall], and create a Cabrillo. Say NO to "Did you operate from W1?".
4. Enter your StateCounty (e.g. ORDES) if you are in W7 or your 2-letter State or Province abbreviation if not.
5. Open the resulting Cabrillo file [YOURCALL].cbr and change the Contest name to 7QP. Edit your other info, Category, power, modes, etc, as necessary.
6. Email the [YOURCALL].cbr file to 7qplogs@codxc.org
7. It is not necessary to score your entry, remove extraneous contacts, or fill out a summary form - as long as all the required info is in the header of your Cabrillo file.
8. After submitting your Cabrillo file, your call should appear on the list of
7QP Logs Received page on 7QP.org, generally within 48 hours.
GenLog/W3KM
7QP support is in all versions of GenLog contest logger since v6.47 (W3KM's GenLog)
WriteLog
All versions from 10.59 (released in March 2006) supports 7QP. You can get it from here: WriteLog Homepage
ADIF County Conversion Software (from AD1C)
AD1C has a program designed aid in the import of QSO party contest logs into general purpose logging programs, automating the conversion of county abbreviations (like "ADA") into ADIF-compatible county names ("PA,Adams"). It's available here.
This program should work both in DOS and in an MS-DOS window under all flavors of MS Windows. Type the name of the program by itself to see the syntax, as well as the complete list of QSO parties supported.
Win-EQF from N3EQF
We have it on good authority (Bob/N7MSU) that the later versions of this program support 7QP. In 2006, at least two stations submitted logs from this program, so it must be true!
Go here for more information on Win-EQF.
ADIF2CABR from SP7DQR
Just in case you want to help out the committee and submit your log in Cabrillo rather than ADIF...
SP7DQR's Log Conversion Utilities |
