My experience pretty much confirms your write-up.
I've used ESM since it was introduced in TR-Log many years ago. It is
always enabled when I'm operating. I use it in WriteLog, N1MM and Win-Test.
Win-Test allows the user to customize the details of how ESM works via the
LUA scripting language and I have done that, having created my own personal
version of how ESM works in that logger.
I do not disable ESM when doing S&P. The main reason for this is that I am
often running on one receiver and tuning the band for S&P QSOs on the
sub-receiver on the same band at the same time. (Plus, as you note, it is
too distracting and time-consuming to enable/disable ESM continually during
the contest.) For S&P, I simply map two messages to the two Square Bracket
keys just above the Enter key. Open Square Bracket is my call sign, once.
Close Square Bracket is my S&P exchange which also logs the QSO. (Rarely,
do I regret logging the S&P QSO, so this saves doing the Shift-Enter every
time.)
The three keys directly below are my remapped Run messages: Semi-Colon is my
TU, NOW message for executing a QSO out of the call sign queue, Apostrophe
is the Insert or Run Exchange message and Enter is the CQ or TU/CQ message
(depending on QSO state, i.e., ESM).
I operate 99% of the contest simply using these 5 keys plus the trackballs
to capture calls or exchanges. In RTTY this allows me to use one hand on
each keyboard/trackball for each radio. One PC per radio, networked.
Over the years, this configuration has worked well for me, especially when
I'm juggling 2 or more radios, each with two receivers on different
frequencies in the same band. Run messages and S&P messages are located in
clear positions, in close proximity, on all keyboards.
OTOH, some people's brains may prefer a different use model, so there is no
one "right answer" for everyone.
Ed W0YK
_______________________________________________________________________
-----Original Message-----
From: WriteLog [mailto:writelog-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Gary
AL9A
Sent: 07 September, 2015 18:39
To: WriteLog Reflector
Subject: [WriteLog] ESM and WriteLog
The recent thread about using keyboard shortcut commands to navigate through
the spots in the Band Map got me to thinking a bit. Always a dangerous
thing for someone my age to engage in! One of the main purposes of this
reflector is to exchange information and tips about WriteLog in addition to
help solving the occasional problem that always crops up somewhere. From
some of the direct emails I got in response to setting up Band Map
navigation shortcuts I 'm wondering if there might be some other neat
WriteLog abilities that few are aware of, much less use on a regular basis?
One of the first things that popped into my mind in that regard is ESM,
Enter Sends Message.
I frequently see on some other reflectors comments from N1MM users who are
greatly impressed with the ESM functions in that software. Some have gone
so far as to indicate it is the main reason they use N1MM. How many
WriteLog users are aware that it also has ESM capability? How many would
use this function if they know it's there? How many know its there, but
have no idea how to set it up and use it? Interesting questions, but no way
to come up with an answer.
So, in case someone out there in the WriteLog universe might want to think
about using ESM I have updated a file I created some months back at the
behest of a couple of AK hams who were interested in the concept. After
updating a few topics I have saved the document as a pdf file that can be
downloaded from the link below. If anyone follows through with this set of
instructions and actually tries out ESM in a contest I'd be interested in
hearing your thoughts.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2lwy9q3m78l2tag/Writelog%20ESM%20setup.pdf?dl=0
73,
Gary AL9A
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