Thanks to you all I'm now running a test setup with 2 computers (XP and 98)
each running an image of WL. But I just ran aground on how best to use
PFkeys on CW
When contesting I'm usually either running contacts or searching and
pouncing (S&P). It appears that the PFKey definitions are cumbersome at
best for S&P. I'm wondering how you all set them up for most efficient
operation.
What I have right now gives me excellent CQ/run mode operation. I hit
PF1/11 and a CQ fires off. I enter the call sign of the station calling and
hit enter. My exchange gets sent, cursor goes out of the call field to the
next in the exchange. For a DX contest, unless the database is out of date,
there's nothing to enter. WL fills in the most likely exchange info, I
listen, confirm it, and hit enter to end and log the QSO and sign my call,
hopefully getting another call to repeat the processs. If not, I hit PF1/11
and call CQ again. So far so good.
Now let's imagine S&P. I'm tuning along and find a station I want to call.
Or, I see one on the band map. Either way, a call gets entered in the call
field.
I can't hit enter, like I do after a CQ, because that will send my exchange
data. I need to establish contact. So I guess I hit PF4 (defined with my
call in it). I then copy his exchange and verify what WL filled in is
correct. I then hit PF2 (defined with my exchange in it). When I hear the
TU or R in return I then hit CTRL-ENTER to silently log the QSO.
What am I missing here? It seems like S&P is a lot of PF keystrokes. Not
nearly as intuitive as CQing.
Is there a better way do set this up? S&P seems overly cumbersome; it would
be nice if it were similar to CQing.
Thanks,
Gary W2CS
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