[CQ-Contest] Next generation SO2R and logging software

[CT1BOH - José Carlos Nunes]

I am constantly thinking of ways to improve my final score, focusing in the operating side of the game.

 

Being a user of the main contest logging programs and an SO2R addicted I always felt there was room for huge improvements, not only in what the control of the SO2R equipment by the contest software is concerned, but also in the information and statistics available to the operator, to help him adjust his strategy, throughout the contest.

 

I recently came across two products - a contest logging software (www.win-test.com) and an all in one PC-Radio interface, SO2R and DVK box - EZmaster (www.hamradiosolutions.com).

 

Thanks to Win-Test contest logging software authors, some exciting and new features were recently developed and are now available to the contesting community. I have no commercial interest in these products. I was offered a free Win-Test version, the authors seem to like my ideas and I paid for my EZmaster.



 

PC USB CONTROL

 

For the first time it is possible to control radios, antennas, SO2R functions, etc, with only one cable going out of the PC into the all in one PC-Radio interface box. With this USB cable, the contest logging software will control the EZmaster and all the equipment around connected to the EZmaster. Forget LPT or COM ports.

 

If your PC has one USB port, this is all you need.

 

 

ADVANCED SO2R MANAGEMENT

 

Until now the contester would have to control the SO2R functions in an external SO2R box.

 

Not anymore.

 

Now, with Win-Test and EZmaster, the contester can control everything from the PC, but more importantly, Win-Test will choose the receiving setting of the headphones, automatically, depending of the moment of the QSO and predefined contest scenarios.

 

This is a great advancement. Forget manual settings. Pre-define all the receiving and transmitting settings, of both radios, according to each moment of a contest QSO:

 

Although all SO2R products control the headset audio automatically to listen to the second radio (R2R2) in both ears while the first radio is transmitting, it is up to the user to decide and control when to listen to the first radio (R1R1) or to both radios (R1R2) during non-transmitting moments. This is a very tiring process in a 48-hour event or in a very intense event like the Sprint contest.

 

Win-Test introduces a new concept - Advanced SO2R mode. This mode will control automatically everything according to:

 

The moment of the QSO

Pre-defined scenarios

 

 

Win-Test comes with five pre-defined scenarios:

 

"Small pile-up"

"Big-pile up"

"Work multiplier" on second radio while keeping a run

"Check band" for possible move to another band

"Alternate CQ" in two bands

 

Apart from these pre-defined scenarios, the user can define and add extra scenarios. It's up to his imagination, because Win-Test is very flexible and easy to set-up.

 

Take a look at the example below that explains better this new concept, with a simulated QSO between P40E using Advanced SO2R and CT1RB.

 

The chosen scenario is "big-pile up" mode.

The moments of the QSO are defined by P40E actions in the contest-logging program.

 

Moment 1 begins when P40E pushes F1 to broadcast his contest call.

Moment 3 begins when P40E pushes INSERT to start the QSO with CT1RB

Moment 5 begins when P40E pushes + to finish the QSO with CT1RB

 

Note when CT1RB sends his call in the pile-up in moment 2, P40E is listening with both ears in the run radio (R1R1), because there is a big pile-up going on, and he does not want to miss part of a call. If the mode would be "Small pile-up" the setting would be R1R2 instead of R1R1, because the risk of loosing letters of the call in the pile-up is small.

 

Moment            RX/TX                         P40E headphone setting

 

Moment1:            TEST P40E                  R2R2

Moment2:            ct1boh                          R1R1

Moment3:            CT1BOH 5999            R2R2

Moment4:            tu 59914                       R1R2

Moment5:            TU P40E                      R2R2

 

Take notice that the user does not touch any button, or the external SO2R box. It is Win-Test that automatically moves the headphones settings of EZmastert from R2R2 to R1R1 to R1R2 according to the moment of the QSO.

 

Let's now check "work-multiplier mode". I will focus in the part a station is working a multiplier spotted in the second radio. This mode is a little bit more interesting because it involves automatic transmitting:

Imagine P40E is running his pile-up in radio1 and spots ZD8Z with the second radio. While he calls and works ZD8Z, he wants to make sure he keeps his running frequency busy and at the same time, eventually copy another call for his run in radio1, in case ZD8Z does not come back to his call in radio2.

 

P40E spotted ZD8Z on the second radio and is ready to send his call to ZD8Z pile-up.

P40E pushes SHIFT+F4 and this will send the content of F4 message into the second radio plus his call into the first radio. (Just a note to explain why the SHIFT key plus F4. In Win-Test, when a user pushes any F1-F7 key this sends the content of F# key to radio 1. When the user pushes SHIFT+F# key, this will send the content of the F# key to radio2)

 

Now if you are used to the old generation contest logging software you would expect the content of F4 key to be just your call, F4=P40E, in this example. Well not with this new generation contest logging software. The content of F4 key, is the $F4 (P40E) plus audio control (radio1 and radio2) and transmitting control (radio1 and radio2).

 

F4 setting key in Win-Test would be the following:

 

F4 = $R1R1 $F4 $R2R2 $TR2 $MSG1 $R1R2

 

This means that P40E after pushing SHIFT+F4 to send his call in radio 2 to ZD8Z pile-up, Win-Test will do the following:

 

Move the audio setting of the headphone to both ears into radio1 ($R1R1) and send P40E ($F4) in radio 2

After $F4 (P40E) is sent, automatically, Win-Test moves the audio setting to the second radio in both ears ($R2R2), so that P40E can check if ZD8Z comes back to his call, and at the same time the content of $MSG1 (in this case TEST P40E) will be sent into secondary radio ($TR2 $MSG1) in this case radio1, and after this is done, Win-Test will change the audio setting of the headphones to both radios ($R1R2). At this time P40E will have one ear in radio1, to get a call, to continue the pile-up, in radio1, if ZD8Z does not reply in radio2 and another ear in radio2 to work ZD8Z, if ZD8Z replies to P40E call.

 

What if you don't like these settings? Well changing it is as easy as changing the content of F# keys in old generation logging software. Just edit it and R#R#, $TR# whatever you want.  Listen to the radios as you like when you like according to the moment of the QSO.

 

As you see the user can program every transmitting and receiving settings according to his scenarios, with full flexibility and control. Also, in any moment, no matter what the automatic pre-defined setting, he can manually change it.

 

This is a very powerful and innovative way of operating, totally automatic, only now possible with Win-Test and Ezmaster.

 

Go to this address to view an example of the scenario configuration window:

http://ct1boh.no.sapo.pt/pics/scenarios.jpg

 

Go to this address to view an example of the SO2R  (Primary radio - the log, Secondary radio, Radio1 and Radio2) windows:

http://ct1boh.no.sapo.pt/pics/so2r.jpg

 

 

CALLSIGN FEEDING and SO2R WINDOW

 

Another interesting aspect of Win-Test is the way to feed calls into radio1 and radio2.

 

A big problem an SO2R operator has to face is the fact he is running with 2 radios but only has one keyboard. Sometime checking if a call is a multiplier or not is not very easy, especially if there is a run going on at the same time.

 

TR users will push ALT and D keys write a call and then hit ENTER to check if a call is a multiplier.

CT users can do this procedure in a more efficient way, because the computer puts the radio 2 log entry field in front, automatically, while radio 1 is transmitting. All the operator has to do is type a call, saving ALT key , D key and ENTER key. Although this is very efficient (I had the idea, and asked K1EA to implement it), the timing takes a little to get used to and is dependent on the transmission of radio1.

 

Win-Test proposes two ways to solve the problem, dependent only of the user will. While the user pushes the SHIFT key, this signals the program that whatever is typed into the keyboard goes into the second radio log entry field or while the user pushes a footswitch whatever he types into the keyboard goes into the second radio log entry field. Automatically, letter by letter of a callsign typed in the log field entry, Win-Test tells the user if it is a new multiplier or not.

 

Because Win-Test is a window based program there is a window with all the information regarding the SO2R management and with the callsign field of the secondary radio. In this window the user will check which is the active radio, where he is listening (R1R1; R1R2; R2R2), where he is transmitting (TX1; TX2). It is also in this window that the user can, at any time of the moment of the QSO, change the audio setting automatically defined by the moment of the QSO, and by the different scenarios. This manual setting will be valid only during that moment. When any transmission begins and a new QSO moment begins, Win-Test automatic setting, take control. This way the user has total flexibility to control the audio setting of his radios.



 

STATISTICAL INFORMATION

 

Another aspect I always thought could be improved in contest logging software is statistical information available to the operator.

 

Win-Test is very strong in this regard:

 

Rate Window

 

Apart from the normal "Last Hour", "Last 10", "Last 100", "Since beginning of hour", rate information, Win-Test displays a moving graph (15 column) of the rate. This moving graph can be computed in a 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 minute period. The rate itself can be displayed as "QSO/Hour", "Points/QSO", "QSO points/hour" or "Points/hour". All this can be changed with two clicks.

 

Go to this address to view an example of the rate window: http://ct1boh.no.sapo.pt/pics/rate.jpg



 

Real versus Objective Graph Window

 

Another interesting and for the first time available in a contest logging software is Objective Tracking.

 

Imagine you set goals for your contest operation:

QSO goals

Multipliers goals

Score goals

 

Win-Test will track real time information of your QSOs, Multipliers and Score, comparing them, real time, every QSO, against the goals defined in an objective file and will display a Real minus Objective graph of the information. This way you can keep pushing for the record or for your particular objective.

 

You can even change at any given time during the contest, the objective file. The user can define for example, three objective files, and choose any, according to propagation, or his specific performance.



Go to this address to view an example of the objective window

http://ct1boh.no.sapo.pt/pics/objectives.jpg

In the picture you can see P40E 2003 real versus objective (SOAB world record), at the end of the contest.



 

Other Graph Windows

 

The user also has the possibility to plot real time, all sorts of graphs: QSOs, Multipliers, points, Average points per QSOS, DXCC, Zones, etc)

 

 

MAP Window

 

There is world map window with grayline information, and under development is a very interesting feature that will tell the user, using a color intensity layer, the percentage of QSOs coming from the different parts of the world. This will be very useful for the decision making process, what band to operate, etc.



 

Other Windows

 

There are many other windows available I just mention a few:

Solar Activity graph window (Solar Flux, A, K)

Ham Cap Propagation prediction interface window

 

 

Anyway, there are so many other little things available, but I leave that to you to explore.

 

Win-Test is definitely a next generation contest logging software, and with an Ezmaster attached, advanced SO2R is possible, surely, a dream come through, for the serious contester. 

 

 José Nunes

CT1BOH

www.qsl.net/ct1boh