[CQ-Contest] Next generation SO2R and logging software

[David Robbins K1TTT]

You should ask most of that on the n1mm reflector on yahoogroups.com... some
answers below...


David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
web: http://www.k1ttt.net
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Igor Sokolov [mailto:ua9cdc at r66.ru]
> Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 08:38
> To: David Robbins K1TTT; 'Mario'; cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Next generation SO2R and logging software
> 
> We are planning on possible operation of HQ stations in IARU from
> zone 30. Since there need to be several stations scattered around the
> entire zone we immediately thought of N1MM with internet
> connectivity. So we tried to test how it works, 4.0.189 was said to

keep up with the latest versions, fixes are made quickly when bugs are
reported so if you see a bug in a particular contest it is likely it can be
fixed right away.

> be more or less stable version so we have set it up. Here are my
> observations about what does not work as we think it should:
> 1)Force other station stop TX when I TX. Although it works but the
> algorithm is different from what would be needed. That is if there
> are two stations linked and both would set that flag on, then the one
> that start TX later interrupts the one that starts to TX first. If
> only one of the two linked stations set that flag this station then
> has a priority and it could be used somehow provided you physically
> see the other operator and his input window. Ideally it would be neat
> to see the input window of each operator on both screens and also
> have a small screen with video of the other operator (10-15 frames
> per second will be more then sufficient)
> The alternative is to have some indication of PTT signals of both of
> the stations on each screen. There is some indication but it only
> shows you who has interrupted your TX. And it stays on even when PTT
> of the other station has been released.
> It would also be helpful to have some sort of MP3 audio channel
> between the two ops one of whom is running and another one does S&P
> on the same band.

You can run something like ms netmeeting if you want to see and hear the
other op.  you may need 2 sound cards to be able to have an out of band chat
though.  and of course bandwidth is a critical factor.


> 2)Audio recording of the contest does not work in this version

report this as a bug to the n1mm.com bug report form, with specific
symptoms.  We have done lots of work on audio stuff recently but I thought
it should be working in the latest version 4.

> 3)We could not figure the way on entering of the call to see
> immediately what bands this station is still needed and what bands
> this mult is needed. This info is readily available when we use TRlog

its in the color of the buttons on the available window.  This has been
worked on also recently so check it for the specific contest you are
interested in to be sure he has the contest rules coded right.

> 4) Band map is pretty limited. I can only see about 150 kHz of 20m
> band on 17 inch monitor with 1024X768 resolution. There is no
> provision for the band map of all the bands on the same screen. IMHO
> TRlog implementation of band map is occupying less space on the
> screen and is much more flexible.

The available window shows you how many qso's and mults are available to
work on other bands.  The bandmaps are meant to show the one or two vfo's
that you have available directly, the available window does the rest.

> 5) The need to use mouse a lot is IMHO also a disadvantage. I only
> have two hands for keyboard and radio.

Funny, I almost never use the mouse during the contest unless I want to move
a window around for some reason.  Everything can be done from the keyboard
unless you like to click in the digital window to grab something that the
program doesn't decode as a callsign correctly.

> 6) We also tried to use N1MM in PACC contest as Multi-Single but we
> could not do that because of the issue with serial numbers starting
> with 001 on every new band.

That is being changed in version 5 which is being worked on now.  Until then
multi-single operations are limited to a single computer.

> The conclusion we came to is that N1MM probably has good potential
> for MS, M2 and MM in the future but so far we are better off with
> more reliable and fast and stable TRlog which unfortunately lacks
> proper connectivity and integration with audio and video but still
> IMHO is the best choice for single op (including SO2R). Will be
> looking forward to ver.  5 of N1MM to see how it works.

With the exception of the serial number problem with multiple computers when
you run m/s serial numbered contests version 4 is quite stable and used in
many large contest stations.  I run a wireless network with 8 logging
computer here and rarely have to do anything during a contest.


> 
> 73, Igor UA9CDC
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Robbins K1TTT" <k1ttt at arrl.net>
> To: "'Mario'" <s56a at bit.si>; <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2005 8:03 PM
> Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] Next generation SO2R and logging software
> 
> 
> In n1mm logger version 5 that is being developed now we have
> developed a no
> external hardware so2r capability.  With a computer with 2 sound
> cards and a
> couple cables we can take 2 radio audio and switch it from mono on
> either
> radio to stereo with one radio in each ear to track radio selection
> from the
> keyboard.  It also switches the mic and playback of recorded messages
> to one
> radio or the other to track the selected transmit radio so vox and
> voice
> keying track properly.
> 
> 
> David Robbins K1TTT
> e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
> web: http://www.k1ttt.net
> AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:cq-contest-
> > bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Mario
> > Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2005 23:28
> > To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> > Subject: [CQ-Contest] Next generation SO2R and logging software
> >
> > Jose, I hope you didn't overlook Writelog or free N1MM Logger?
> >
> > Tom, N1MM works for a long time on the advanced contest logging
> concept
> > with
> > radio being just another source of data.
> >
> > PC Sound card stereo features are extensively used in RTTY/SSB.
> Internal
> > audio mixer is very flexible.
> >
> > I don't have any additional boxes between my FT-1000MP and PC.
> > I simply modified CAT for COM RTS/PTT and DTR/KEY control.
> >
> > LP MMM S56A
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
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> >
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