[SD-User] V17.29 Released

[Paul O'Kane]

V17.29  20 February 2014

Tesla Memorial Contest:
     When editing the locator logged on earlier QSOs,
     the distance and score are updated immediately.

     www.radiosport.org.rs/HFTeslaMemorial/index.php/rules

ARRL DX - non W/VE:
     Fixed a template error that caused "DX" rather
     than Power to be written to QSO records.

NAURYZ DX Contest:
     Support added.

     www.nauryz-dx-contest.com/index.php/rules/contest-rules-2014

FOC Marathon:
     QSOs with non-members (Serial 0) no longer count
     for Country bonus points.  When they represent
     the only QSO with that country, the country is
     not dimmed in the Country/Band window - indicating
     it is still needed for bonus points.

COM Ports for Rig Control and Keying:
     Updated - see V17.27

     The PORTS command has been replaced.  CWPORT, or
     KEYPORT, assigns a port for CW, whether internal
     or for WinKey.   RIGPORT, or CATPORT, assigns a
     port for rig-control.

     Added diagnostic options for switching the status
     of DTR and RTS on the keyer and rig-control (CAT)
     ports.

     KEYDTRON KEYDTROFF KEYRTSON KEYRTSOFF
     CATDTRON CATDTROFF CATRTSON CATRTSOFF

     These settings are not permanent - they apply
     only to the current session.

     Using SD's internal keyer:
       DTR is used for keying, and RTS for PTT - but
       only if PTT has been enabled with the PTTON
       command.

     Rig-Control:
       Polling uses XMT, and responses from the rig
       apear on RCV. SD does not use other handshake
       signals, if any - their status is ignored.

       To use either DTR or RTS to power an external
       level converter, use the RIGPOWER or CATPOWER
       command.

     With SD's internal keyer (but not with WinKey)
     a single serial port (or USB-Serial converter)
     may be used to support both keying and rig
     control - but only when power is not needed for
     an external rig-control converter. Use the SHARE
     command to enable this facility, followed by
     PORTS.

     WinKey devices communicate with SD using the
     same "pins" (XMT and RCV) as for rig control,
     That's why separate COM ports are required.

USB-Serial Converters:
     Devices with FDTI chips are recommended. They
     are consistently reliable, especially for CW,
     unlike those with Prolific chips.


_________________________________________


SD is free from ei5di.com - please encourage other
contesters to try it. One option that works well
is to leave a few words of support at eham.net.

You can see earlier reviews at
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/522

To add your own, follow the "add your own review"
link immediately above the most recent review. You
may have to register with eHam or contesting.com
to do this but, don't worry, it doesn't lead to
spam emails.

When you install a new version of SD, you may have
to increase the size of the default window to fill
your screen. If necessary, do this for both SD and
SDCHECK.

Click on the title bar, or the SD icon, at the top
LHS of the window and select Properties, then Font.
If you have a widescreen (16:9) monitor, select the
Lucida Console font.  For a 4:3 monitor, select the
Consolas font (not available on XP).  Then choose
whatever size of font you prefer.  SD's window
expands or contracts in direct proportion to the
chosen font size.

If you find bugs in V17.29, please send me the
details - pokane at ei5di dot com.  Older versions
are not supported, so please confirm that the
problem exists in V17.29.

Please let me have your suggestions for changes
or additions or new contests.  If you don't ask,
it may not happen.

73,
Paul EI5DI