[Skimmertalk] Rigsync - it isn't just for Writelog

[Pete Smith]

I don't think so, but I may be the last person on this mailing list to 
realize that W2RF's Rigsync is far more than just a way to integrate CW 
Skimmer and Writelog.  It can also be used to click on any active decoder 
on Skimmer's bandmap, and move both your radio and a contest logging 
program to that frequency.  This even works with Skimmer in "Blind" mode, 
and with Spectravue and Winrad, two common "panadaptor" software programs 
designed to be used with various software-defined receivers.  Right now, I 
have N1MM Logger and Skimmer both controlling the frequency of my two 
radios, and everything seems happy.

Why should you care?  Because, as CT1BOH recently outlined, a visual 
representation of the signals on a band can be very useful to contesters, 
and Skimmer's "Blind" mode makes this information available without 
decoding or any other artificial intelligence, which would raise questions 
about appropriateness for single operator (unassisted) contesting.

Let's say you're running single-op (unassisted) - with Skimmer in "Blind" 
mode, Spectravue or Winrad you can see where all the signals on a band 
are.  Yeah, but my IC-756 Pro can do that, you say.  True, but can you 
click on its pandadaptor screen and move your S&P radio and to the 
frequency of the next station up or down the band, ready to copy its 
callsign and work it if needed?

Potential benefit to single-op (assisted) operators is even greater.  With 
conventional dx cluster spotting, you know what station was on a given 
frequency when it was spotted.  Even with CW Skimmer, you have the 
10-minute minimum repeat between spots, as well as occasional errors in 
identifying and spotting only stations that are CQ-ing.  But on the Skimmer 
bandmap/ waterfall, you can see if the station is still there - more to the 
point, Skimmer can too, and when there is no longer a station on that 
frequency you can see it.

What more?  Well, with Writelog, RigSync passes color-coding information 
back to the Skimmer bandmap, so you can see whether you need a given 
station for a mult or a new Q.  This capability is not yet available for 
other contest logging programs, but hopefully Ed will be able to work with 
their authors to add that level of integration.

To try it for yourself, you'll need RigSync (download from 
http://ehr.net/w2rf/download/rigsync0100.msi) and some way of connecting 
two virtual serial ports to a single radio.  The MicroHam series of USB 
interfaces now have that capability, in Version 7 of their Router software, 
and VSPE from www.eterlogic.com appears to work well for the same functions 
in software.  You'll also need the OmniRig rig control freeware from 
www.dxatlas.com, which runs in the background and is controlled either from 
Skimmer or from RigSync.  Setup is a little complicated, and there is as 
yet no help file with RigSync, but I'd be glad to share my setup if there 
is interest.




73, Pete N4ZR
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