[WriteLog] Provinces

Mon, 6 Jan 2003 16:24:45 -0600

Mark, the software checking software should be able to differentiate
between different aliases.  You are correct in saying what the ARRL shows
should show up in the Cabrillo file but it doesn't have to.  The log checking
software is going to have an ALIAS list to go by.  I don't recall anyone ever
being dinged for having NFLD instead of NF, NWT instead of NT, etc.

A standard should be put in place for all contests with Provinces/Territories/Labrador
as multipliers.  The ARRL has standardize them for the Roundup and the namedmul.ini
file should reflect this.  The ARRL lists the following Canadian multipliers:

NB
NS
QC
ON
MB
SK
AB
BC
NT
NF
LB
NU
YT
PEI

So in theory, these are the abbreviations that should show up in [RTYRNDUP-PROVINCES]
section.  The number following the abbreviation in the file is only for showing in the multiplier
list in WriteLog (Contest - show multipliers), such as ON=3, means it will show up under the
3 column when you show multipliers.

The namedmul.ini file should be amended as such to be 100% correct per the
ARRL RTTY Roundup rules:

NB=1
NS=1
QC=2
ON=3
MB=4
SK=5
AB=6
BC=7
NT=8
NF=1
LB=2
NU=0
YT=1
PEI=2

I didn't want to rewrite the whole thing before the contest in fear of confusing people, but perhaps
I should have.  The problem, as you can see, by changing the above listings, is that you need to
amend some of the ALIAS listings as well.  Instead of listing NF=NFLD, you need to list
NFLD=NF.  So it creates all kinds of changes required because not everyone sends the
"correct" Canadian "area".  Other entries in the ALIAS file would have to include NWT=NT,
YUK=YT, etc.

As you can see, PEI is listed.  VY2SS sent PE.  If you have PE=PEI in the ALIAS section, then
all is well.  The log checking software is going to have PE=PEI and will score the QSO.  You
shouldn't have to worry about it.

I agree it can be confusing.  But that is what the ALIAS section is for.  It's for those that don't
send the "correct" abbreviation.  Because VY2SS sent PE, is that wrong?  No, because it's the
correct Postal Code abbreviation for Prince Edward Island.  But you can't go by Postal Code
abbreviations because then LB and NF would be incorrect.  Because both are in the same
Province and the official code for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador is NL, go figure.

One thing is for sure, Wayne needs to modify the namedmul.ini file with the above entries
shown in the [RTYRNDUP-PROVINCES] section so that it will remain this way through
each upgrade of the program.  They are, by what I can tell, the correct entries.  It's not totally
Wayne's fault.  The beta testers are also responsible for alerting him to incorrect entries and
we haven't done a very good job of it.

I'm not going to get into the subject of logging what was sent, etc.  This is not the forum for
that discussion. We could beat that one to death a few times again. hi

73, Don AA5AU

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark, K5AM" <k5am@zianet.com>
To: "Don Hill AA5AU" <aa5au@bellsouth.net>; <writelog@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, January 06, 2003 3:15 PM
Subject: [WriteLog] Provinces

> 
> 2003 January 06, 2112 GMT
> 
> Don,
> 
> I am still confused by the province problem.
> 
> Here is what I remember,
> 
> 1. The ARRL rules gives NF, NT, YT, in the multiplier
> section of the rules.
> 2. Someone said that the Cabrillo file should use the
> abbreviations used in the rules, so HQ can read the
> file.
> 3. The Cabrillo file uses the abbreviations from what
> you log, regardless of the province list, or alias list.
> 4. The province and alias lists only affect what you
> think your mults are, not what HQ gives you based
> on the Cabrillo file.
> 5. Your website shows NFLD, NWT, YUK.
> 
> Thus,
> 
> 1. To get the Cabrillo file right, we should log the
> ARRL abbreviation, no matter what is sent.
> 2. However, someone said "always log what is sent."
> 3. Of course we don't always do this, like when
> some joker sends "MISSISSIPPI" we log MS anyway.
> 4. So it seems okay, fair, sensible, reasonable, and
> HQ-cooperative to log PEI or LB when PE or LAB is
> sent. I also logged NT when NWT was sent. (I would
> have logged DE for DEL, but didn't have the
> opportunity!)
> 
> Verification:
> 
> I logged one PE at first, and sure-enough that was in
> the Cabrillo file, even though I have PEI in the
> namedmult file. When I changed it to PEI in the .wl
> and wrote a new Cabrillo file, it came out right.
> 
> ---
> 
> PS. Congratulations on a fantastic score!
> 
> ----
> 
> 
> 73,
> 
> Mark, K5AM
> 
> -----
> Horse Mountain DX Ranch  DM54wa  NM
> 7900 feet; Honda generator power.
> k5am@zianet.com
> ------
> Home: DM62ni
> Mark Mandelkern
> Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
> k5am@zianet.com
> First callsign: W9ECV, Milwaukee, 1948.
> 10 band DXCC confirmed. 134 countries on 6 meters.
> Homebrew station:
> <http://www.zianet.com/k5am/ncj/ncj.html>
> 
> 
> 
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