[WriteLog] Sequence numbers for SO2R

[Ed Muns]

Serial numbers are very important.  If the recipient's log shows a different
serial number than the sender's log, the QSO will not be counted for the
recipient in most contest log checking.

What I think was really meant in the reply below is that the number sequence
is not very important.  That is, numbers may be missing from the set of
serial numbers sent during the contest.  There may be duplicate serial
numbers sent.  The sequence of serial numbers may not be in monotonicly
increasing order.  These things can happen naturally and will occur more
often with multiple radios such as in SO2R.

It is very important for the sender of serial numbers to log the serial
number that was actually sent, regardless of the sequence with prior and
subsequent numbers.  If the contest rules state that serial numbers should
start with 001 and increment by one, then the sender should do try to
achieve that.  But, if the order gets messed up by normal operation, there
is no consequence.

It is also very important for the recipient of the serial number to copy it
correctly as sent.  Based on the comments above, the recipient cannot depend
on a prior or subsequent serial number to determine the one that was sent to
him.

Ed W0YK

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Jay WS7I wrote:

Inherent problem and no worries.  Just let it log and all will be fine.  
Numbers are highly not very important to the contest results people.

On 12/11/2013 4:56 PM, Gordon Bousman wrote:
> I'm a newbie to SO2R using Writelog (but have used Writelog for many years
> previously as SO1R so very familiar with the program). I have noticed in
> two recent RTTY contests running SO2R that the sequence numbers don't
> remain sequential if you happen to highlight a call-sign which puts it
into
> the logging entry window -  but don't log that particular call-sign for
> some reason (such as a Run station is swamped with S&P folks calling and I
> decide to just move on).  If I forget to delete the call-sign in the
> logging window (for either radio), then the sequence number jumps to the
> next higher number - which in turn messes up contests where one is sending
> Serial Numbers.  In other words, my sent s/n's will not be sequential
> because of this problem.
>
> My initial impression was that Writelog would not advance the sequence
> number if a call-sign was not logged as a worked QSO but in reality this
is
> not the case - it will advance the sequence number if you plug a call-sign
> into the logging window (but don't complete a QSO) and when I overwrite
the
> non-worked call-sign with a subsequent Call-Sign (that I do log as a QSO).
>    Of course the program scores the worked QSO's correctly, it's just that
> serial numbers can become non-sequential.
>
> Am I doing something wrong with my operating procedure or is this just an
> inherent problem with Writelog where one has to remember to manually erase
> any non-worked call-signs from the entry window?