[Dx4win] DX Cluster Drop
Tony... The VE7CC-1 cluster is very new and not included in the existing cluster list. In the ve7cc program folder, open the cluster.dat file and add this line: ve7cc-1,dxc.ve7cc.net,7373 . Be sure you follow the syntax or format of the lines in order to ensure the entry is readable. My suggestion is just copy the existing line for ve7cc and paste into below making changes for the ve7cc-1 entry. 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus"
[Dx4win] Mode change problem in v6.03
I did the upgrade from v6.02 to v6.03 today. Everything works as it should, but I notice one oddity with v6.03 that I can't reproduce and don't see in v6.02. Here is what I see in v6.03: If I enter a callsign in the log entry window (for an SSB contact) and then press F12 to delete the call, I see the mode switch from SSB (59) to CW (599) and then back to SSB again. Even on my fast GHz+ computer with loads of RAM, this process takes a second or two in v6.03. Does anyone know why this is happening or how to eliminate the monetary mode change? 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2003"
[Dx4win] PCI-type LPT ports for CW keying?
My thanks to Larry and Mel for responding to my query. I neglected to mention that I was using Win'98 (SE). The new Lava PCI parallel port card is the SPP or standard parallel port version and not the EPP or enhanced parallel port version. That having been said, I found the card addressing is non-standard (as seen in Device Manager) when compared to other PCI or LPT ports. When I used the PCI addressing fix from the www.LavaLink.com website, I was not able to correct the problem. What I'm trying to accomplish is getting the additional port to either host my keyer interface or my Zip Drive for backing up my log. Neither will operate properly when attached to the new Lava PCI card. When attached to the other two LPT ports, both work just fine. After spending more time on the problem today, I've determined the issue my very well be the version of BIOS on this old clunker of a computer; it's a P233Mhz machine. Technology has a way of catching up with you when the machine is a real time piece when compared to the robust GHz + boxes of today. For the time being, I'll continue to fool with the problem and post an update if I make it work. I may very well opt to replace the machine. 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2003"
[Dx4win] PCI-type LPT ports for CW keying?
I just added a Lava PCI-based LPT port for CW keying. After selecting the correct LPT port and saving my Preferences I find the PCI port will not key the radio. If I switch the keyer port over to an ISA slot LPT port, the keyer works as it should. Has anyone run into this and did you solve the mystery? 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2003"
[Dx4win] YAESU FT-857 radio interface?
Is anyone using a YAESU FT-857 with DX4WIN? If so, what settings have you used in order to communicate between the radio and DX4WIN. There is no reference to the 857 in version 6.02 of the program. 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2003"
[Dx4win] RE: A cautionary tale aka backup or else
Jim and others What great advice!!! Even though I have a copy and half-heartedly maintain a data backup of my log files, your suggestion to use the Iomega Automatic Backup program is excellent. Within minutes of reading your semi-annual plug message, I was downloading the program from Iomega and now have all files secure and set to do a daily update. Thanks for the push to get real about data backup. For those of you who may have missed this, Jim, AD1C wrote: Time for my semi-annual plug. I have used Iomega Automatic Backup for several years with great success: http://www.iomega.com/software/autobackuppc.html It backs up any file that changes in your selected directories, automatically. So your backup is ALWAYS fresh. 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2003"
[Dx4win] Telnet issues
Being disconnected from a given cluster (regardless of connection type) is a common-place occurrence with DX4WIN. The reason is, it has no built in auto-reconnect routine. Plain and simple. I have asked the authors for this feature in a series of emails and the last answer suggested they would look at what was required to implement the feature. End of story. On certain clusters where the traffic loads are high, you will be dropped during periods of inactivity. This is especially true if the cluster servers a large number of rf connections in addition to telnet-based connections. The polling process rate to deliver spots under an rf connection is such that under normal conditions -- not to mention during a contest weekend, you can have a huge backlog of spots waiting to be delivered -- sometimes the cluster simply times out on certain connections. That having been said, the incidence of higher bandwidth (i.e. cable modem or ADSL) telnet-based connections assures the user they will never miss a spot -- even on a contest weekend where the spot rate per hour on many clusters can reach over 1000 spots per hour. But even with higher bandwidth, certain clusters will still drop your connection during periods of inactivity. Given our current band conditions, I observe a much slower rate of spots today than say one year ago when for instance 10m was wide open. So being dropped by a cluster when the spot rate slows is a fact of life. It's the cluster' way of managing its data flow to ensure it can serve all users equally. As cluster hosting software improves (witness the latest incarnation of AR Cluster for instance) the spot delivery process and clusters ability to serve all users more efficiently also improves. So what's the answer to the disconnect question? As registered users of the program you could voice your desire for an auto-reconnect routine with the program authors. You could -- as one person has suggested, look at the VE7CC program which is fabulous in terms of how it manages and dissects spot data to keep your connection alive and port data from it to DX4WIN. If you're a registered DXTelnet user, you can also use a similar porting routine to send spots from it to DX4WIN. There is great documentation available for setting up the program. No matter how you look at the challenge, we do have some options in terms of staying connected. 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2003"
[Dx4win] LOTW test -- works great!
Like many others I was delighted to see the arrival of LOTW -- even if it's only a beta trial. I read the online material, followed the instructions to the letter and uploaded my logbook (containing 7300 entries) in a near flawless exercise. It couldn't have been easier! That having been said, the secret was in reading the "Getting Started" material and then following the instructions -- no exceptions allowed. Now barely 24 hours later, I have 20 cross-referenced hits to my log. Yes the log checking process does show us we must keep good records -- understandably, it doesn't like O instead of 0 in a call-sign. To the gentleman who said he wouldn't upgrade to the newest release of DX4WIN because of the horror stories associated with upgrading I respectfully offer the following comment. If you follow the upgrade instructions 'without exception' and do the steps in an orderly fashion, the upgrade goes very smoothly. It is as you've asked it to be -- very user friendly and I might add -- painless! 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2003" Are you registered for DX2003 - Pacific Northwest DX Convention? Visit http://www.bcdxc.org for complete details and registration form.
[Dx4win] Radio timeouts?
I use a pair of Kenwood TS-850's. The interface to my computer is the N6TR -- ultra-simplistic design. It works great, but DX4WIN does from time-to-time generate a radio timeout message. If I spin the dial hard or I'm just cruising up and down the band, I can without difficulty timeout the radio. I have experimented with the poll rate and found 1000ms seems to works better than the default of 5000ms -- but the timeouts still occur. The interface works very well with other programs -- so I have eliminated this from the equation. I would be interested in knowing from this community and especially from other Kenwood 850 owners (who might have seen similar radio timeouts), if you have experimented and changed the baud rate for the com port that hosts the radio interface. In looking at my settings the com port (in the Windows Control Panel System settings) is set to 9600 yet the radio operates at the Kenwood default of 4800. Is this a problem? Further if you have experienced radio timeouts (specifically with a Kenwood radio), what if anything have you tried and did it work? 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2002"
[Dx4win] Label layout?
I'd like to use Avery 5261 or 5159 labels for those occasions when I confirm numerous bands / modes for a DX callsign. When I enter the Avery number in the label manager, the preview shows the correct label number in terms of dimensions, but the layout is not altered and there is lots of wasted white space to the right of the standard (small) label layout. How do I alter the layout? I don't see anything in the manual about the ability to actually rearrange the entire label layout process, i.e. a label layout or configuration tool. 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2002"
[Dx4win] Importing TR Log files?
After the recent JIDX contest I used LogConv (v1.73b) to convert my TR Log to ADIF format in preparation for import to DX4WIN. I like to have all my log data together in one place. I set up a new log in DX4WIN to test the import rather than bringing the contest data directly into my everyday log. While the data imported flawlessly, I am wondering if anyone knows of a way to apply a standard comment to the window? I'd like to have that line read <2002 JIDX Contest>. If you have another log conversion utility that you use -- please advise. 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2002"
[Dx4win] Re: DX Telnet and DX4WIN
Thanks to all the suggestions sent both direct and via the reflector I now have spots flowing from DX Telnet to DX4WIN. I think the major problem at this end was the fact that I had DX Telnet installed in the non-default directory. Once I copied all the files over to c:\DXTelnet and set up everything as per http://www.qsl.net/wa9als/dxtelnet.htm it all worked. 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2002"
[Dx4win] DX Telnet and DX4WIN
My thanks to everyone that responded (directly) to my post regarding the interlinking of DX Telnet and DX4WIN. Given the replies came directly to me and not via the reflector, others wouldn't have the benefit of your wisdom and suggestions. In a nutshell the problem is: I'd like to run DX TELNET and link it to DX4WIN for dx spots? By this I mean using the DX4WIN utility within DX TELNET for porting spots to DX4WIN. While all your response eluded to how well the process works (and I believe you) the one element none of you mentioned was the fact that DX Telnet apparently does not support long file names and I have DX Telnet nested under the folder in its own sub-directory. So I have correctly the path description in and set up everything exactly like the wonderful description shown on http://www.qsl.net/wa9als/dxtelnet.htm. Unfortunately the process still does not work. Once I set up everything and have the 3 utility programs launched I get the following error message from DX Telnet: The error message box is titled DX-Telnet (dxc.ve7cc.net... my node name) Path not found Check that DXHunter link parameters are correct The link to DXHunter is now disabled I have not done any configuration within DX Hunter -- in fact I've never run the program. It doesn't even appear to be part of the current v5.1 download of DX Telnet. But I have it installed in the c:\dxhunter directory. I'm on a cable modem and can't see the tie in with the DX Hunter program. If someone out can explain --- please do so. Any suggestions would be appreciated. 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2002"
[Dx4win] DX Telnet and DX4WIN
Is anyone running DX TELNET and linking it to DX4WIN for dx spots? By this I mean using the DX4WIN utility within DX TELNET for porting spots to DX4WIN. I followed the simple instructions to the letter but saw no spots over in DX4WIN. Your thoughts would be appreciated. 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2002"
[Dx4win] Country window to previous QSO?
I can't seem to find a simple answer to this question in the manual. Here's the scenario... I'm connected and receiving inbound spots from my local DX cluster. I'm working in Real Time and I have a Country window open -- each new spot is checked against my log and the worked (or not worked) data appears with respect to band and mode for that country in the open Country window. Here is the question -- using a spot for S07L as the example -- while I might not have worked the particular station, my log shows I have worked other S07 stations on other bands and modes -- how can I very quickly check my log to see what specific other S07 stations I've worked (for both band and mode)? I can't seem to find any method other than a filter search by call. Do I have the process correct? 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2002"
[Dx4win] Printing Log pages?
I'm just new to the program, but feel I have developed a fairly good grasp of its functionality over the past week. Importing my log from the previous logging program worked flawlessly. In attempting to print a few pages from my new DX4WIN logbook I notice there doesn't appear to be any control over page setup for printing -- it this correct? The left margin is about 0.75" but the right margin seems to be non-existent. The logbook layout that I've created extends off the printed page -- how do you force the page to either recognize a right margin or size your logbook to fit nicely on a page? There appears to be no controls for this setup. The printer is an HP 4 and I'm setup for landscape printing. Any and all help would be appreciated. 73 de Paul, VE7AVV StoneyGround Station -|<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>||<*><*>|- "All email from this address is checked by Norton AntiVirus 2002"