N1MM Logger Sprint Tips
From Contesting
Contents |
N1MM Logger Sprint Survival Tips - Version 0.3
by Steve London, N2IC, republished by permission of the author
- Updated from Version 0.2 to include the {CONDJUMP} macro in the Run F3 message. Must use version 9.6.0 or later.
I thought I would share what I have learned about customizing N1MM Logger for this contest.
I'm not going to try to explain how to operate the Sprint - for this, there is an excellent writeup at:
http://n6tr.jzap.com/sprint.html
What I will do is describe how to get the most out of N1MM Logger in the Sprint. My operation is SO2R, and my configuration is optimized for that mode. However, I'm sure you SO1R guys will pick up a few tricks from what I have done for SO2R.
The most important thing is to get your options, windows and function keys set up correctly before the Sprint starts.
The Options...
Start up N1MM Logger using version 9.6.0 or later, and create a new SPRINTCW contest.
I assume that your radio(s) are interfaced to N1MM Logger, so that N1MM Logger will automatically track the frequency of each radio. If you do not have interfaced radios, this configuration and function key assignment will not work correctly for the Sprint.
- Enter sends message (ESM) - QSYing wipes the call& spots QSO in bandmap - Do not run on CQ frequency - Show non-workable spots - SO2R->Toggle CTRLFx Macro
The “Toggle CTRLFx Macro” can also be toggled using Ctrl+Shift+L. This is handy if you need to turn off {CTRLFx} during the contest.
The Windows...
These are the only windows I have on my screen: - Entry Window (one for each radio) - Visible Dupesheet (one for each radio) - Info - Log - Score Summary
They all fit nicely on my small monitor. My screen layout is shown at http://www.kkn.net/~n2ic/sprint.bmp .
The Visible Dupesheet is really nice once you get used to it. To see if a station is a dupe, you just scan the dupesheet with your eyes, rather than frantically type a call into the Entry Window.
Notice that I do NOT have the "Available Mults& Q's" nor the Bandmap windows open.
Now, I'm about to temporarily contradict myself. Open a Bandmap window. Right click and select "Packet Spot Timeout". Change the packet spot timeout to 1 minute. That's right....1 minute. Hit OK. Now close the Bandmap window. Don't reopen it. It is of no value in Sprint, but it is important to change the packet spot timeout value to 1 minute. (Side note: This option should really be called "Bandmap Timeout" not "Packet Spot Timeout". It controls how long calls stay on the bandmap and the appearance of calls in the "on deck" frame of the Entry Window. We're obviously not using packet in the Sprint.)
Function Keys ....
Here are my function key definitions. I'll explain a few that aren't obvious.
F1 CQ,cq na cq na * na
F2 Exch,* # steve nm
F3 TU,{CLEARRIT}t{END}{CONDJUMP}
F4 {MYCALL},*
F5 Call,!
F6 QSO B4,qso b4 *
F7 Other Short, {CTRLF10}
F8 Other Long, {CTRLF11}
F9 GoS&&P,{S&P}
F10,cq na * * na
F11 Long CQ,cq na cq na * * na
F12, {STOPTX}{CTRLF4}
F1 S&&P CQ,cq na cq na * na
F2 S&&P Exch,! # steve nm * {RUN}
F3 S&&P tu,tu
F4 S&&P,*
F5 S&&P his call,!
F6 S&&P,-
F7 S&&P Other Short, {CTRLF10}
F8 S&&P Other Long, {CTRLF11}
F9 GoRun,{RUN}
F10,cq na * * na
F11 Long CQ,cq na cq na * * na
F12, {STOPTX}{CTRLF4}
Important note: All function keys that start with {CTRLFx}, such as F7 above, must have a leading space before the {CTRLFx}.
With the Run F3 key, my "thank you" message is sent. When you QSY, you will automatically be changed to S&P mode. Do not include the {S&P} macro here - it will cause the last station worked to get "stuck" in the on-call frame of the Entry Window.
With the S&P F2 key, as soon as I send my exchange, it immediate switches to Run mode.
I can also force myself into Run and S&P modes with the F9 key.
The F7 and F8 keys send CQ's on the "other" radio. This is very useful when the other station is sending his exchange, and you are going to lose the frequency (i.e. it will become "his" frequency). You can send a CQ on the other radio, while he is sending his exchange. Then, when he finishes sending his exchange and you need to send your "thank you" message to finish the QSO, all you have to do is hit Enter, which will stop the CQ on the other radio, and send your Run F3 message on the active radio. However, you had better be ready to copy a new caller on the "other" radio. The {CONDJUMP} macro in the Run F3 message will move your entry focus to the "other" radio, so that you will be ready to copy a new caller.
The F12 keys are used in conjunction with this AutoHotKey script:
NumpadEnter::F12
When I'm CQing on the active radio, but simultaneously doing S&P on the other radio, and hear a new station, I can just hit the enter key on the far right side of the keyboard (no fumbling !). This will stop the CQ, and send my call on the other radio. Notice that there is a space before the F12 {STOPTX} macro. Yes, you need this space - don't leave it out, or this feature won't work.
One thing you need to do is keep an eye on where your transmit and receive focus is (the red and green dots on the Entry Window). When you're doing SO2R in the Sprint, there will be times where your focus is not where you might expect it, or want it. Always be ready with the \ and Pause keys to jump between radios. Yes, this takes lots of practice, and you will make mistakes. The Thursday night Sprints are good practice for this.
