Ham Radio Help Desk

Most everyone knows about the Amateur Data Interchange Format otherwise known as ADIF.

ADIF has revolutionized the way our QSO data can be transferred between different applications.

One problem came up on the N3FJP Software Users forum concerning the export of Field Day QSOs from the N3FJP Field Day software to eQSL. During the discussion it became apparent the ADIF format “mode” variable does not offer values compatible with the Field Day QSO requirements.
(more…)

I have been coming up to speed with the N1MM software and I really like it.

This morning I decided to answer some of those Alabama QSO Party calls.

As soon as I configured the software CAT interface for my Icom 746, it proceeded to fiddle with the radio settings and moved the radio to the 2 meter band. I was on the 40 meter band at 7.244 MHz. The N1MM and Icom 746 danced a bit more and put me on the 20 meter band, then the 2 meter band. I manually changed bands back to 40 meters. When I transmitted, the radio transmitted up at 7.344 MHz – OUT OF BAND.

Horrified, I looked at all the settings to find the Duplex + setting on. It wasn’t before. Weird. Odd. Surprising.

So I carefully turned off DUP and all is well.

Everyone is well advised to pay attention to what N1MM does to your radio settings once it initializes.

Other than this behavior, it was a simple matter to bring up the AL QSO Party “New Log in Database” feature.

Whew!

73
de kx4o

I have experimented with Radio Mobile for a few years. If you have not tried using it, you should. It is a free RF link analysis program that uses geographic elevation data to help you determine the obstacles between two radio stations.

The details of this program’s capabilities are too numerous to mention here so please visit the web site here…
(more…)

Recently I got up to speed with MixW for some PSK31 work. It works great.

I also tried out CWSkimmer with similar results.

I noticed there was an advantage of allowing each application access to read and control the radio so the frequency information correlates.

No problem I thought. However, I began thinking about the upcoming Virginia QSO Party where I will also be using a logging program from N3FJP or N1MM.
(more…)

A reader responding to a post on the N3FJP Software Support forums asked how I adjusted things to allow control between an Icom 746 (not the pro model) and N3FJP Virginia QSO Party software. To quote:

“I read your post about setting up rig control with the 746. Did using the hex address of 66 work for you? I’m getting that rig in a few days and have been totally unable to get my Icom 725 set up with the rig control after trying every possible solution.”

My solution uses the RigBlaster Pro as the interface between the Icom and a laptop with a real serial port (DE9 connector). My radio settings are:

• CI-V Port Speed: 9,600 bps
• CI-V Address: 64h
• CI-V Transceiver: ON
• CI-V 731 Mod: Off

It took a bit to get working. The RigBlaster serves very well as the interface between the DE9 connector of the computer serial port and the little phone plug on the radio.

The N3FJP software has the address set to 64 also.

It works for me. Does anyone reading this post have any advice for the reader with the Icom 725?

I guess it was only a matter of time before Java made its way into the world of ham radio. Really, Java has been at the forefront of computing for some time. Whenever a programmer friend asks me if they should port their popular program to Java I say “why bother, Java is just too slow.” That was then and this is now.

Java is still slower than directly compiled programs, but computers are so fantastically fast these days, this issue is becoming not an issue.

One of the participants on the Sunday Night Tech Net mentioned he is reviewing and modifying a new, too him anyway, JAVA based contest logger.

Enter JL Logger…
(more…)