N1MM is free (donations accepted), and currently covers about 250 contests
in the one program. It has so many options that I would think you could
designate the sound card from which WAV files are to be played. But I
haven't set this up with my Signalink yet. Sometimes I think it would be
cool to run N1MM with a braille display and with speech turned off. But I
expect there would be problems with this approach. I use my voice on phone
and the memory keyer built into the FT950 for CW; improving on this state of
affairs will probably have to wait until I retire!
73 -- W3IUU
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Behler
Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2013 12:52 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: alternative contest logging programs
Hi, folks.
As I think many of you know, I have gotten very much into contesting over
the past few years, and have been using the N3FJP logging software package
as my main means of logging contest contacts.
The software actually is quite good in terms of interfacing with Jaws and
windows, and the price of the entire software package certainly can't be
beat.
In recent weeks, however, I have begun to re-think the N3FJP contest logging
option at least a bit. The reason is rather simple.
As our friend, Steve, KW3A knows all to well, I have been trying to figure
out a way to record contest voice exchanges, and transmit them with my TS590
via a connection between my laptop and the TS590. My goal simply has been
to create voice contest exchanges on the computer, and be able to access
them as needed via one of the function keys on the computer keyboard.
While this sounds like it would be pretty straight forward, it has not
turned out to be this easy.
It turns out that the N3FJP software uses the Windows default sound card to
play the wave files that tell you which fields you are in as you enter
contest log data. And, these wave files can only be played through the
windows default sound card. Apparently, this condition cannot be changed in
the N3FJP software, and this greatly limits what I can do in the way of
interfacing the TS590 with my laptop, where the contest voice exchanges are
recorded.
AS a result, I'm now beginning to wonder whether I might want to look at
other contest logging software that might have more flexibility in switching
sound cards for various purposes.
Some folks on this list have mentioned using the N1MM software, and I know
some others use Writelog, but I believe there are significant costs
associated with each of these packages. Plus, I believe you also have to
buy separate software for each contest.
For now, my short-term solution is to directly record at least a CQ contest
voice exchange directly on the TS590 using the VGS1 voice recorder, but the
risks there involve the possibility of making an error by hitting the wrong
voice memory key in the heat of a contest, if you have more than one
exchange.
If anyone has any thoughts on these alternative logging software programs,
please send them my way. Any cost info would be appreciated as well.
73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
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