SkookumLogger v2.6.3 now available
Bill Myers, K1GQ has released version 2.6.3 of his contest logging software SkookumLogger for macOS.
SkookumLogger is a full-featured contest logging program suitable for the most demanding contester. It runs on MacOS, supporting single-mode and and mixed-mode events on 13 bands between 160m and 23cm. SkookumLogger requires a K1EL WinKeyer or a YCCC SO2R Box to send CW.
Some SkookumLogger Features
- Any number of QSOs per log
- Duplicate checking as callsigns are entered
- Partial callsign matching against Super Check Partials (SCP) database and log
- Integrated download of the SCP and cty.dat databases
- Exchange Archive database (like personal call history files)
- Separate activity table windows (like band maps) for each contest band
- Multiplier checksheets for countries, regions, prefixes, zones, locators, other
- Time Tracker and Rate Tracker panels
- Score window with band breakdown and scoring for most contests
- Bidirectional DX Cluster packet spotting interface, with skimmer and QSX support
- CW keyboard mode
- Great circle map with terminator overlay
- SkookumNet networking for multi-operator/multi-transmitter configurations
- Green Heron, Easy Rotor and SARTEK rotator interfaces
- Elecraft KPA500 and KPA1500, ACOM 2000A, and Alpha 87A amplifier interfaces
- Elecraft KAT500 antenna tuner interface
- YCCC SO2R Box interface including its WinKeyer emulation
- YCCC MOAS antenna switch interface with antenna pattern overlays on the great circle map
- Cabrillo export for submitting log entries
- ADIF and CSV export for moving contest QSOs to a general-purpose logger
- Automated log submission via Apple Mail and via Web browser
- Statistics report for post-contest analysis of your contest log
- CW Practice mode for developing your running skills off the air
2.6.3 2020-07-14
This release has an important bug fix for KX3 radios.
Changes
When a K3 radio timeout occurs and the port is still open, SkookumLogger now reinitializes communication and restarts polling the radio. That tactic has always succeeded here, but has the danger of endlessly restarting if timeouts continue to occur. In that case, try disabling (to close the port), then enabling again.
The “Merge WSJT-X ADIF” function has been updated to handle fields added by the WSJT folks for ARRL FD. The new format fails to identify the sent section, so you must set that correctly in your SkookumLogger log before merging the WSJT file. Thanks K7HBN.
PSK has been added to the list of modes for ARRL FD.
The Check entry field was used for “first licensed date” for three contests, and for class in ARRL FD. Previously, the Exchange database stored one value for both types of content, with logic that attempted to prevent replacing a first licensed date with a field day class when updating the database from an ARRL FD log. That logic also prevented pre-filling the check entry field with FD class for a call found in the current log. Now, there is a new database field named fieldDayClass. When you start SkookumLogger, your exchange database is loaded, and then scanned to find Check data fields that contain FD class values and silently convert them to fieldDayClass data fields. So now, pre-fill for the class fieldworks as it should in ARRL FD. Thanks KX6A.
Misfeatures fixed
Setting KX3 radio mode caused a crash, and setting radio frequency caused a timeout. Thanks GØTPH.
Toggling P3 into “Track subreceiver” mode caused a radio timeout. Thanks W2RU.
In SSB mode, changing the band for a K3 was choosing USB or LSB for the “from” band instead of the “to” band. Thanks WA1Z and W6FB.
YCCC SO2R Mini was setting its transmit focus to Radio 1 instead of Radio 2 when SkookumLogger transmit focus was changed to Radio 2. Thanks CT1DRB.
YCCC SO2R Mini was ignoring the “Use Mini instead of Box” option at startup.
The YCCC SO2R Mini keyer stops working when the Mini is disabled, then enabled again without restarting SkookumLogger. There is no reason for a user to do that, but SkookumLogger was doing that as part of handling macOS Sleep/Wake events. Thanks CT1DRB.
SkookumNet, when adding a QSO from a peer station, was adding the QSO’s operator to the list of operators without testing whether or not the operator was already in the list. Thanks WA1Z.
When using the SkookumNet merge feature, the final step is to replace the current log with the master log. The replace step was not erasing the current log, so the effect was to combine the current log and the master log, generating a plethora of duplicates. Thanks WA1Z.
When you ask SkookumLogger to send the other station’s call (F5) and the call field is empty, SkookumLogger sends the call of the most-recently-logged QSO for whichever entry field has transmit focus. It should have also conditioned the choice on “… for the station name of the current computer”, to avoid sending a call logged by a SkookumNet peer. Thanks W6SX.
FSK, PSK, and FM were represented as “(null)” in the Statistics report score breakdown table. Thanks WA1Z.