SkookumLogger v3.5 now available

Bill Myers, K1GQ has released version 3.5 of the 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.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Apple changed something, since 3.2.5, that sometimes breaks getting SkookumLogger updates from the App Store. The update fails with an Alert about “unable to install, try again later”. One user found that trashing the version in the Application folder, and any other versions found with a Finder search, then restarting the before trying the App Store update again, resolved the problem. Alternatively, you can download this latest release here.

Some SkookumLogger Features

• Any number of QSOs per log
• Two QSO entry boxes supporting interleaved SO1R, SO2V, SO2R/2BSIQ with one keyboard
• Duplicate checking as callsigns are entered
• Exchange Archive (personal call history file) for exchange pre-fill
• Partial callsign matching against log, Exchange Archive, and Super Check Partials (SCP) database
• Integrated download of the SCP and cty.dat databases
• Separate activity table windows (like band maps) for each contest band
• Multiplier checksheets for countries, regions, prefixes, zones, grids, 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 call type-ahead and CW keyboard mode
• Context-sensitive, queued message sending for CW, SSB (using radio DVR), FSK/PSK (using radio encoder)
• Great circle maps with terminator and antenna pattern overlays
• SkookumNet networking for multi-operator/multi-transmitter configurations
• Amplifier standby/operate and drive power controls
• Rotator direction display and control
• Elecraft P3SVGA panadapter display with graphical known-activity overlays
• YCCC SO2R Box+ and YCCC SO2R Mini interfaces including their WinKeyer emulations
• YCCC MOAS antenna switch interface
• XK-24 Keypad interface with red/blue backlights
• 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

Changes in version 3.5 2022-06-03

New

• When you type a character in a QSO Entry field, SkookumLogger sets the state of Keyboard Morse Mode to match the state of caps lock.
• Added three more bands to the six bands above 6m: 13cm, 9cm and 6cm. [The K3 and K4 can support all 9 bands above 6m via their transverter features, tracking and setting bands and frequencies. I’ve tested only K4. Please be alert for changed behavior in your normal operating scenarios. Known issue: there are no activity tables for the added bands.] Thanks VE3DS.
• SkookumLogger now detects a band name entered in a Call field and changes to the band when you type return. Band names are numbers followed by M or CM, like 2M and 13CM.
• When all of the first 10 QSOs in a log are outside the contest period, SkookumLogger now posts an alert warning you to check the start date in Time Tracker.
• Added RSGB Platinum Jubilee HF CW, HF SSB, VHF.

Changes

• Changed Indiana QSO Party multipliers to not per-band. Thanks N9SE.
• Removed the no more than one limit on the number of his call tokens in CW messages. The token is processed with type ahead only when it is the first character in the message. Thanks W2RU.
• Updated start time and bonus points for KY QSO Party.
• Limit the maximum value of Keying Compensation to 40ms — the key-down duration of a dit at 30 WPM. Larger compensation fills the space following the dit, which is probably not useful.
• Updated hints pages for antennas and panadapters.
• Added documentation for Band text command to Help.
• Added 60m to list of K4 TCP supported bands, which now supports all 20 bands supported by SkookumLogger.

Bugs

• A change made to fuzzy match code in the 3.2.2 release last fall seems to have degraded performance in SSB mode. This beta restores the relevant code from 3.2.1. [I couldn’t understand either version well enough to understand how it works. Again, be alert.]
• SkookumLogger was claiming QSOs had bad received location fields in NEQP Inside. They were not incorrect, the code was.
• SkookumLogger was failing to initialize the sent exchange location field for NEQP Inside logs to the value from the County field in New Log Sent Exchange preferences.
• Some Sent Entry Editor entry fields were missing formatters that restrict what can be typed into the field. For example, it was possible to enter CAR NH; the correct formatter ignores spaces. Thanks W1VKE.
• RSGB Club Championship Data QSOs weren’t per-digital-mode. Thanks GØDVJ.
• Setting a spot filter containing the buddies token was breaking the filter when the buddies list was empty. Now, when the buddies list is empty, SkookumLogger inserts your contest call. Also improved the UI for adding buddies. Thanks AI6W.
• Enabling the RX Antenna Overlay in Maps windows wasn’t displaying the receive antenna name in the windows. Thanks GØDVJ.
• Sometimes grabbing a spot with the Panadapter cursor changed the radio but failed to fill the Pounce QSO Entry fields. Thanks AI6W.
• When 24-hour time was off and locale was eu_GB, the format of times in Cabrillo files was, err, unexpected. Thanks 2MØGUI and GØDVJ.

 

The latest version of SkookumLogger is available free of charge for download here or visit the App Store.