Manual  >  Overview and Installation  >  Setting up the Program

Setting up the Program

When you want to use the program you need to know how to connect the radio(s), packet or Telnet etc. to the program. Also the Exchanges need to be set up for the contest. Below some information how this could be done. In addition to reading this chapter also read Basic Functions, the Key Assignments and the Quick Tour? for basic program information.

The Configurer

You will read the term The Configurer throughout this document. What is this beast? The Configurer is the uber-configuration dialog reached by selecting >Config >Configure Ports, Telnet Address, Other

1. Setup Station Information

The Configurer information in >Change Your Station Data is self-explanatory. Make sure that you enter your call as the station call sign. Many of the fields in this dialog are used in creating contest entries, so do update them with their correct values. Like calculating beam headings, distances, sending a bug report via e-mail etc.

2. Setup Radio Control

The program really shines when a radio is connected so that is what we have to do.

• Check if the radio is supported by the program in the Supported Radios chapter.
• So it is supported
  • It is connected right (cable from radio to a serial port from the computer)
    • Sometimes a serial interface is needed, see the manual of the radio and the Interfacing chapter
  • Go to the Configurer and fill in the information under the >Hardware tab
  • Select the serial port the radio is connected to and choose the radio behind it
  • Select the 'Set' button and choose the right setting. (baudrate, databits etc)
    • These can be found in the manual of the radio
    • There is also some information in the Supported Radios chapter
  • Press OK , select VFO A and the frequency from the radio should appear in bandmap A

3. Setup Packet/Telnet

We need spots to fill the bandmap so the next thing to do is connect to a DX cluster. This can be done under Configurer >Hardware for telnet and packet. For Telnet an Internet connection is required. The Telnet cluster can also be selected under Configurer >Hardware.

• Go to Configurer >Hardware
• Select at the bottom a Telnet Cluster. AB5K is the default cluster and should work fine
• Close the Configurer, and open >Window >Packet/Telnet >Telnet in the Packet Window
  • Cluster commands can be given here, the information from the cluster is shown in the window
  • See the Packet window? for commands, info etc
  • Connecting to a Telnet cluster is usually done by sending your callsign
  • When everything works fine, spots should appear in the bandmap

The hardware tab in the configurer is also the place to select the right parameters for setting up a packet TNC.

• The TNC should be connected to a serial port from the computer
  • The TNC could be checked with Hyperterminal to see if it responds fine
• Go to Configurer >Hardware
• Select the serial port the TNC is connected to and select the < Packet > box
• Press the < Set > button and choose the right settings (baudrate, databits etc) for this serial port
• Close the Configurer, and open >Window >Packet/Telnet >Telnet in the Packet Window
  • Cluster and TNC commands can be given here, the information from TNC and cluster is shown in the window
  • See the Packet window? for commands, info, how to connect a cluster using a TNC with TAPR/TF or WA8DED software etc
  • When everything works fine, spots should appear in the bandmap

4. Setup PTT-ing the Rig/Sending CW

Sending CW and PTT-ing the radio can be done three different ways.

• Using the Parallel port
  • Add an interface to the parallel port, this can be a simple one transistor circuit (for each pin one) but also a bought interface. More on this in the Interfacing chapter. Pin 16 is used for PTT and pin 17 for CW. These are fixed values and cannot be changed
  • Go to Configurer >Hardware
    • Select behind the LPT port to use the "CW/Other" selection box.
    • Select the 'Set' button and choose the right settings (CW-speed, PTT-delay and the CW/Other port address).
    • The CW/Other Port Address should be the same as used in you Windows configuration.
    • Select the correct Radio/VFO setting (1, 2 or Both)
    • Press < OK >
  • PTT and CW should work now.
• Using the Serial port
  • Add an interface to the serial port, this can be a simple one transistor circuit (for each pin one) but also a bought interface . More on this in the interfacing chapter. Mostly the RTS is used for PTT and DTR for CW
  • Go to the Configurer and select the hardware tab.
    • Select behind the serial port to use the "CW/Other" selection box.
    • Select the 'Set' button and choose the right settings (CW-speed, PTT-delay and the CW/Other port address).
    • Select the pin to use to PTT and CW.
    • The CW/Other Port Address should be the same as used in you Windows configuration.
    • Select the correct Radio/VFO setting (1, 2 or Both)
    • When Winkey is used also select this setting. The baudrate etc. for Winkey is fixed and set by the program.
    • Press < OK >
  • PTT and CW should work now
• Using a USB port
  • PTT via a USB port can not be done direct, a USB-to-serial converter is needed
  • Not every Serial-to-USB can change the status of the RTS (and DTR) pins . So check before you buy
  • When this device is setup in Windows select the serial port used by it
  • Follow the steps for a serial port to set up for PTT-ing

5. Setup WAV Files (SSB)

The sound (wav) files which have to be made have some standard texts, some are contest dependent. There are two kind of sound files used by the program.

• Files used by the function keys
• Sound files used to send the callsign or numbers (in number contests)
  • by sending single sound files for each letter and number
  • Or by sending the full callsign or numbers when found in the wav directory

6. Sending Messages in CW

You need to do two things:

• Set the message properly in >Config >Change Packet/CW/SSB/Digital Message Buttons >Change CW Buttons. The first 12 rows are the run messages for F1 - F12. The second 12 rows are the S&P messages for F1 - F12. If you have less than 9 messages, the S&P messages will just repeat the Run messages

• Make sure that the Configurer >Function Keys has each button set to its correct meaning. For example, if F1 is your CQ key as set in the messages (#1 above), then make sure that the "CQ Key" box is set to F1

To send the serial number in any message, put the character # as part of the CW message in CW buttons above. There is a list of other characters which can be used to substitute. The macros and some examples can be found on the Macros page

7. Setup 'Sent Exchange'

What you put in the >File >Open Log in Database >Contest tab "Sent Exchange" field of the contest setup is what goes in the cabrillo log. It is also what will be sent if you use the {EXCH} macro (don't). For the sent exchange, simply program F2 by typing in exactly what you want sent (For example, 5NN 4 or whatever your zone is for CQWW CW) on the F-key setup window.

8. Setup the Exchanges

By Jamie, WW3S

• I'm assuming you want to set up for a RTTY contest.
• Go to the Configurer >Function Keys
  • If you plan to use Enter Sends Message swap F5 and F3
    • 'End of Qso Key' to F5
    • 'His call' to F3
  • Now go to >Config >Change Packet/CW/SSB/Digital Message Buttons >Change CW Buttons
    • The buttons/messages are displayed in order starting with F1
    • Change the F4 key to read &WW3S in the one column and WW3S in the other. The & just tells the button what caption to display
  • Now change the F2 to read 599-599 and your CQ zone.
  • Mine reads 599-599 PA PA 05 05 BK.

Starting to make sense? Whatever you change here is what will be sent.

• If you use Enter Sends Message (ESM) the corresponding F-key also needs to be set in Configurer >Function Keys tab
  • These keys need to match or ESM will not work!
• Set your F3 key for however you want your ''End of qso' to be sent
  • Mine reads TU QRZ DE WW3S WW3S TEST
• F1 reads CQ CQWW TEST DE WW3S WW3S TEST.

These all get changed in change digital buttons. BTW, the same logic applies in CW contests

9. Setup Function Keys for Enter Sends Message (ESM) mode

Below is an example of a possible ESM setup from Jose, CT1AOZ.

Setup the Function Keys in Configurer >Function Keys tab

Enable all check box options except Monitor via PC speaker (but you may if you want to. NB only when using Windows 95, 98 or ME).

Now set the macros in >Config >Change Packet/CW/SSB/Digital Message Buttons >Change CW Buttons. The same settings are used for the SSB and the RTTY buttons.

Jose writes: Try this and I'm sure you will be happy with the performance of the program and the Enter Sends Message mode...

10. Command Line Parameters

The program has a command line parameter to select the used 'N1MM logger.ini' file. Example: "C:\Program Files\N1MM Logger\N1MM Logger.exe" SO2R.ini