INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ZR SKCC SPRINTER
If there is an existing copy of ZR SKCC Sprinter program on your computer, it will
have to be removed by deleting the SKCC SPRINTER Folder and everything in it; or
the SKCC SPRINTER folder will have to be renamed. To rename the SKCC SPRINTER
folder, right-click on the SKCC SPRINTER folder icon, and then select RENAME. The
folder name will turn blue, now with the curser on the folder name type in: SKCC
SPRINTER OLD and hit the ENTER key on your keyboard. By renaming the folder you
will keep the all of the old sprint Cabrillo files in that folder.
This program is intended to be used as a real time logger during the SKCC sprints.
It will run the SKS, SKSE, and WES sprints. It will also keep your K3Y qsos.
After downloading the ZRSPRINTERxxx.ZIP package into an empty folder, unzip it
and get the files. This is the READ_ME file. SETUP.EXE is the installation
program.
This is a Windows 32 bit program, written in compiled Visual Basic.
With Windows XP, simply accept all of the defaults, and let the SETUP routine
install the program into the Program Files folder. Click on the SETUP.EXE icon
and the installation will start. Follow the prompts.
With Windows7 and other 64 bit computers, it is best to install the program directly
into the C: drive root folder (or the root directory: C:\ ). If during
installation the default folder is not changed, the 64 bit computers will put the
program into the 32 bit folder 'Program Files x86', and will put the data into
another folder. It is best to have the data files in the same folder as the program;
so install it in the C:\ folder (the C Drive icon) and all will be well. When running
the SETUP program to install the ZRSKCC program, the second prompt will stop and
ask which Folder the program is to be installed into; at that point change the
default folder to be C:\SKCC SPRINTER
With the 64 bit computers faults are somewhat likely during the installation; these
are mostly from .DLL files that the 64 bit machine does not like. If such a fault
occurs, choose IGNORE and CONTINUE, and the install is usually successful. For
a more thorough discussion of this see the READ_ME instruction file found on the
SKCC web page with the W5ZR SKCC QSO Tracker.
Any problems with installation can be referred to the author at:
w5zr@hughes.net
STARTING ZRSPRINTER THE FIRST TIME:
Find the ZR Sprinter with the yellow-smiley face icon in the folder where it was
installed. Click on the yellow smiley-face icon to run the program.
On the START PAGE erase the Call, STATE, NAME, SKCC#, and replace each with your
own Call, State, Name, and SKCC#. If there is a bonus station named for this sprint,
type his call into the CALL–BONUS STATION box.
Do not put K9SKC in as the bonus station – K9SKC already gets 25 points every time
it is worked on a new band. If there is to be a Bonus Station is another station
named prior to the start of the sprint.
Set the DIFF IN COMPUTER TIME TO GMT to your own time zone by clicking on the Up/down
arrows on the listbox. Note CST is a difference of 6, and CDST is a difference
of 5 etc. It is very important to be sure the computer time and the DIFF are correct
before you start a sprint, because this determines the time going into your log
for every contact.
Add a rig and com-port only if you have a radio in the list, and it is connected
to your computer through a listed com port. Otherwise the program will lockup trying
to read the radio which is not properly connected. Select a radio and com port
only if it is connected.
This program will log all of the contest qsos in a Cabrillo file.
The choice of logging Dupes or not logging Dupes is made with the LOG
DUPES listbox. Use the arrows to select NO or YES then left-mouse click on the
YES or NO (it will turn blue when selected). With a YES choice dupes can be added
to the Cabrillo file; but the dupes in the log are not counted in the Sprint scores.
When using this program for the K3Y activity, turn the LOG DUPES on to YES.
When starting a new sprint, select the Sprint first - SKS, SKSE, or WES. The NAME
OF CONTEST will show as the selected sprint. Next choose the Cabrillo file name.
Clicking on the USE DEFAULT FILE NAME button, located over the CABRILLO FILE NAME
box, will make the filename be: the sprint selected, plus today’s date, plus the
extension .CBR. Any file name may be used, as long as the file extension is .CBR.
You can change the file name by typing a new file name into the CBR FILE NAME box.
The BROWSE button just above the CBR FILE NAME box will allow you to search for
previous sprint files on your computer. When an old sprint file is brought up,
do not click on START A NEW FILE; as this will erase the file that you just brought
up. To start a brand new file with no qsos, select the file name and then set the
START A NEW CONTEST listbox to YES, and the left mouse click on the YES. The YES
will turn blue when clicked indicating that it is selected, and a warning box will
appear at center of the screen, asking ARE YOU SURE you want to start a new file.
Click the YES in the warning box and the new file will be created right at that
time. There will be no qsos in the new file.
Remember that any sprint files you create and the use for a sprint, are always
on your computer. Starting a new file does not erase the old file - as long as
you use a different file name for each sprint. The Default File Name is always
different each day.
The program uses five database files (SKSDBx.TXT) to supply the member’s data that
appears on the main page. These database files are brought up to date by reading
the SKCCLIST.TXT file found on the SKCC web page. Download the current
SKCCLIST.TXT into the SKCC Sprinter folder. Then use the Text File Reader to
perform the update. The button labeled UPDATE THE DATABASE which is on the bottom
center of the Start Page will bring up the Text Reader and update the database
files. The update can also be accessed though the FILES button on the Main
Page. Sometimes difficulties are encountered with the Text File Reader not
properly reading the SKCCLIST.TXT file. The problem is almost always that the
SKCCLIST.TXT file gets changed from its original format during the download/save.
So to illustrate what the SKCCTEXT.TXT should look like, a copy of this file is
included with this Install Package. Open the attached SKCCLIST.TXT file with
WordPad, NotePad, or Word to see what it should look like when you are ready to
have the program read it. The file must look the same as the attached file, or
it will not work. The attached SKCCLIST.TXT file will be out of date when you get
this program; so download a new one into your SKCC SPRINTER folder from the SKCC
web page to update your files. Using Windows Internet Explorer usually results
in a good download/save; while other browsers have sometimes caused problems.
The STATE entry in the database files (SKSDBx.TXT) is the two-letter abbreviations
for all the US states, and Canadian provinces. For all other countries the 3 letter
abbreviation from the IAAF list is used. A copy of this list is included in this
package for your reference. Any three letter designator may be used in the STATE
box for countries; but each must be different for each country. Then every station
of that country in the database files must have that one designator so that each
country will be counted as a multiplier only once.
When all is complete on the start page, click on the START button to go to the
MAIN PAGE.
OPERATING THE SKCC SPRINTER:
The program is intended to be used, and the Main Page filled in, as you operate
the sprint. The Main Page is the contest/logging page. Type the call into the
HIS CALL box, and then hit the ENTER key. If the station is a member, the data
will be put into the boxes on the screen, and the RCVD RST box will be filled with
the usual 599. Just hit the ENTER key once again, and the qso is recorded into
the Cabrillo file, and it shows up in the LAST CALL WKD list which is across the
bottom of the screen. The last station you worked is on the top of this list.
As soon as you hit the ENTER key to log the qso, the screen recycles and is ready
for the next contact. So for members you type in the call and hit ENTER and ENTER
and......done!
If the call entered is not a SKCC member, the RST box is filled with 599, and the
other boxes are blank. You will have to type in his/her State, Name, and Power
(into the SKCC# box). If you leave the SKCC# box empty the program will add NONE
in place of a SKCC#. It is better to leave SKCC# empty if you do not type in NONE.
Then hit the ENTER key or click on the LOG button (or hit ALT-L on the keyboard)
to log him/her.
Although the RCVD RST box defaults to 599, it can be changed by typing in any other
RST. If the RST you send in your exchange is not 599, then click the arrows on
the RST SENT box to change the Sent RST to a lower choice, and that will be logged.
If a radio and a com port are selected, the program will read the operating frequency
from the radio and add it to the log. The note AUTO READ ON will show above the
Freq box at the upper right of the Main Page. If no radio/com port is selected,
AUTO READ OFF will be noted above the Freq box. You can use the UP/DOWN buttons
to change the frequency by bands as listed in the Freq box; or you can type in
any frequency into the Freq box. You must change the Frequency in this box when
you change bands with AUTO READ OFF. The frequency that appears in the Freq box
is the one put into the log. The Cabrillo format does not use a decimal in the
frequency, so 14.050 will be added to the log as 14050. The frequency with a decimal
(7.050) is used in the Freq box to make it easier to read.
The Date and GMT time are also taken from the computer. The program assumes the
computer is on local time and computes GMT. If your computer is set to GMT then
the DIFF IN COMPUTER TIME TO GMT on the Start Page will be zero. Be sure your computer
time and DIFF is correct when you start the program because that is the date and
time going into the Cabrillo file with every contact that is logged.
The log is compiled into a Cabrillo file as you operate. The Cabrillo file can
be viewed, corrected, and edited from within the program using the orange buttons
across the bottom of the Main Page. These orange buttons will bring up new screens
as described on the buttons. The SCORE button will give an up-to-date score
whenever it is tapped. The AUDIO ON/OFF button will toggle a CW dupe alarm which
plays through the computer speakers. If dupes are being logged, the DUPE warning
box and audio cw dupe will sound, then the dupe, which is still shown on the screen,
can be logged – or a click of the NO LOG button will discard this entry. The program
will tell you that it is a dupe, but you can still log it, if the DUPES YES selection
was made on the Start Page.
The BACKUP button will save a quick backup of the Cabrillo file to any external
disk, or flash drive. The LIST, CORRECT, and DELETE buttons all refer to entries
in the Cabrillo logbook file. The FILES button brings up the file maintenance
functions. The database files can be viewed. An ADIF file can be created from
the Cabrillo file, to use if your logbook reads ADIF files, or to upload to LOTW
or to E-QSL. You can return to the START PAGE by clicking the FILES button, and
then selecting the RETURN TO START PAGE button – then things can be changed on
the Start Page; but remember if you change the file or START A NEW FILE any data
you have saved will be lost.
The program can be stopped and exited at any time during a contest; and then
restarted to bring up the same contest again to restart the sprint, as long as
the START A NEW CONTEST FILE function is not used on the START PAGE. Later old
sprint contest files on your computer can be reopened, using the BROWSE button
to get the file name into the FILE NAME box, and then just hit the START button
to get to the MAIN page to view or edit these files. Then you can examine the
file, rescore it, see how well you used to do, etc.
K3Y: The program can be used to track your K3Y qsos. It will keep all your K3Y
qsos in its files. Create a new file using the DEFAULT FILE NAME button. It will
ask for your USA call area, or your region if you are outside the states. Then
click YES to START A NEW CONTEST FILE. Next click START to use the program for
all your K3Y contacts. At any time you can click SCORE to see which call-areas
and regions you have worked by bands. At the conclusion of the activity month,
click on FILES, then CREATE AN ADIF file to create an ADIF file to send in to your
area coordinator. E-mail the file to your coordinator.
This program will not key your rig, or generate CW…..this is the Straight Key
Century Club, and we key by hand.
At the end of a contest, click the score button, print the results and report your
score on the SKCC web page. This is a no-pencil logger.
Good contesting!
W5ZR *** -*-