Hi All,

Amateur Contact Log 4.8 and new versions of all my contesting software are now available!

Amateur Contact Log 4.8 includes the following enhancements:

- Ability to set DX spots filtering.
- Ability to display a DX spots band map (press Ctrl E from the main form to display).
- Printing of multiple QSL strips on one label.

Note that many of the other enhancements listed in the contesting software below were already added in AC Log 4.7 and Field Day Contest Log 4.3.

Amateur Contact log 4.8 has actually already been on the website a little over a week. This is the first opportunity I've had to send out the announcement because of other scheduling commitments.

Contesting software upgrades include:

- Ability to set DX spots filtering.
- Ability to display a DX spots band map (press Ctrl E from the main form to display).
- Ability to set have the program speak the details of a DX spot.
- Contest status web page FTP uploader (Detailed here)
- Ability to list recent QSOs filtered by the same band and mode.
- Additional error checking to let you know if you have the clients set to TCP but forgot to also set the server to TCP.
- Ability to see the QSO rate time statistics of your specific PC (from the settings menu).
- Clients networking in TCP can now make local backups.
- Backups for both File Share and TCP are now in ADIF.
- CW Buffer Form (Ctrl K).

As always, upgrades are free to registered users. Of course, this includes our N3FJP Software Package users!

When you upgrade, please be sure to follow these upgrade steps for AC Log: http://www.n3fjp.com/upgradestepsaclog.html

And these steps for the contesting software: http://www.n3fjp.com/upgradestepscontest.html

The current version numbers of all the contesting software are listed here: http://www.n3fjp.com/purchasepackage.html

DX Spots Filtering Details

As the popularity of DX Spotting continues to grow, depending on the Telnet host you select, you may be seeing lots of DX spots posted for stations that may not have propagation to your corner of the world. With the latest versions of my software, you can now filter DX spots by the location of the station that posted the spot. The idea is that if you filter DX spots to only spots that have been posted by receiving stations closer to you, you will have a better chance of hearing the spotted station at your location.

Options for DX spot filtering include:

Only display DX spotted by stations in:

- Your Continent
- Your Country
- One or more specific call area(s)

Additional filter options include:

- Only display CW spots
- Only display SSB spots
- Only display spots in the US General class portion of the band
- Select band(s) you wish to block

To set these new filters, from the DX Spotting form, click the More filtering button.

Of course, there is lots more filtering you can set directly at the Telnet host. You'll find those Telnet host instruction details here: http://www.dxcluster.org/main/usermanual_en-10.html

Band Map Details

While I was working in the DX Spotting code, this was the perfect opportunity to add a band map feature, similar to what I had created in the old VB6 versions of my software. With DX Spotting enabled, simply press Ctrl E to display the DX spotting band map for the band you are currently on.

The new band map is actually a separate form that you can display either horizontally or vertically above the main form. Horizontally, it just displays the prefix of the station, but you can mouse over the prefix for frequency and time details. Vertically, it will display the entire call sign and specific frequency. Clicking on the spot will tune your rig to the spot frequency, just like the list. You can move the form to any location you like and resize it too!

To switch the Band Map form from horizontal to vertical, mouse over the form and a Horz / Vert button will appear for 5 seconds. Just click the button to switch from one orientation to the other. Try both orientations to see which you like best.

I have to confess, I added this feature more because of user requests than for my own interest, but now that I've been using it for a bit, I've really come to enjoy it myself, especially in the vertical orientation!

And in response to the questions we always receive when we neglect to include the following in our e-mail announcements...

Package Upgrade Information...

If you have registered one or more individual programs and would like to upgrade to N3FJP's Software Package or N3FJP's Software Package and CD for full use of all our Amateur Radio software, we would be glad to apply the amount that you have registered so far as a credit towards that purchase. Please send us an e-mail directly and we'll let you know your balance.

N3FJP's Software Package includes approximately 50 programs for contesting, net management, general logging and other Amateur Radio related applications. In addition to full use of all these programs, registered package customers are also entitled to receive free passwords for any new software that is added to the package and free upgrades to existing programs. You'll find all the details on the Register Now page at www.n3fjp.com.

Donations are Gratefully Accepted!

And in response to the often asked question for which Kimberly and I are very grateful...

"I know your upgrades are free, but I also realize how much time and effort coding these enhancements and new programs take and that your pricing policy doesn't fully reflect that. Can I send you something to show my appreciation for your continued efforts?"

Yes, thanks so much, your continued support in any amount is very welcome and deeply appreciated! You can use this page:

http://www.n3fjp.com/donations.html

or send your contribution by mail, payable to Affirmatech Inc., to:

G. Scott Davis
118 Glenwood Road
Bel Air, MD 21014-5533

Thank you so much for your continued support!

Thanks!

As always, thanks for your kind words, support, linking to our web site and spreading the word about our software. Kimberly and I really appreciate it!

73, Scott
N3FJP
http://www.n3fjp.com

Serving the Amateur Radio community with contesting and general logging software since 1997.