Hi All,

Amateur Contact Log 4.9 is Now Available!

I think you will really enjoy the additional display flexibility and other new features built into AC Log 4.9! Most of the AC Log 4.9 upgrades are primarily the result of the contesting enhancements I've been working on.

It started during CQ WW SSB, when I wanted the spots on the band map to be more spread out and reflect the range of actual spots instead of the whole band. To make the spots easier to see, I added an option on the band map form to rescale the display range automatically.

Of course, one thing leads to another. I wanted to be able to display the band map to the right of AC Log (or contesting program), but still have AC Log fill the screen from top to bottom. With AC Log 4.9, when the form is in a normal window state, now you can drag an edge and the individual controls will reposition after you complete the mouse move. When you close and restart AC Log, it will remember your customized dimensions. It is still best to start by choosing a form size close to the size you want AC Log to use by clicking Settings > Appearance > Form Size. Then customize it to your preference. The controls won't reposition if you maximize the form, so if you want AC Log to take the whole screen, click Settings > Appearance > Form Size and enter 100 as always.

Other AC Log 4.9 enhancements include:

- Option to display the band map automatically on start up (you can still display the band map at any time by pressing Ctrl E).

- Pressing Ctrl W displays the CW setup form as always, but now, you can also press Ctrl > Shift W to display a tiny version of the form showing your F key strings. This form can optionally be set to display on start up as well. You can click on the buttons to se nd CW directly from the mini form.

- Clicking on the dialogue label when it says "Watch List Spot:" will tune your rig to the spot frequency.

- Click Settings > Appearance > Display Bearing as Compass Point to show the compass point as you type the call.

- Click Settings > Appearance > Display Distance as Kilometers to display the distance in kilometers as you type the call.

- Additional DX Spotting filtering option to block spotted DX entities where you have the entity confirmed on both the band and mode (CW or PH) of the DX spot.

- eQSL Nickname field added on eQSL download form for eQSL users with multiple accounts to be able to download from their desired account. (Some 4.8 users already have this feature).

- To change frequency quickly from the software, press Ctrl F. A form will display (and you can keep it up if you wish - it will float on top) that you can use to change bands, modes or enter a specific frequency. You can also set AC Log to show the frequency change form on startup from the rig interface form if you like.

As always, upgrades are free to registered users! If you'd like to enjoy these new features, please uninstall your current 4X version of AC Log from Windows Control Panel and then install 4.9 (3X users should not uninstall the 3X version until after you have upgraded). You'll find the detailed upgrade steps here: http://www.n3fjp.com/upgradestepsaclog.html

And Amateur Contact Log 4.9 here:

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

Super Check Partial (and other enhancements) Implementation Update!

As I wrote before Sweepstakes CW, I am in the process of adding Super Check Partial to all the contesting software. Lots of folks tested out the new SCP implementation during Sweepstakes and all reports were very positive. I still have the state QSO party programs to update, which will take a few more weeks, but I've already completed the following enhancements for the rest of the contesting programs (and there is a new version for Sweepstakes with the rest of these enhancements too):

- Addition of Super Check Partial, which can either be displayed in the Possible Duplicates window, or on a separate floating form.

- Pressing Ctrl W displays the CW setup form as always, but now, you can also press Ctrl > Shift W to display a tiny version of the form showing your F key strings. This form can optionally be set to display on start up from the CW set up form.

- Dynamic scale resizing on the band map form reflecting the range of actual posted DX spots for a given band.

- Option to display the band map automatically on start up.

- Resize the main form and the individual controls will reposition after you complete your mouse move.

- Your customized main form dimensions are saved on exit.

- Press Ctrl F to display a small form to quickly change your rig's frequency, band and mode. This form can optionally be set to display on start up from the rig interface form.

- Press Ctrl > Shift C to display the bearing as a compass point as you type the call.

- Additional DX spotting filtering option to block calls that would be identified as duplicates.

Lke AC Log, all these upgrades are free to registered users! You'll find the detailed upgrade steps here:

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

Great Fun with Low Profile Antennas!

There is no doubt that anyone with a beam antenna can DX circles around the 100 watts and low profile, neighborhood friendly wire antennas that comprise my peanut whistle station, so please don't read this as a boastful post. I just want to take a moment and really encourage anyone with a modest setup, or the need to erect low profile antennas, that you can have a blast and work a LOT of DX too!

My friend Dave, N3HCN came up and operated with me for both CQ WW SSB and Sweepstakes CW. We set a goal before CQ WW of working 100 unique DXCC entities by the end of the contest. After just 14 operating hours we had more than 500 contacts in the log and 100 unique entities! During Sweepstakes CW, we worked every section but NT with 446 Qs. So, in the space of about 9 days, we worked WAS (in fact every section but one) and DXCC running only 100 watts, dipole inverted Vs, 6/10 of a wavelength above ground and wire loop antennas!

I want to encourage everyone that you can really enjoy contesting and DXing with 100 watts and a very modest antenna set up, so I've started a section on the website that details the antennas we are using here:

http://www.n3fjp.com/antennas/index.html

If you aren't satisfied with your station's performance, please take a look at some of these super easy antenna options. If you have actual experience with other antenna designs that meet the criteria detailed on the page above and would like to share, please let me know!

This is an Adsense Advertisement, not a download link for my software.

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.