Hi All,

I have a few announcements to share with you...

7QP In & Out of Region 3.1 Logs Are Now Available!

I just received word yesterday that the 7QP folks have changed their scoring for digital contacts from 3 points to 4. I've updated both the in region and out of region programs accordingly. It is only necessary to upgrade to 3.1 if you are planning to operate digital. Fortunately this was a minor rule change that I was able to accommodate on short notice, but far more lead time is usually required, most welcome and really appreciated.

As always, upgrades are free to registered users. You'll find the new versions here and a link to the upgrade steps at the top of this page.

Enjoy!

Just 51 Days Until Field Day!

Before we know it, ARRL Field Day will be in full swing! To help get ready, here are a few thoughts and reminders...

Field Day Contest Log 6.0 is the Latest - Please Install Now

I'm not planning to make any changes to the Field Day contest software between now and Field Day. If you haven't already, please go ahead and install version 6.0 now . Please make sure that your CW ops are aware of the new CW Tab Sends Message (TSM) feature (press Ctrl + Shift + G from the main form to enable / disable), as that will help them move right along even faster this year! You'll find 6.0 here.

Field Day Software Quick Start Video

To get new Field Day folks up to speed on the N3FJP Field Day software prior to Field Day, or if you need a quick review yourself, this video will have everyone ready to go when they arrive to your Field Day site. Please share this video with all who you think may attend!

Please Find Your Password Now!

If you haven't already entered your registration information, please don't wait until the last minute to realize that you can't find your password (or register the Field Day software). If you can't find your password, Kimberly is happy to help, but the week leading up to Field Day gets crazy, so if you can't find yours, please e-mail us now.

Install the Field Day Software and Test Your Network in Advance!

If you haven't already installed Field Day Contest Log 6.0, please do so now. You'll find it here (don't forget to uninstall the previous version first if you are upgrading).

If you plan to use a network for Field Day and haven't already done so, it's time to get all the PCs you'll be using together and make sure your network is all set. Complete details on networking my Field Day software using both File Share and TCP methods are here.

If you are running multiple stations but aren't networking, here is how to combine your log data after the contest.

Please take a little time well before the contest, get your PCs together and your network up and running. As always, problems easily solved in a relaxed atmosphere can seem insurmountable when the clock is ticking!

Interface Your Digital Software

If you plan to operate any digital modes, including FT8, please make sure that you've interfaced your digital software with my Field Day software, so that when you log the QSO in the digital software, it is immediately and automatically logged in the Field Day software. Quick setup details on interfacing my Field Day software with a number of digital programs, including WSJT via JTAlert, FLDigi, N7YG, W4ELP and others are here.

Whether you are a contester or not, please get on the air and make some Field Day contacts!

As we approach Field Day weekend, groups from all over the continent will be making final preparations, getting equipment, generators, food, rigs and computers together, antennas airborne, coordinating operating schedules and all the little things that make Field Day go. In many cases they will be on the air for many hours, striving to both show off the amazing hobby of Amateur Radio and turn in a competitive score. It is a huge amount of fun and a heck of a lot of work! Please help reward their great efforts by providing plenty of QSOs for their logs!

Even if you aren't a contester, and you only have an hour to spare from home, please fire up your rig and give as many stations as you can a contact. Every group you call will really appreciate your QSO, and it will make their Field Day that much more enjoyable! In addition, you might be able to pick up a few more states towards your Worked All States Award. If you are ambitious, it is very possible that you can achieve the goal of working every state on Field Day weekend alone!

For folks new to Field Day, if you are on a single transmitter home station with commercial power, your exchange is simple. You'll simply send your Call, your Class as 1D and your ARRL section. Just be aware you can't call other 1D stations for contest points, but all the other station categories will love for you to give them a call!

And if you would like to find a local Field Day group to operate with, this locator will point the way.

Encouraging visitors can change a life (and even affect yours)!

When I was 14 years old, a family friend took my Dad and me to a local Field Day on a Saturday evening. That was my first exposure to Amateur Radio. I didn't understand the significance at the time, but the guys had an amazing run going as we arrived at their site. Still, they took the time to explain what was going on, the exchange, and they were completely willing to abandon their run to encourage this shy, 14 year old to take over the mic. I got started, the run resumed and so much was happening, I forgot all about being nervous. Before I knew it I was having a blast! Anyone who has ever been at the bottom of a pile up, running a frequency, knows the thrill. They kindly said I was a natural, and I was hooked!

Had it not been for the positive, encouraging spirit of that great group, willing to forego an awesome run for the sake of possibly encouraging a kid, I'd very likely never have become an Amateur Radio operator. I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing today, and there would never have been N3FJP Software for you to use. Those couple hours changed my life and hopefully, through my software, has brought some added enjoyment to yours, too!

If you see a visitor with a hint of intrigue in their eye, please offer them that same gracious encouragement that was given to me. It's very possible that you will be helping to shape a destiny, and we will all be better for it!

Have Fun!

Kimberly and I are planning to run 1E (home station emergency power) from here at the house this time. We hope to work you!

Above all, be safe, have fun and enjoy the Field Day experience! If you can get out and operate with a local group, do it! There is nothing else like it!

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 more than one hundred 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.