Hi All,

Amateur Contact Log 7.0.9 and New Versions of All Contest Logs are Now Available!

We weren't planning a global release of all our log programs just now, but it came to light that our World Map tile source is discontinuing their service at the end of the month. To keep our World Map functioning, this upgrade is required.

After you upgrade to the new version and click View > World Map, you will be prompted to upgrade to the latest Affirmatech Extensions package. Just go ahead and proceed with the Affirmatech Extensions upgrade and the software will take care of the rest. The Affirmatech Extensions upgrade will apply to all programs, so you should only be prompted for it once.

The enhancements in this release include:

- Updated for new map tile source for world map (will prompt for Affirmatech Extensions update)
- Indexing of Call field for faster JTAlert B4 lookup
- Ensure port remains closed for Rig Interface when None is selected on the Rig Interface form
- CW Loop sending when RI: is used for rig commands

For a refresher on using the World Map, please see this documentation and short video here.

By the way, I've found the World Map to be a great contesting enhancement for increasing my click and pounce rate! As DX spots appear on the World Map in areas where you know you have good propagation, just keep clicking on those World Map DX spots in that region for as long as it lasts. With rig interface enabled, your rig will immediately tune to the spot frequency and you can work a lot of stations in a hurry! If an Italian station tells you that you are loud, keep clicking those Italy DX Spots on the World Map!

As always, upgrades are free to registered users. If you are currently running a version of our software released after January 2021, AC Log and the contest software should detect the new upgrade and offer to retrieve it for you on start. If you have any problem with the automatic upgrade, or you are running an older version, you can follow these AC Log upgrade steps.

And these contest software upgrade steps.

Delaware QSO Party Contest Log Now Available!

We've added support for the Delaware QSO Party! You will find the software here.

As always, any additional programs we add to the package are free to registered package users. Just use the State QSO Party password from your password list for the DE software. If you need to recover your passwords, you can do that here.

If you are only interested in our software specific content, unless you wish to upgrade to our full package or send us a donation (for which we are always very grateful), you need read no further. For those of you without beams, take heart!

Chasing the Big Guns with Dipoles!

As our Fall / Winter contest season is ramping up, I want to encourage anyone without beams to know that you can do very well on the high bands with two, or ideally three sets of fan dipoles for 20 / 15 / 10! For a long time I only had wire antennas. Now I have two, K4KIO hex beams in fixed positions that are hanging from trees. From here in MD, one hex is oriented to radiate northeast for Europe and the other south for South America. That leaves a big NW / SE gap that my 20 / 15 / 10 fan dipole fills nicely for western US, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, Japan, Africa, Caribbean etc.

I've experimented, comparing the hex beam to the dipole with the same orientation. The hex beam is an upgrade that I recommend when you can, but the advantage of the hex beam to the dipole in the favored, broadside direction is meaningful, but not huge. With two or three sets of fan dipoles at a reasonable height (at least 1/2 wavelength on the lowest band, which is 33 feet for 20 meters), sensible orientations (be sure to aim one set for EU) and time in the chair, you may not pass them, but you can absolutely push the big guns in your club on contest weekends!

A couple other nice benefits of this approach are:

- You are nimble, only needing to flip your antenna switch to change direction, while beam users have to wait while they turn
- You need not purchase a rotor
- You can build a fan dipole for a song, only needing a center connector, wire and some thin PVC spreaders from your local hardware store
- There is no need for a mast if you have a tree or high roof
- Fan dipoles are really neighborhood friendly. Paint the spreaders black and once in the air, they are very hard to spot
- Beams are excellent in one direction, but dipoles do very well in two simultaneously

By the way, I love the inverted V approach for antennas hanging from trees, since you don't have to worry so much about tree sway with a single, center support. Typically you can pull the apex higher, the lines can be connected to convenient trees near the ground where they don't sway so much, or 4' X 4's, that don't sway at all!

Don't have a beam? Give the fan dipoles a try, fire up N3FJP Software and see if you can pass me on CQ WW SSB at the end of this month! Watch how we are doing in real time on HamDash!

This is fun stuff gang!

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 and general logging Amateur Radio applications, as well as our WX Warn weather software! 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, Chris and I are very grateful...

"I know your upgrades are free, but I also realize how much time and effort support, 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:

https://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, Chris and I really appreciate it!

73, Scott, Kimberly and Chris

N3FJP, KA3SEQ and KB3KCN
http://www.n3fjp.com

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

1 Peter 3 vs 15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...