W3KM VHFLOG - Initial Use

         Step-by-step hints to evaluate VHFLOG32

1. After installing VHFLOG, run it from the Start | Programs menu.

° Note: Do not drag VHFLOG32.exe to the desktop to make a shortcut - the correct
procedure is {Ctrl + Shift} and drag.

or - make one by right-mouse clicking an empty spot on the desktop. Select New,
Shortcut. Browse to the VHFLOG32 folder and find the executable file. Click it,
click OK. Re-name it if you wish. 

2. First time, enter your Call Sign and grid square into the setup form.

° Note: Enter your 6-digit into the setup screen. VHFLOG will calculate distance and
heading from your 6-digit to another 6-digit.
Enter the 6-digit in the logger`s grid field with the callsign field blank.
Or - Enter GL in the call field to bring up an input to enter the 6-digit to be calculated.
Or - Enter tilda+sixdigit in the call field to calculate that 6-digit. ie: ~EN98HD
Showing the recip heading is selectable, using the {View} menu.

3. Load an existing file from the files box by double-clicking the filename. Or click
the filename once to display the contest name, then click `Continue`.

4. Add a QSO. [Enter] a call sign. [Enter] means you either hit [Enter] or the [Space]
bar to accept the data typed in. [Tab] is only used to move between fields. 

° Note: After entering a callsign, if that call appears in one of the data files,
the station`s information is displayed - operator`s name, grid, heading, distance.

6-digit grid data can be taken from the SQUARES file [sixdigit.dat], which is the
datafile of stations you frequently work on the higher bands. Use the LOGSORT and
SQUARES applications that come with the logger to make your own station/band
activity and grid square datafiles.

If the callsign sign is found in the master ADIF file, the grid is displayed. Turn
off the {Partial} check-box mid screen. [Enter] 3 characters or more of a callsign -
the results of that partial search is displayed. 2 characters are reserved for
keyboard shortcuts - since 1987.

5. After you enter a call, duping is done and the cursor goes to the grid input.
If the station sends the grid that is inserted from datafile, just hit [Enter]
to accept it. Otherwise enter the correct grid. Hitting [Enter] or [Space] again
will accept the QSO into the log.

° Note: You can select QSO `Auto Accept` in the [QSO OK] combo box. This skips
the extra keystroke by accepting the QSO into the log automatically after entering
the grid. Hit [Enter] on the grid field only after hearing `QSL` from the station
being worked.

6. Change bands by entering 14, 144, 43, 12 etc into the callsign input. See the
HELP file on `band change` since there are more ways available.

7. Enter another QSO. After entering this one, [Enter] `DL` into the call input.
Delete the last QSO. This is a command you want to remember since you will use
it often. It is much easier to delete the last QSO if you accepted it by mistake,
rather than editing it in the edit form. You will use this when you enter a QSO on
the wrong band. After deleting the QSO, change bands and enter `L` to retrieve the
last call... simple.

8. Moving a station up the bands: Enter `S` for `same` instead of typing the whole
call. Or use the PageUp/PageDown functions to increment/decrement. See the HELP file
and #12 below to use the L2, L3 and L4 commands to work tailgating stations while
moving the first station up the bands.

9. Logging is done without using the mouse. See the `Keystrokes` section of the
HELP file. [Esc] clears all QSO inputs, stops CW/DVK and closes windows.

10. Use the `Log` pull down menu and write each of the files available.
Cabrillo, ADIF, summary etc. For ARRL contests, you must write and submit
the Cabrillo file as your log submission - no more paper logs from computer
generated logs.

° Note: If you COPY NOTEPAD.exe from the Windows folder to the c:\VHFLOG32 folder,
the files you write will open in NOTEPAD automatically. This is useful since
you need to view/edit your files before submitting them to the contest sponsor.

11. With each band change, the I.F. frequency can be displayed in the green
label at the bottom. The data comes from the LO.exe application that comes with
VHFLOG. Your transverter local oscillator offsets are stored and displayed instead
of using paper notes. For microwave transverters using PLLs, the reference frequency
and multiplication factors are stored so the exact I.F. can be calculated just
before each QSO. Only an accurate VHF counter and verification of your I.F. radio
calibration is required.

° When someone says `go to 185` - try this: Enter `F185` into the callsign field.
The frequency for 185KHz is displayed for that band.

° Note: You need to run LO.exe and setup the data file before using #11 features.
[Enter] `B` into the callsign field to have the beacon dial frequency displayed
for that band. This is setup in the LO.exe application also.

12. Log a station (and tailgaters) up thru the bands: Change bands, enter `S` for
same call. Log it. Now, log the tailgating station(s) using the L2, L3, L4 commands
to recall previous callsigns from the log. See the `Keystrokes/Shortcuts` item
of the Help file.

13. Exit the software and re-run it - start a new contest. At this time you would
normally verify that the UTC offset is correct (Daylight Saving time, etc). The new
version has an auto UTC offset function - verify it. Hit the `[Click] Enter Filename`
label and enter a filename. The extension .lgg is assumed and you don`t need to enter
it. Long filenames are OK to use, but keep them simple so they fit in the display
windows. It is helpful to use a filename that tells you which contest it is.
i.e. 2007janss  2007sept_qso. Select a contest and continue to the logging screen.

14. Enter QSOs and try the menu functions. Be familiar with entering Rover
callsigns. They must be entered as call/R to conform to the ARRL rules. When you
enter a Rover on a band a second time - a dupe box appears. Select OK and enter the
correct grid square to accept it into the log. You can turn off this dialog box if you
wish - using the {Log} pull-down menu. If you enter the same grid it will be accepted
as a zero value QSO - same as with normal dupe QSOs. It is a good idea to leave dupe QSOs
in the log, because you do not know which one will be in the other guys log. Also - dupes
are OK in the log without penalty.

When starting in a new contest, you can enter dummy QSOs to see if everything is working
prior to actual contest operation. You can delete these QSOs [DL] and continue when ready.

15. You may select the option that displays the last grid you worked the Rover in. 
From the {Log} menu, select the option desired. 

16. Try the DVK. Click the DVK check-box to turn it ON. Select the DVK setup screen
from the pull-down menu. Try playing a sample wave file. Double click an F-key line
on the right. To set a wave file into an F-key message, click an F-key line on the
right side, then select the desired wave file from the files at the left. If you have
the `RIGblaster` interface, you can try the DVK on the air.

17. The DVK has an over-ride function - select `RIGblaster` mode in the DVK setup
screen (even if not using a RIGblaster unit). [Esc] [Space] [Enter] (and mic click and
footswitch - if using the appropriate RIGblaster) all cancel the wave file being played.
Hitting the same or different F-key will also cancel the current wave file when it plays
the new selection. The original non-over-ride wave file player is still available, but you
need a PTT over-ride switch in your setup.

18. Select the CW ON check-box and open the CW setup form using the `CW` pull-down
menu. Hit `Calibrate` to calibrate the program`s speed to your pc`s processor speed.
After calibrating once, you can setup and save different config files for using CW in
different contests - the speed calibration is passed on to the new config files. No
side-tone or TX tune is provided since all radios have these functions.

° Note: To use CW/PTT/DVK/LPT encoder, you need to get the 32-bit I/O driver from
Scientific Software Tools, Inc. The file [ port95nt.exe ] is what you install on your PC.

° Let me know if CW/PTT keying works on the USB port with a serial-to-USB converter. LPT to USB
converters will not work since USB does not support multiple data-lines required for the band
encoder. Use a PCI LPT board and enter the Hex address into the combo-box - format is &Hxxxx.

19. Auto log back-up can be selected in the setup form or from the {File} menu of the
logging screen. Back-up to USB flash drives works too.

20. The logger writes a Cabrillo file for log submission - {Log} menu. Verify and edit
the header as required before submission.

Windows application .exes supplied with VHFLOG32:
CAB2ADIF - Updates the VHF master ADIF file. 
DXGRIDS - Grids and bands worked in contests.
EQLIST - Your station equipment list data file (old, pre Cabrillo).
LO - Transverter offset and LO/PLL utility - plus favorite beacons.
LOGSORT - Merge your log files to a `good calls` file.
MEMSWRKD - Member QSOs worked in contests.
SKEDULER - Multiple schedule alarm w/count-down timer.
SQUARES - Grid Square calculator & 6-digit database.
TGRIDS - Total grids worked in many contests.
UTCTIME - Change the UTC hour of your log, if you didn`t set it correctly.
VHFEVAL32 - Evaluate/view/convert your logs.

Make shortcuts for the applications you want to run - explained in #1.

Questions and comments to:  w3km at verizon dot net      73, W3KM.