Overall, the flexibility in the .CFG file looks great. I would
add a MODE = ALL option.
If you can use multiple options, such as QSO = PER BAND and QSO =
PER MODE in the same .CFG, the .CFG as written should cover everything.
There wasn't any write-up about the EXCHANGE. How do you set
that? Do you choose off a menu? For example, EXCHANGE = REPORT,
QTH, NAME, POWER, etc. chosen in the order it is supposed to be
sent & received.
Since by this flexibity, CT is going to step on NA, might as well
have selections for NAQP and SPRINT right from the contest menu.
And might as well add the Internet Sprint by allowing the choice
of LAST NAME RECEIVED to be sent as part of the exhange. And
might as well set up the exchange for Sprint so you are
sending the call signs properly, that is, reversing HISCALL and
MYCALL depending on where you are with the exchange.
I would guess every minor contest sponsor will create a .CFG file
for their contest (and maybe a .DAT file also.) I would hope you
could collect all those files and distribute them with the
program, although I'm sure they will wind up on INTERNET.
Regarding the one operator, two radio option:
Allow two parallel ports for keying. Use the period key "." to
move between Radio A and Radio B. The same key can also move
the serial port RS-232 interface from Radio A and Radio B. In fact, if
you take the DVP one step further, since it already has mic and
headphone input, you could add relays and have the DVP board
switch the mic, key, RS-232 and phones between the radios. I'd
pay for one board with 2 parallel ports and keying interfaces,
4 serial ports, DVP, mic and key in and out to two radios and
headphone in from two radios with choice of both radio A, both
Radio B and split. The software could handle all of that so you could
actually be sending your next CQ on one radio in between sending
your report on the other radio. From recent conversations I
believe Tree's software now has the latter capability.
Unless you can think of another way to handle it, maybe with a
call entry queue, the -FO switch would still be necessary for dupe
checking when using two radios with auto repeating CQs for Radio
A. I use F9 now to see if I need the station on the band/mode for
Radio B, because if the computer is looking at Radio A when the
call I'm checking is entered, it could show it as a dupe. If you
had the two serial ports for the RS-232, the computer could check
the band Radio B is on and tell me if the call is a dupe.
I want to be the first on my block with CT9. When are you
accepting orders?
73. Ken, AB6FO, KWIDELITZ@DELPHI.COM
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