1. Norm W4QN SFDXA Meeting March 4, 2015

2. DX Count Down LoTW eQSL Clublog

3. DX Count Down SFDXA Meeting March 2015 W4QN SFDXA Meeting March 4, 2015 LoTW eQSL Clublog

4. the DXLab Suite Better Dxing Through Software SFDXA Meeting March 4, 2015 Presented by - Norm W4QN Developer- Dave Bernstein AA6YQ Note, many slides are courtesy of Dave AA6YQ

5. the DXLab Suite Eight free applications that run individually but when run simultaneously sense each other’s presence and Inter-operate automatically Better DXing Through Software Developer- Dave AA6YQ

6. Modular Architecture 3.792 Transceiver ControlLocation ControlLoggingDX Spot CollectionPropagationQSL Routes Supports These Functions Coordinated architecture

7. 3.7 92 CommanderDXView WinWarbler DXKeeperSpotCollector PropViewPathfinder MultiPSK MMSSTV Transceiver Control Location Control CW, RTTY, PSK LoggingDX Spots PropagationQSL Routes MultiPSK CW Skimmer DM780FLDigi MixW JT-Alert DX Atlas Google Earth SpotSpy Support for Digital Modes

8. the DXLab Suite 3.79 2 Transceiver ControlLocation Control CW, RTTY, PSK LoggingDX Spots PropagationQSL Routes CommanderDXView WinWarbler DXKeeperSpotCollector PropViewPathfinder

9. Result- Suite of Interoperating DXing Applications LoggingSpotting Location RX/TX Control Digital Control & Logging Band Spread

10. Dual Monitor Display Applications ‘stacked’ (right monitor) SpotCollecter DX View Capture Launcher DX Keeper Commander Band Spread Pathfinder DX Map My solution a Pair of 24” monitors

11. We have seen how DXLAB is organized, Now how do we use it ? LoTW eQSL Clublog

12. DXLab: Down load DX “Launcher” www.dxlabsuite.com/ Its Free For Help:

13. Single Point of Control: DXLab Launcher Performs Installation Upgrade Startup Shutdown Do down load all Modules via the Launcher. They will all be located in a DXLAB directory. It is recommended to NOT locate DXLab in the ‘Program’ Directory This is a Windows Application

14. Single Point of Control May be Auto Starting on PC Boot Or Manual open (from icon on desktop) Individual Function Selection Status indicators –  Green – Open  Yellow – Minimized  Red Closed

15. Automated Installation and Updates: Programs A reason to do manual module selection Choosing to upgrade at this stage is recommended

16. Automated Installation and Updates: Programs

17. DXKeeper is Feature Rich Logging QSLing Award Tracking Multiple QTHs per log Import QSOs from file Export QSOs to file You can start with just the log display – ‘dxk’

18. DXKeeper Logging QSLing Award Tracking Multiple QTHs per log Import QSOs from file Export QSOs to file

19. DXKeeper Main Window: Online QSL Panel Expanded Information Panels  QSLing  Award Tracking  Color coded info LoTW eQSL Both

20. To improve the logging process- DXKeeper Capture Window Activate the CAPTURE window Manually Filled Or Auto filled from SpotCollector Resized

21. DXKeeper Capture Window

22. DXKeeper: Logging Callbook access  The usual sources Radio Amateur’s Callbook CDROM Buckmaster HamCall CDROM HamCall.net QRZ local database QRZ.com (free with advertising, or data subscription) (preferred with subscription)  Update logged QSOs en masse

23. Pathfinder: QSO Information from the Web Sources  QRZ.com  Country-specific callbooks (~100)  QSL sites (~40)  DX Summit spot archives 12 user-assignable search keys Captures callsigns selected via  DX Capture  DXView  DXKeeper  WinWarbler  SpotCollector

24. Pathfinder

25. Commander: Rig Control Select one of four primary radios By button click Automatically as a function of frequency Multiple Radio Support

26. Transceiver Control Activate COMMANDER – Rig control Serial Port Connection to Transceiver DX Capture

27. SpotCollector: DX on Commander’s Bandspread A mouse click on desired call will QSY transceiver

28. SpotCollector: DX Spot Database  Activate SpotCollector- integrates Spot sources  Double-click Database, QSY the transceiver (split, dual receive, QSX) Rotate the antenna Populate  DXKeeper’s Capture window  WinWarbler’s QSO Info panel  Announces needed spots via the soundcard

29. SpotCollector: DX Spot Database  Activate SpotCollector- integrates Spots  Double-click Database, QSY the transceiver (split, dual receive, QSX) Rotate the antenna Populate  DXKeeper’s Capture window  WinWarbler’s QSO Info panel  Announces needed spots via the soundcard

30. SpotCollector – reports active DX Connects to six spot sources  Four telnet clusters  DX Summit web cluster  Local packet cluster via external TNC Captures DX spots and places them into a database with one entry for each active DX station Highlights and announces “needed” stations  DXCC, Challenge, & CQ Marathon  WAZ Captures WWV spots

31. SpotCollector: DX Spot Database  Discards bogus spots (B0ZO, SL1M, W3LPL, etc.)  Combines spots of same DX station  Filters database by Need Callsign Country  Colors database entries by Need by LotW participation and date of last upload By eQSL AG membership by Callsign matching  Plots Spots and QSOs on DXView’s world map Spots on Commander’s bandspread Frequency Band Mode Continent Origin Distance from spotting station

32. SpotCollector: DX Spot Database LoTW eQSL Both

33. Dbl Click, Call, DX logged

34. Better DXing Through Software More Features and Enhancements Log Database QSOs DXCC needs Marathon needs WAZ needs Active DX Database View Generator DX View - status Audio & Email World Map Bandspread Propagation LotW Database eQSL AG Database

35. Better DXing Through Software DXing with DXLab 2013-05-19 v1.1 DX View – Band/Mode Status at a Glance

36. Audio and Email DX Announcements Creation of a new Active DX Database Entry for a needed DX station can trigger  an audio announcement (callsign, “counter”, band, mode)  an outgoing email message (which can initiate a text message) Don’t Miss a ATNO

37. Better DXing Through Software SpotCollector: Plotted active DX

38. PropView Predicts propagation Monitors propagation Forecast Short- & Long-path Propagation

39. Check the Solar & Geomagnetic Indices

40. SFI 30 day History… SFI Looking Good!

41. Actual Propagation by Band & Time-of-Day Clublog does this very well also, and is based on your region at ‘ZONE’ Level spotted by stations less than 500 miles from your QTH

42. DXKeeper: Award Tracking DXCC* & Challenge*  generates submission  tracks verification CQ DX* CQ DX Marathon CQ Field* Gridsquares IOTA* TOPLIST* VUCC* Worked All Continents* Worked All Europe Worked All Prefixes* Worked All Zones* * identifies needed confirmations Worked All British Areas Worked All Canadian Provinces Worked All French Departments Worked All German DOKs Worked All Holyland Areas Worked All Hungarian Counties Worked All Italian Provinces Worked All Japanese Cities Worked All Japanese Guns Worked All Japanese Prefectures Worked All Russian Oblasts Worked All Russian Districts Worked All US States* Worked All US Counties*

43. “Real Time Award Tracking * * * *

44. DXCC WAZ Marathon

45. WinWarbler - RTTY and Other Digital Modes

46. WinWarbler CW transmission  software-generated  WinKey  external modem Phone voice keyer Logging  Built-in minilog  Automatically logs to DXKeeper if running Transceiver control via Commander  Logs correct frequencies  One-click QSY to optimize tone within transceiver bandwidth  RX-TX switching

47. DXKeeper: QSLing Generates QSL cards and Labels Generates Address labels or prints envelopes Support for eQSL.cc and ARRL’s LotW  One-click upload  One-click download and update  Independent tracking Another Feature

48. DXKeeper: handles the“Paperwork” Finding QSL routes Requesting confirmation via QSL cards, LotW, eQSL.cc Tracking confirmation requests Updating objectives as confirmations are received Submitting confirmations for Award Credit Automate “paperwork” to make more time for DXing

49. Pathfinder QSL Route Discovery

50. QSL Card Printing

52. QSL Label Printing Three column, stock Avery Label stock

53. QSL Automation Generates QSL cards and Labels Generates Address labels or prints envelopes Support for eQSL.cc and ARRL’s LotW  One-click upload  One-click download and update  Independent tracking Automatic upload to Club Log Generates files for  BV, QSL Maker, QSL Design and Print  Online QSL Request Service (OQRS), Global QSL More QSLing Benefits

54. DXing With DXLab You already have a computer Logging Program Upgrading Existing Logger With DXLAB Direct import of many logging programs- DXBase, Logger 32, Logic, N3FJP, WinLog32, WriteLog, N1MM (realtime xfr) and Standard ADIF or Tab-delimited files

55. DXing With DXLab DXLab also has the ability to 1. download your DXCC Credits from the ARRL web site 2. automatically link DXCC Credits and QSOs that exactly match (callsign, entity, band, mode,date) 3. manually link DXCC Credits and QSOs that don't exactly match 4. generate a "credit-only QSOs" for each unlinked DXCC Credit AND ALSO FROM ‘CLUBLOG’

56. Program Support 1. User-driven iterative development  Open Yahoo group with 4000+ participants  Defect repairs get highest priority; goal is < 24 hours  Public enhancement lists  Frequent releases (several per month) 2.Easy to Use and Powerful  Primarily for DXers  Secondarily for casual operators 3.Runs on Windows NT, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, and 8  and Mac in a virtual machine  and Linux in a virtual machine Drivers:

57. DXLab: Better DXing Through Software

58. www.dxlabsuite.com FREE !

59. Norm W4QN SFDXA Meeting March 4, 2015 Thanks – SFDXA Meeting March 4, 2015

60. CQ DX Marathon Any authorized amateur mode may be used But only three modes will be recognized in the DX Marathon – CW, PHONE and Digital All modes other than CW or voice modes will count as Digital MODES

61. CQ DX Marathon

62. Scoring

63. Why Should You Participate? Because You’re a DXer CQ DX Marathon

64. Fini

65. Working Mount Athos

66. Monk Apollo, SV2ASP/A resident of the Monastery of Docheiariou, with a heavy workload works all HF bands in SSB, RTTY, PACTOR, AMTOR, and CW  uses a 3-element SteppIR antenna  employs 200 hz shift in RTTY After a 39-year chase !

67. Look for Recent Activity QRV for an hour on 17 SSB Working split Spotted from EU and AS

68. Check Spots

69. Consistently “up 4”? slugfest EU spotters in DL, EA, F, I, OE, TF AS spotters in 4X and OD

70. Forecast Short- & Long-path Propagation

71. 17m @ 14Z opening looks thin Stronger openings 17m after 15Z 20m, 30m

72. Check “Actual” Propagation No NCDXF Beacons are Close to SV-A

73. Check “Actual” Propagation Who Near Me has been Spotting Stations Near SV-A? Define a “near SV-A” filter to Show Stations in SV-A, SV, LZ, Z3, ZA, TA1, or TA3 spotted by stations less than 500 miles from my QTH

74. Propagation from “Near Me” to “Near SV-A”

75. Actual Propagation by Band & Time-of-Day

76. Compare Actual & Forecast Propagation 15m opening is stronger than forecast 17m can open as early as 12Z 20m is open when predicted 10m and 12m could support a QSO

77. SV2ASP/A: the Plan 1.Watch 18120 – 18150 daily at 1400Z with antenna on SV-A  “Blueprint” the band with local spots 2.Employ a European DX Cluster as a Spot Source 3.Rapidly QSY when SV2ASP/A is spotted  Enable audio announcements  Double-click to QSY and set split  Amplifier and/or Tuner settings 4.Use dual receivers and a panadaptor to rapidly locate Monk Apollo’s listening frequency

78. SV2ASP/A: the Plan 1.Watch 18120 – 18150 daily at 1400Z with antenna on SV-A  “Blueprint” the band with local spots 2.Employ a European DX Cluster as a Spot Source 3.Rapidly QSY when SV2ASP/A is spotted  Enable audio announcements  Double-click to QSY and set split  Amplifier and/or Tuner settings 4.Use dual receivers and a panadaptor to rapidly locate Monk Apollo’s listening frequency

79. Employ a European DX Cluster Log Database QSOs DXCC needs Marathon needs WAZ needs Active DX Database Spot Sources View Generator Tabular Display Audio & Email World Map Bandspread Propagation LotW Database eQSL AG Database

80. Employ a European DX Cluster Log Database QSOs DXCC needs Marathon needs WAZ needs Active DX Database Spot Sources View Generator Tabular Display Audio & Email World Map Bandspread Propagation LotW Database eQSL AG Database EU

81. SV2ASP/A: the Plan 1.Watch 18120 – 18150 daily at 1400Z with antenna on SV-A  “Blueprint” the band with local spots 2.Employ a European DX Cluster as a Spot Source 3.Rapidly QSY when SV2ASP/A is spotted  Enable audio announcements  Double-click to QSY and set split  Amplifier and/or Tuner settings 4.Use dual receivers and a panadapter to rapidly locate Monk Apollo’s listening frequency

82. COMMANDER: Sets Up Rig

83. SV2ASP/A: the Plan 1.Watch 18120 – 18150 daily at 1400Z with antenna on SV-A  “Blueprint” the band with local spots 2.Employ a European DX Cluster as a Spot Source 3.Rapidly QSY when SV2ASP/A is spotted  Enable audio announcements  Double-click to QSY and set split  Amplifier and/or Tuner settings 4.Use dual receivers and a panadapter to rapidly locate Monk Apollo’s listening frequency

84. Commander: Multiple Radio Support Select one of four primary radios By button click Automatically as a function of frequency

85. Commander: Multiple Radio Support The Secondary radio can Follow the active primary radio Main or Sub VFO Lead the active primary radio

86. Commander: Multiple Radio Support The Secondary radio can Follow the active primary radio Lead the active primary radio

87. SV2ASP/A: the Plan 1.Watch 18120 – 18150 daily at 1400Z with antenna on SV-A  “Blueprint” the band with local spots 2.Employ a European DX Cluster as a Spot Source 3.Rapidly QSY when SV2ASP/A is spotted  Enable audio announcements  Double-click to QSY and set split  Amplifier and/or Tuner settings 4.Use dual receivers and a panadapter to rapidly locate Monk Apollo’s listening frequency

88. SV2ASP/A: the Plan One More Thing …

89. SV2ASP/A: the Plan One More Thing… In a phone pileup, call “W4QN parakalo” Use the Translator Feature

90. Better DXing Through Software

91. DXing With DXLab DXLab has the ability to 1. download your DXCC Credits from the ARRL web site 2. automatically link DXCC Credits and QSOs that exactly match (callsign, entity, band, mode,date) 3. manually link DXCC Credits and QSOs that don't exactly match 4. generate a "credit-only QSOs" for each unlinked DXCC Credit AND ALSO FROM ‘CLUBLOG’

92. Working Mount Athos