Category — WriteLog

Over the weekend, I did a lot of updates to the K9JY WriteLog User Site, though not much to the content.

Essentially:

1. I replaced the theme with the one you see here on this site. It’s tough to maintain different themes — too many places where things are hidden that are in the documentation…somewhere.
2. Updated all of the "plugins" that are used to help the content for the site.
3. Updated the version of WordPress being used on the site.

The theme uses a smaller, non-expanding central column for information. Consequently, some of the pictures can be too large for the column. I spent a good amount of time getting the pictures into the column — but I have more to do in this area.

In addition, I fooled with the code a bit to get the columns right. I thought things were fine — looking at it with the Firefox browser — but then looked at it using Internet Explorer 7.0 and saw the whole thing totally screwed up. So if you came in on Saturday with IE, you probably had an interesting reading experience…

More work to do.

Scot, K9JY

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One of the great things about contesting software, such as WriteLog, is the ability to have multiple computers on a network so that logging information is shared. This can be done in a multi-operating environment or simply on a single operator position where another PC is connected so that others can check up on progress without interrupting the operator.

All of that, of course, is getting your networking system to work with properly sharing files. And, quite frankly, it can be a real pain in the you-know-what to get things working right.

Even myself, on my home network with three computers attached, where I’m supposed to know how all things work, I’ve had networking issues that just haven’t been able to resolve. Simple things on the surface — like I can transfer files between my desktop computer to my laptop, but not my laptop to my desktop. Where I get random “you aren’t authorized, dummy, to do this — what were you thinking?” messages.

And I paid good money for the privilege of being told I’m worthless by my PC…

So rather than spending hundreds of dollars for some computer geek to come out and look at my network, I did the expedient thing and ordered some software that claims to solve your networking issues once and for all.

And it did.

Network Magic, from Pure Networks, is a program that uses wizards to update each of your PC’s, Printers, and Router to seamlessly allow for networking and sharing files between your PC’s.

The process is simple: download the software (free version and trial for seven days will give you a good taste of how it works) and follow the wizards to install the setup on your first PC.

Then install the software on each of your PC’s and finish the wizard.

Finally, designate the folders on your PC that you want to share with other PC’s on the network (like your /ham folder for WriteLog users).

The program even offers a snapshot of how the network is connected. Here’s a screen shot from my home setup:

This software makes networking and sharing files simple and easy — something needed when networking contesting software.

Scot, K9JY

Router 5.1.1 has been released. This version contains several fixes and one significant operational improvement.

Router 5.1.1 supports Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista (32 bit only). Discontinued operating systems (Windows 95 and all versions of Windows 98) are not supported.

The major change that will effect Kenwood and TenTec users - the “Digital Bandmap” Voice/Digital switching is now controlled by the transmit frequency instead of the “Operating” (or current) frequency.

Of particular interest to WriteLog users, baud rate emulation on the FSK ports has been fixed. This should allow RTTYrite to work properly with Soundboard FSK and Stereo soundboard FSK choices.

Hat tip to Joe, W4TV.

Scot, K9JY

WriteLog version 10.64D is now available for download. What’s new:

• It is recommended that if you do networking with WriteLog that you upgrade to this version. 10.64D has significant changes to the networking function resulting in better recovery of lost network and stability during the contest.
• Networking disables user input of local machine name, and otherwise automatically handles the issues with TCP/IP numeric addresses and host names.
• Networking creates a circulating list of 10 most recent networking logs.
• Setup package has WriteLog.msi with no attempt to rename it from .setup_msi preventing some installation issues with older versions of Windows.
• RFCHAMP 1.0.0.2 — increase number of supported oblast prefixes.
• Some information at Save Configuration was not always being saved where it could be found. Now it is.
• Right click on Super Check Partial brings up its property page.
• USA Sub Bands for Band Map is now updated to current

Scot, K9JY

More progress on getting the K9JY WriteLog site back up to snuff. I spent quite a bit of time on it over the weekend, but did not make as much progress as might thought of just in looking at the site.

Here are the completed areas:

First Time Setup. This is what you do when you first get WriteLog

WriteLog Windows. Everything to know about operating and configuring WriteLog Windows.

WriteLog.ini. All the optional setting settings configured through the writelog.ini file.

Within Specialized Setup, I’ve done the File, Entry and Radio areas. There is more to do in this section, including Setup, Tools, and Contest areas. This will be a lot of work.

Also left to do is the entire Post Contest section, covering all the stuff to do after the contest.

Finally, the “other” WriteLog areas not covered by the other areas needs to be completed. Subjects such as changing window colors, Master Files, and other fun subjects that you will eventually want to know about with the program.

There are two main things slowing things down: one, the removal of a bunch of extraneous code from the old site on the content so that it is clean and runs faster for you (i.e., I can’t just copy and paste the content which would have been the ideal situation); and, second, additions to the site covering new features not in the older version on the previous site.

Having said that, I think I’m making good progress.

Scot, K9JY