Main Program Features:

OH2GI-HAM SYSTEM is an all-mode contesting and logging software system designed primarily for on-line operation of HF digital and CW radio stations through Terminal Node Controllers (TNC).

While the primary design objective has been to provide a comprehensive system for a digital/CW contest station, the system can be used for daily contacts, both digital, CW and SSB.

Another important design objective has been the pursuit for utmost reliability and prevention of loss of data.

OH2GI-HAM SYSTEM supports practically all international digital mode contests on all HF bands. However, the system is adaptable to most of the CW contests for on-line operation and to most of the SSB contests for off-line logging and post-contest paper work.

1. SUPPORTED TNC's

The current version of OH2GI-HAM SYSTEM supports the main features of Kantronics KAM (V5.0 and up) and AEA PK- 232MBX TNC's in multiple configurations.

Interface to K6STI RITTY DSP modem is included and successfully tested in DOS environment.

The system allows simultaneous operation of up to two HF radios and one VHF radio in Two-TNC configuration provided one TNC is a KAM in host mode.

2. MAIN FEATURES of OH2GI-HAM SYSTEM

A. General Features

- OH2GI-HAM SYSTEM can be used to operate and keep track of daily contacts with its built-in logging    facility for 1.8 MHz to 50 MHz bands

- The on-line logging facility can be used on all digital modes and on CW, while contacts on other modes, as   on SSB, are recorded off-line

- HF modes supported on-line: CW, RTTY, AMTOR, PacTOR and G- TOR (KAM) for both contesting and   normal operation

- Pile-up mode is provided for contest style operation

- Simultaneous operation of two HF radios

B. Contest Features

- Contest support includes automatic contest generation with a set of standard messages pre-tailored for    each contest

- Messages can further be tailored to suit to individual preferences

- The system detects duplicates, new multipliers and determines QSO points

- The system provides contest statistics on-line such as multiplier break-down by band, score calculations   in total and by band, hourly QSO rates and operating hours

- Automatic formation, transmission and logging of QTC messages is provided for WAEDC RTTY Contest

- Automatic name look-up and name file update is provided

- On-line back-up facility is provided

- Post-contest paper work includes log generation, country/zone/call-area/state/province listings, dupe   lists and contest statistics for subsequent printing

C. DX-Cluster Features

The system provides full support for accessing DX-Cluster simultaneously with HF operation provided  either one of the TNC's is a KAM operating in host mode or one TNC in Two-TNC configuration is dedicated to a VHF radio.

The main features include:

- DX spot transfer to DX-Cluster

- Pick-up of DX spots either in CONNECTED or in DISCONNECTED (Spy-mode) status

- WARC/SSB/VHF filter for DX spots - File transfer to DX-Cluster

- File/info transfer from DX-Cluster to HF (RTTY, PacTOR, etc)

- Contest statistics transfer to DX-Cluster - useful between openly competing stations and for   multi-operator stations.

D. Support Features

Other facilities of OH2GI-HAM SYSTEM include:

- Operation with or without a mouse

- ANSI support for PacTOR

- File transfer from PC to HF

- On-line HELP files

- DOS command support

- QSL printing (IBM Pro-Printer tested)

E. SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS

The main requirement for OH2GI-HAM SYSTEM is a Personal Computer with Enhanced Keyboard (102 keys), generally capable of supporting DOS V5.0 or upwards or OS/2 V3.0 WARP, with one or two COM ports capable of handling 9600 bps traffic. The system has also been successfully run under Windows 3.1.

OH2GI-HAM SYSTEM requires c. 1 MB of HD space, utilizes standard VGA-type color display and mouse (optional). For on-line back-up facility another physical hard disk drive is recommended. On slower computers the use of performance facilities like SMARTDRIVE and RAMDRIVE is recommended. The system uses E.EXE editor. If unavailable, it can be substituted by any simple ASCII file editor.

F. SUPPORTED CONTESTS

The following digital mode contests are supported:

ARRL RTTY Roundup, WPX RTTY, BARTG RTTY/AMTOR/PacTOR, EA RTTY, SP RTTY, ARI RTTY, A. VOLTA RTTY, ANARTS RTTY, NAQP RTTY, Russian RTTY, SARTG RTTY/AMTOR, CQ WW RTTY, JARTS RTTY, WAEDC RTTY.

The following CW contests are currently supported :

SAC, CQ WW, VK/ZL, ARRL DX, AA DX, CQ WPX, REF.

3. HISTORY

In 1984 OT Jukka Kallio, OH2GI bought his first IBM PC as a Christmas gift for his family.

Although playing by the children was the primary use of the PC, Jukka thought about other possible uses somehow connected to his hobby, the ham radio. The 4.77 MHz processor, 320 KB main memory, 2 floppy disk drives and interpreting BASIC did allow development of a logging program.

This program was first time used in contesting in the 1985 Scandinavian Activity Contests, both CW and SSB. Participation into the SAC contests had been one of the annual activities of our club, OH2AG, since early 70's.

This logging program, unnamed for many years, was the origin of the program system now known as OH2GI-HAM SYSTEM.

During the late 80's Jukka continued developing his program into a CW contest program in step with the annual upgrades of PC with more power, more hard disk space and a real compiler.

The main test for any development was the annual club participation into the SAC CW contests. By 1988 Jukka's program was so much developed that the SAC CW contest was run entirely using his program, the PC being connected to the transceiver via a simple interface.

The program operated the transceiver, helped manage pile-ups and hunt & pounce, identified duplicates and multipliers, defined QSO points, maintained the log and generated printer ready contest logs in minutes after the contest.

The program worked like a dream for the duration of the contest (27 hours) without falling apart to any mishandling.

4. MOVE INTO RTTY REALM

I became interested in RTTY mode in 1987 as I realized that a PC would work nicely on this mode. The first modem was a Kantronics UTU that was soon replaced with a KAM TNC.

As there was not much new in conventional modes with regard to DX, I took it as my objective to reach DXCC on RTTY mode, too. RTTY contests are an easy way to develop the DXCC total.

It became obvious that to improve the contest results a proper RTTY contesting program with a logging facility would help in the contest and eliminate much of the post-contest work. At that time the known contesting programs were limited to CW contesting. I tried a few RTTY programs with logging features, but ended up with frustration as none of them seemed to stand the contesting stress or they were simply too slow for contest operation.

I persuaded Jukka to move into RTTY and finally he bought a KAM TNC similar to mine for his own Christmas gift in 1991. He modified his program for RTTY and was ready to enter the 1992 ARRL RTTY RoundUp. Next he added the rules of BARTG RTTY into the program and gave me a copy for a try.

Jukka's program stood the BARTG contest with its traditional high reliability and I was pleased to obtain no. 7 position in the world. As already in SAC CW contests, way back in 1988, I walked away from the BARTG contest site with printer ready logs and summaries with only a stamp to add onto the envelope.

Finally a reliable tool for RTTY contesting was found.

The rules for other contests like EA RTTY, SARTG AMTOR, A. VOLTA, SP RTTY, ANARTS, SARTG RTTY, CQWW RTTY and JARTS were added into the program one by one and we both tested them out contest after contest.

The final benchmark came in the form of WAEDC RTTY Contest with its famous QTC traffic. The program was again updated by Jukka and a working scheme for QTC exchange was developed and tested out by both of us. I won the 3rd position in the contest. I was more than pleased with the result. Certainly the program was of a decisive advantage.

By the end of 1992 Jukka's program, now called HAM 1, fully supported more RTTY contests than any other program, such special events as WAEDC RTTY and SARTG AMTOR included. These were in addition to half a dozen CW contests and running normal daily contacts.

5. FURTHER UPDATES AND REFINEMENTS

Mouse support

The next step in development was the adoption of mouse support to ease the operation in addition to using the function and other keys.

Ease of Operation

Ease of operation has been another goal in program design. There is no need to remember meanings of numerous F-keys as the operation proceeds smoothly with just two mouse keys most of the time.

VHF DX-Cluster support

The HAMI program was further developed to support KAM host mode, i.e. to have simultaneous access to VHF DX-Cluster while operating other digital modes on HF.

Accessing the VHF DX-Cluster was also enhanced to automate formation of DX spot messages as much as possible. If e.g. the DX call is still in the transmit buffer the DX-message is fully generated with call, name, country, mode. Only the last decimals of the DX frequency need to be adjusted before sending out the DX spot.

With the introduction of the Spy mode the program collects DX spots even without connection to the VHF DX-Cluster. The facility is useful in fringe areas, where the nearest DX- Cluster or node is too far from the station or the DX-Cluster is too busy for sustained access. The spied DX spots are neatly arranged on the screen or filed for later viewing.

Transmission mode support

The mode selection was enhanced by adding PacTOR support just days before BARTG ran their AMTOR/PACTOR Contests in July 1994, as well as G-TOR support in case someone would invent a contest on that mode. AMTOR and CW were already implemented.

Name File

To collect a name file of worked stations, either in normal contacts and in contests was our next idea. It must have been quite a surprise to many to get a 'Hello' message by name in the contest exchange, esp. when we were operating a rather rare station like OH2AG, our club.

In RTTY contests everybody can afford being polite without jeopardizing the contest effort. Finding a name for a station is also reassuring as it confirms the received call in high probability is correct.

TNC support

Due to popular demand support of AEA PK-232MBX was added. The support includes HF modes CW, RTTY, AMTOR and PacTOR and VHF Packet.

Interface to K6STI RITTY DSP modem is included and successfully tested in DOS environment.

Adding new TNC support is done in an open standardized way to facilitate quick addition of any other TNC. This requires, however, good knowledge of the command set of the subject TNC and thus is not recommended for a normal end user.

Two-TNC support

As Jukka had to acquire another TNC, the PK-232MBX, to enhance the repertoire of the supported TNC's the natural outcome was to implement Two-TNC support. Initially there were two HF screens or one HF screen and one VHF screen, but soon the program was upgraded to include a VHF screen and two HF screens provided one of the TNC's is a KAM in host mode.

Example:

The picture shows Main Screen with two HF screens KAM (lower) and PK-232MBX (upper) and VHF DX-Cluster view. Both TNC's can either receive the same signal on one frequency or separate signals on two frequencies. The lower TNC is active, i.e. able to both CQ and exchange, the upper TNC can only CQ when unlocked. Change of active TNC's is done with F3 toggle. Again full size VHF screen can be activated with an Alt command for a wider view and space for operations toward the Cluster.

6. SET-UP FOR A CONTEST

To run a contest starts with an initial set-up run to install the contest in question. The repertoire of close to 20 digital mode contests currently contains all known international contests.

A function to generate a new, so far unknown contest is included.

The set-up run generates acceptable contest exchanges to start with, but you are free to modify them with an ASCII editor. The generated messages are at three levels based on their length: short, medium and long. But you can establish your own meanings to various levels.

The set-up run also defines the TNC configuration to be used in the specific contest. You can also define another TNC configuration and switch between primary and secondary configurations e.g. pending band conditions. Switching requires shut-down/restart of the program.

The set-up run asks for your call, AMTOR SELCAL, PacTOR call and the preferred DX-Cluster for automatic start-up. You can also define a couple of initial commands, like sh/wwv, sh/dx that are executed once connection to the DX-Cluster is established. You are free to issue connection later in the DX-Cluster screen.

I have set up many contests during the warm-up of the radio just minutes before the start and used the generated exchanges as such for the rest of the contest.

7. RUNNING A CONTEST

Running a contest is best done with help of mouse keys with occasional excursions to the keyboard. Those accustomed to function keys can use them instead or in parallel with the mouse keys.

The left mouse key is generally used to pick up the call sign and collect the received data into the log from the screen. The right mouse key is equal to Enter key.

Calling a station opens a new line in the log, gives information a.o.t. on whether the station has been worked before on any other band, the name if in the name file, country name, zone etc. and places the cursor onto the contest exchange field in the new log entry line. In addition a word 'NEW' blinks, if the station represents a new country multiplier on the band.

Again pointing by mouse to the received exchange(s) and clicking on them with the left key bring the data on the correct places in the log. Clicking the right key completes the contact in the log, fills in the multiplier column(s), defines QSO points and starts a new round.

The keyboard must be touched, however, when the received call is misspelled or incomplete and needs correction. Excursions on the log entry line takes place by the tab keys and confirmation is again done by Enter key or the right mouse key.

As I am right-handed, I trained myself into mouse operation by the left hand leaving the right hand free for the radio(s). But sure from ergonomics point of view it is good to have alternate methods in order to prevent fatigue.

The automated contest operation takes place on the Main Screen. If, however, there is need to conduct free-format discussion with the other station you can drop in on the alternate screen, called QSO Screen for a keyboard chat, after which you return to the Main Screen to continue the contest.

Keyboard is still needed for some other functions: Alt-commands are required to change the band, to drop in on the DX-Cluster screen, in actions targeted to DX-Cluster and in case you want to change transmission mode for some reason.

Normally when the duplicate control is on, the program refuses to call the other station or informs the other station being duplicate and continues. If the other station insists you can momentarily switch off the duplicate control to work the station again.

Example:

This figure shows typical of a Main Screen view in a one-KAM set-up with simultaneous HF RTTY operation and VHF DX-Cluster view. Full size VHF screen can be activated with an Alt command for a wider view and space for operations toward the Cluster.

8. LOGGING AND POST-CONTEST PAPER-WORK

The log size is selectable between 500 to 9999 contacts in the set-up run. If, however, the log size has been defined too small it can be expanded during the contest.

The log file is in 80-column ASCII format, easy to clean up from any inaccuracies after the contest with an ASCII editor.

OH2GI-HAM SYSTEM employs a prefix file based on the current DXCC listing. There are actually two listings: DXCC list and CQ/WAEDC list. The latter list is selected for the CQWW and WAEDC contests in the set-up run.

Keeping a country list up-to-date is a moving target. Every contest brings about new, hither-to unknown prefixes that do not fit into any of the listed countries. Those unrecognized prefixes are marked with a question mark in the log for later scrutiny.

The prefix file is, however, easy to update with an ASCII editor to include the new prefixes as the lay-out of the prefix file is self-evident. This is usually done at the end of the contest. A run of the prefix pointer routine through the log brings about corrected log with points and multipliers, before the required log sheets and summaries are produced.

Other multipliers: zones, states, provinces, call areas, prefixes (the only multiplier in IDRA WPX) are identified as well. There is still one multiplier missing: the continents have to be manually tracked. Bonus points in some contests are not tracked, either.

9. NEW MODES OF CONTESTING

Club Effort

The membership of our club, OH2AG, lives in a wide area in Southern Finland. In order to ease involvement of the membership in contest activities, DX-Cluster can play an important unifying role. The members living farther away from the contest site can still contribute to the contest efforts by providing information to the main station via the DX- Cluster.

But the contributors need up-to-date knowledge, most important being what multipliers the main station has already logged. Jukka, OH2GI, automated the information transfer function to the DX-Cluster with a condensed one-screen information package sent as a file to the DX-Cluster.

The information package contains a snapshot of all multipliers per band and the points status. Using this screenfull of information the contributors have it easy to follow up the development of the score as if they were on- site and can provide assistance over the network.

Naturally the same information package is available any time for the on-site operator(s) at a mouse point.

Contesting with Open Cards

Amateur radio contesting has traditionally been a secretive art. The competing stations tend to hide their own results in order to surprise their competitors with an outright winning score after the contest.

In other branches of sports the practitioners compete in the open. Usually the competitors see each others and their results and thus can adapt their strategy during the course of the competition.

Jukka and myself have done this kind of competition with open cards since Jukka implemented the transfer of information package over the DX-Cluster. Seeing the competing station's score and what he has worked on various bands motivates to reach the competitor's score or maintain the acquired lead.

Well, sometimes, when Jukka is already hundreds of contacts and millions of points away it does just the contrary. But 'the moment of truth' often brings about a change in strategy, a change in the objective.

I look forward to a day, when this kind of competition can be extended internationally. Jukka's program can be run under OS/2 WARP that in turn can access a contest reflector on the INTERNET and provide the same information package for world- wide distribution.

Two-Radio Contesting

I had an opportunity to learn and practice two-radio contesting in CQWW and JARTS RTTY Contests, autumn 1996. The Two-TNC feature facilitates this kind of operation.

OH2GI-HAM SYSTEM allows simultaneous CQing on two bands. To comply with the rules in a single-signal category some operator control is thus required.

Once a contact is established on one band, CQing or any other transmission on another band is inhibited. When the QSO is completed the new log entry gets the correct band information automatically and the transmission on the inhibited band is released.

In CQWW Contest I used a KAM in host mode (HF and VHF DX- Cluster) and a PK-232MBX (HF) in terminal mode. This event was run at my home location with somewhat limited antennas thus providing only 21 MHz for the 2nd radio and the lower bands for the main radio.

In JARTS Contest I used two KAM's, one in host mode (HF, VHF) and the other in terminal mode (HF). I was offered an opportunity to use another club's antenna farm at OH2AQ with enough towers and antennas for more flexible operation with two radios.

At both occasions the radio set-ups were 2 Drake TR-7 transceivers and one LPA.

In both contests the program system functioned without a problem. The second radio acted as a monitor for most of the time on quieter bands, on 28 and 21 MHz during day-time or on 14 MHz during night-time, while the main activity occurred on lower-frequency bands. The occasional CQ's to a seemingly dead band brought in some interesting contacts and nice surprises, while the main bands were being scanned for new contacts.

To fully utilize the two-radio operation there are, however, some other aspects to be considered: radios, band filters, antennas and last but not least convenient antenna switching arrangements.

Enhanced Single-Radio Contesting

The Two-TNC feature can also enhance single-radio operation by 'listening' the same signal with two different TNC's.

Jukka has successfully used this method with RITTY together with either KAM or PK-232MBX. His experience demonstrated that RITTY copied weak and interfered signals better than hard-wired modems, while the latter units were better with signals having arctic flutter on them or wrong shift.

My experience with KAM and PK-232MBX showed that they nicely replenished each others.

The arrangement was of great help with stations transmitting their exchange (zone or age) only once. Seeing the same exchange via two TNC's was reassuring enough, seeing a healthy exchange via one TNC, when the other TNC copied garbage, was quite reassuring. But when both TNC's copied garbage my question was, why not have the two small numbers transmitted twice in the first place? What's the hurry in an RTTY contest?

10. RELIABILITY

The built-in reliability features have contributed to problem-free operation at OH2LU, OH2AG and most recently at OH2AQ.

I have used Jukka's software for digital contest work since 1992 and I have not had a single software related incident since then. I have been lucky, too, as none of my PC's has failed in the middle of a contest. Neither before nor after 1992.

Being a tightly designed DOS program the memory requirements have been under strict control. The program does not get extra 'fat' during the course of the operation thus helping avoid problems in memory management.

An important reliability feature is the on-line back-up facility. The set-up run asks for placement of the back-up file. If possible place it on a separate physical drive from the main file.

11. CONCLUSION

The above is a brief run-down of an amateur software package developed by OT Jukka Kallio, OH2GI. The package has grown up in step with the affordability of personal computing. A number of features were not described in this review.

The program should suit to persons having any of the supported TNCs, perhaps in multiples, having interest in HF digital contesting, either in single-radio or multi-radio environments, in rag-chewing on HF multiple digital modes and monitoring DX- Cluster even in fringe-area locations.

Anyone who wants to have a flavor on this excellent program may obtain a test version from the author, OH2GI. Its accompanying documentation describes the program operation and use in detail.

12. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Acknowledgements are due to Jukka Kallio, OH2GI, for reviewing the technical contents, to Wanda Stailey, WB5YIK for commenting on the literary format of the article and to Dick Stevens, N1RCT for electronic publishing.

To contact the program author for further information:

Mr. Jukka Kallio, OH2GI.
Voitontie 10
FIN-02820 ESPOO,
FINLAND
Tel.: ...358-9-8635979
E-mail..: oh2gi@pcuf.fi

The author of this article may be reached at juhola@ibm.net

Tapani Juhola 28.02.1997