SkookumLogger v2.4.2 now available

Bill Myers, K1GQ, released version 2.4.2 of his contest logging software SkookumLogger for macOS.

SkookumLogger is a full-featured contest logging program suitable for the most demanding contester. It runs on MacOS, supporting single-mode and and mixed-mode events on 13 bands between 160m and 23cm.  SkookumLogger requires a K1EL WinKeyer or a YCCC SO2R Box to send CW.

Some SkookumLogger Features

  • Any number of QSOs per log
  • Duplicate checking as callsigns are entered
  • Partial callsign matching against Super Check Partials (SCP) database and log
  • Integrated download of the SCP and cty.dat databases
  • Exchange Archive database (like personal call history files)
  • Separate activity table windows (like band maps) for each contest band
  • Multiplier checksheets for countries, regions, prefixes, zones, locators, other
  • Time Tracker and Rate Tracker panels
  • Score window with band breakdown and scoring for most contests
  • Bidirectional DX Cluster packet spotting interface, with skimmer and QSX support
  • CW keyboard mode
  • Great circle map with terminator overlay
  • SkookumNet networking for multi-operator/multi-transmitter configurations
  • Green Heron, Easy Rotor and SARTEK rotator interfaces
  • Elecraft KPA500 and KPA1500, ACOM 2000A, and Alpha 87A amplifier interfaces
  • Elecraft KAT500 antenna tuner interface
  • YCCC SO2R Box interface including its WinKeyer emulation
  • YCCC MOAS antenna switch interface with antenna pattern overlays on the great circle map
  • Cabrillo export for submitting log entries
  • ADIF and CSV export for moving contest QSOs to a general-purpose logger
  • Automated log submission via Apple Mail and via Web browser
  • Statistics report for post-contest analysis of your contest log
  • CW Practice mode for developing your running skills off the air

Release 2.4.2 2019-03-22

New features

1T2R new option: Use Radio 2 as second receiver. When Run has transmit focus, the Pounce frequency tracks Radio 2 main receive frequency instead of tracking Radio 1 subreceiver frequency. The default choice is off. And, 1T2R new option: Second receiver listens to Run frequency when pouncing. When Pounce has transmit focus, the subreceiver or second receiver listens to the Run frequency. The default choice is on. Don’t forget to establish a serial connection to Radio 2.

Practice mode now supports RDXC (outside). You send serial, callers in UA UA2 UA9 send oblast, other callers send serial. Some Russians may send serial because they are not found in the oblast database that SkookumLogger constructs from the AD1C countries database.

The content of the QSO Notes field is exported to the ADIF COMMENTS field. Thanks N1XF.

The new radio type, K3r, is identical to K3 except that baud rate is 9600 instead of 38400 for use with certain remote station configurations. Thanks W2RE.

Changes

More comprehensive and readable rate statistics tables provided by JH5GHM.

Exchange prefill (for any contest) is now disabled when Practice mode is enabled.

Non-ARCluster nodes (DB0SUE, GM7MBC, EA7URC) have been removed from the default DX Cluster node list.

The Telsa Memorial HF CW QSO points computation has been updated and 40m added to 80m as the two contest bands. Nice of them to inform logger authors (they didn’t).

The app menu once again has an Automatically Check for Updates item. If enabled, the check happens when SkookumLogger starts if the last check was more than a day ago. You might want to disable this check when you aren’t confident that you have a good internet connection.

The QSO Status string for a (known) Rover in QSO parties now appends “Duplicate” when appropriate.

When grabbing a spot, the call field content is deselected so that the call appears with appropriate needed color instead of white (in dark mode).

Misfeatures fixed

In 2T2R with alternating CQ and 2BSIQ audio routing enabled, CQ wasn’t starting after End QSO. Fixed by JH5GHM.

The Total rate table in Statistics reports had an incorrect title. Thanks W2RU.

The Morse ► Key Down command wasn’t a proper toggle.

The Generic QSO Party module was missing sent and received report fields.

Fixed a mistake affecting CW sent serial in 2BSIQ. Thanks JH5GHM.

BeginQSO wasn’t triggering DVR message 2 (exchange) in Run mode.

In 2T2R with either radio in pounce sub mode, DVR messages were sent on the wrong radio. Thanks JH5GHM.

In 2T2R, the Defend DVR message was sent on the wrong radio. Thanks JH5GHM.

In 2T2R with 2BSIQ audio routing enabled, in some cases it was not possible to about DVR sending. Thanks JH5GHM.

2.4.1 and several 2.4.2 beta versions suffered crashes involving processing activities. I was unable to reproduce those crashes myself, but with crash reports provided by AF8A and G3CO, and with remarkable patience by GØJWQ as he tested several betas with tentative fixes during the RDXC contest at G3CO, I believe this release has resolved the issue.

The latest version of SkookumLogger is available free of charge for download here.