Basic Functions

When using the program there are some standard routines like changing frequency, band and mode. Next to reading this chapter also read the Key Assignments,Setting up the Program, Entry Window and the Quick Tour to have basic program information. There are also some features which will be explained in this chapter like 'Running' mode, Search and Pounce' mode and 'Enter Sends message' mode etc. Operating tips and tricks can be found in the Tips and Tricks chapter.

Help
 Going through the Entry Window fields
Resizing windows
Select New Contest
Delete Contest
Select Country file
Select Master.dta file
 Changing Frequency
Changing Band
Changing Mode
Changing Operator
Setting up CW speed
Split Operation
Running Mode
Search and Pounce Mode (S&P mode)


Playing Wav files
 Recording Wav files
 Soundcard control in configurer
Quick Edit
 Meaning of Colors
Multipliers and QSOs
 Connecting a telnet cluster

How to save the log
 Function Key macros
Save and Restore Window Positions
Edit (lookup) table
 Backup and Restore


Help

Almost every window has a Help function. To get to the help, right click on a window and select 'Help', or click on the Help button. The Entry window help can be accessed from the Help menu at the top, or by pressing Alt+H. Also note that the Key Assignments help can be accessed directly from the Help menu on the Entry Window. Note that you can print any help topic from the help system by clicking the Print button. Most of the help files displayed will be for window in which you select the help. This makes it easier to find the topic you are interested in. 

Searching through the Help can be done most easily using the Find function using the PDF version of the Help file.
There is a very useful facility on the Help menu if your computer is connected to the Internet called 'Searching Help using Google', you can search the latest version of the manual on the website using Google. This will give by far the quickest results and will include the most recent changes to the Help/Manual.

Going through the Entry Window fields

Use the spacebar. It is the preferred Tab character in the Entry window. The space bar avoids fields (like RST) that don't normally need to be changed and prefills other fields. Spacebar operation is described in detail in the Key Assignments portion of the help. Using the Tab and Shift+Tab fields is to move to the rarely used fields.

Resizing Windows

Logger's windows can be located where ever the user chooses and most can be made any size. The Bandmap has a minimum width. The new dimensions and positions of the windows are stored when the program is closed. Closing the Entry window will close the application. All QSOs are saved permanently to the hard drive as they are logged.

Select New Contest

To select a new contest go to the Contest selection dialog ('File | Open Log in Database')'. On the upper right of the screen a contest can be selected by clicking on it. Fill in the details for your specific situation. Which contests are supported can be found in the chapter 'Supported Contests'. Check the website for the latest rules and check the contest setup information in chapter 'Contest Setup Instructions'.

The preferred procedure is to start with a new database with each major contest where to expect very large logs or on very slow machines.

Delete Contest

Go to the Contest selection dialog ('File | Open Log in Database') and click on the contest in the Contest pane so it is selected. Then press the Delete key.

Select Country file

Selecting a new country files means downloading and copying the country file on your harddisk but also Importing it into the current used database. If a new database is selected you may have to import the latest country file in the new selected database again! The country file is stored per database.

Select Master.dta file

Selecting a new master.dta file with many regular contest callsigns in it means downloading and copying the country file on your harddisk. No importing needed but you have to select the master.dta file to use for the selected contest.

Changing Frequency

Changing frequency can be done in many ways. Below a short list with some possibilities.

When no radio is attached and PgUp/PgDn is pressed nothing will happen. I.e. if the frequency is inaccurate, don't allow the operator to move out of band by inadvertently pressing PgUp/PgDn.

When a frequency is chosen outside an amateur band a warning dialog will be shown when trying to enter information. This could happen making a typo when entering the frequency or when no radio is connected, so a kind of "radio is not working" message.

Changing Band

Below some of the possibilities how to change band.

Changing Mode

Note: How the mode will be controlled on the radio and how contacts will be logged needs to be set on the tab: 'Mode Control' in Configurer.

Changing Operator

Setting up the CW speed

Setting up  the speed can be done using the Entry window speed control (only shown when CW is selected) for each radio or VFO. Use Page Up/Page Down or click on the arrows beside the speed box to change the speed.

Split Operation

Split operation is when you transmit on another frequency then you receive. This is being used when stations have huge pileups like some DXpedition's or the bandplan does not allow people making contact on the same frequency. An example is 40 meter SSB between Europe and the USA. In Europe the highest SSB frequency is 7.1 MHz while US stations may not go that low in frequency.
Split operation can be recognized in the bandmaps and in the Entry window. In the bandmaps the big blue marker will indicate your receive frequency. A red marker will indicate your transmit frequency. The frequency set will become the transmit frequency! Normally only one frequency is shown in the top portion of the bandmap, when working split the transmit frequency is added and shown just below the receive frequency. In the Entry window in big gray letters Split will be shown.

The entered split frequency is validated if it is within band limits before setting the VFO. If not a message is shown in the Entry Window statusbar and the split will not be set.

Cliicking on the receive frequency in the top part of the bandmap will toglle split operation.

Note icon Note: When you are working split and you are in 'Running' mode moving around will not change 'Running' mode into 'Search and Pounce' mode.

Split frequencies can be set manually

Set in the Split dialog with Alt+F7 or type directly into the Callsign textbox in the Entry Window entering it with Ctrl+Enter. Decimal points and commas are allowed in split frequencies in the callsign pane. Which one to use depends on the selected preferences in Windows. The split frequency has to be entered or an offset from the current frequency for the active radio/vfo.

Split frequencies can be set automatically by packet spots

When a station is selected in the bandmap it can happen that the program puts the radio into split automatically. This station has been entered on the packet cluster including a split offset frequency which will be used by the program!

Resetting to non-split mode

Resetting to non-split mode is done by moving to another frequency or band. There are many ways to do this an some are mentioned below.

Split operation Key Assignments

Note icon Icom radios and split mode
Icom radios can't report VFO B without being set to VFO B.  The program polls VFO A, but not VFO B. You can only set VFO B from the computer.
To set split, press Alt+F7 and enter +3 or 215 or 7215. You can also enter those from the call textbox by pressing Ctrl+Enter.
NB. Only turn Split on/off from the keyboard/program and not on the radio so it stays in sync with the program.

Alt+F7 - Set split frequency or offset from current frequency for the active radio. When hitting Enter or click OK with nothing on the line split will be cleared. Press ESC or click Cancel to exit.

Alt+S - When your rig is in the split mode, Alt+S will reset the receive frequency back to your transmit frequency, but the split mode is preserved. Application: Many operators will run a pileup with the rig in split mode. With a radio which has VFO A/B they use the 2nd VFO as an RIT. This is done since many RIT knobs are small or hard to get at, while some find it more natural to use the main VFO to tune in a caller rather than use the RIT. By running split, you can use the main knob to tune in the caller, while your TX frequency doesn't change. The Alt+S acts like an “RIT clear” when you are running split. Operates on VFO-A only! With a Main/Sub radios like the Icom 756/7800 series you can not RX on SUB without receiving on both VFO’s. In this case put RX on Main and TX on SUB for Alt-S to work.

“Reset RX freq when running split" is an associated feature to the Alt+S function (found in the CONFIG menu). When invoked, the program will automatically do an Alt+S as you log each QSO. This gives you an automated “RIT clear” after every QSO when you are running split. The exact logging sequence when you hit the Enter key is: move RX frequency to TX frequency, log QSO, and then send the TU message. For additional background, see the Alt+S feature

Ctrl+S - When not in split mode it will first put the radio in split mode after that Ctrl+S will toggle the RX frequency between the split RX frequency and the RX/TX frequency while maintaining split mode. Application: This was designed primarily to help SSB operators run on 40 or 80m, where split operation is widely used. For example, "CQ CQ de N1MM listening on this frequency (7183) and 7068". Use the Ctrl+S key to toggle between 7183 and 7068 to check for both USA or DX callers.

Ctrl-Alt-S - Toggle Split mode on the radio. 'Split' will be shown in the Entry window.

Ctrl+Enter - Entering a frequency or offset in the callsign field and entered with Ctrl+Enter will set a split frequency.

Toggle split operation - Click on the receive frequency in the top part of the bandmap and it will toglle split operation.

Note icon A split example
Don't click on spots in the packet window. Click on spots in the bandmap or available window. Then look at the bandmap or the Entrywindow title bar to see if you are going to transmit out-of-band. I presume we are talking about 40 or 80 meters. If you SINGLE-click on a spot, and don't see split indication, then wait for the station to announce their frequency. If they say "listening 214.5" type 214.5 in the callsign and press control enter. You are ready to call them. Good typists can do this and call them by the time they finish their CQ.

Running Mode

Running mode means that you are calling CQ and stations are coming back to you. The frequency you are on is 'fixed' and you are not searching for stations. The program marks this frequency with the text CQ-frequency in the Bandmap window and the 'Running' indicator is marked on the 'Entry Window'. A part of this feature is that 'Running' mode has it's own set of Function keys. They will be automatically placed under the keys F1 to F12. There is also a set of function keys for Search and Pounce' mode, these function keys will swap to Shift+F1 until Shift+F12 so they are still available. When leaving the 'Running' frequency the indicator on the 'Entry Window' will be unmarked and the Function keys will be swapped for F1 to F12 in the 'Search and Pounce' keys.

When moving away from the 'Running' frequency the program will place you automatically in Search and Pounce mode. Going back to the 'Running' frequency will automatically select 'Running' mode (the 'Running' indicator is selected again). Clicking on 'CQ-frequency' in the bandmap will also place the program in 'Running' mode. An exception is when working split i.e. transmit on one VFO and receive on the other. Moving around will not change 'Running' mode into Search and Pounce mode.

There is only one CQ-Frequency per band. If swapping VFOs, it is possible to swap between 'Running' and Search & Pounce mode.

Often used keys in Running mode (CW)

Search and Pounce mode (S&P mode)

'Search and Pounce' mode (S&P) is the opposite of 'Running' mode. The program is always in one or in the other. S&P mode means searching for stations on the bands and not calling CQ. The frequency used is not 'fixed'. The 'Running' indicator is not marked on the 'Entry Window'. The function keys under F1 until F12 are the keys programmed for Search and Pounce' mode, the 'Running' mode function keys are swapped to Shift+F1 until Shift+F12 so they are still available.

Note icon Note: If "Running" is checked, the Run messages are shown, if not, the Search and Pounce messages are shown on the function keys.

When pressing Shift, the labels will change (when made different) and the text from the "Running" keys become the text from the "Search & Pounce" keys and vice versa. SHIFT REVERSES THE MEANING OF THE ABOVE RULE.

Note that when in Search and Pounce mode, to call CQ, press Shift+F1. That will place the program in Run mode and will press F1; from that point on F1 will call CQ (in Running mode).

When the label or the message in S&P mode has "CQ" in it, pressing it also changes you automatically to run mode
Example: You are S&P'ing through the spots. You land on one, and no one is there. What do you do

Send CQ. Rather than make you press Shift+F1, you can press your CQ key that you have programmed in S&P mode. The fact that the label or the message has "CQ" in it, changes you to Run mode. If you sent CQ, don't you want to be in Run mode?

When entering a call in the S&P mode and the call is a dupe, changing frequency (QSY) will automatically enter the dupe callsign into the band map and clear the Entry Window..

When a frequency is busy it can be marked with Mark (Alt+M). This could be used when the station on that frequency is not in the contest, may not be worked in the contest or seldom says his callsign to have the frequency marked in the bandmap. Press Alt+M, and move on. That frequency is busy, so you won't want to stop there again.

How to check if you are in Running mode or in S&P mode?

Another possibilitiy is to is give F1 Running and F1 S&P a more meaningful name. So in the F1 title put the caption "F1 - RUN", and in the F1 for S&P (F13..) put the caption "F1 - S/P". This way the first macro location will tell which set of macros are enabled. Because F1 (Run) is always the CQ key theere is no need for CQ in the title to make that clear. Tnx Bob - KØRC.

Set up the Sent exchange message(s)

Every contest has it's own specific exchange. The sent exchange could be fixed (CQWW - zone), a serial number (001 etc.) a combination and sometimes very exotic.
What to set up in the 'Sent exchange' can be found in the manual in the chapter 'Setup Contests'. Sometimes some creativity is needed to get it all working and more than one solution is often possible. For some contest a special sent exchange macro has been added (like TIME2 for some digital contests).

Below an example how to set up a serial number exchange followed by a fixed exchange (in the same exchange). Example 599 023 40   (serial number 023 and zone 40).

There's more than one way to do this. In your exchange message (usually F2), you can use 599 {EXCH}, which will send what you have entered into the "Sent exchange" box (001 will be converted into a serial number and the rest will be sent literally), OR you can instead program F2 to include the individual elements of the exchange, e.g. 599 # # 04 (e.g. if you wanted to send the serial number twice and the zone only once).

Some things to watch for:

1. The {EXCH} macro does not include the 599, so you need to program that into your exchange message(s). The "Sent exchange" box is used to generate the Cabrillo file regardless of whether you use the {EXCH} macro. Therefore you can't put the 599 in the "Sent exchange" box because that will screw up your Cabrillo file. In stead of hard coding 599 in the exchange message(s) also the macro {SENTRST} or {SENTRSTCUT} could be used.

2. If you like to send a slightly different message when S&Ping than when you are running, then you will need to program the Run F2 (2nd message in the list) and the S&P F2 (14th message in the list) with separate messages. For example, you might program the Run F2 with: {TX} 599 # # 04 {RX}   and the S&P F2 with:  {TX}{ENTER} ! TU 599 # # # 04 {RX}
Note that in Run mode, the exchange is actually sent as F5 and F2 in succession; F5 normally contains the other station's call sign (!) and F2 normally contains just the exchange. In S&P mode, the exchange is sent only as F2, so if you want your S&P exchange to include the other station's call sign (some people do, some don't) you have to include a ! in the S&P message.

3. If you want to always send three-digit serial numbers, make sure that the check box called "Send leading zeros in serial numbers (e.g. TT7)" under the "Function keys" tab in the Configurer is checked.

Setup N1MM to record and playback voice recordings

To set up the program to record and playback voice recordings do the step below:
  1. Plug your microphone into the sound card mic input
  2. Plug your headset into the sound card speaker output
  3. Select default devices on the Configurer Audio setup Tab
  4. Open the windows volume control on the playback controls, set mic audio so you can hear yourself talking through the sound card.
  5. Change the windows volume control to select the recording controls.
  6. In N1MM logger make sure you are set for SSB, and in Run mode, and have a file name in the F1 key definition
  7. Do Ctrl-Shift-F1, immediately say something, like a short CQ, then immediately do Ctrl-Shift-F1 again.  The bottom status line of the entry window should have said 'recording started' then 'recording saved'
  8. Press f1 and the recording should play back in your headset
  9. Adjust audio level on the volume control so when you record it has the same volume as the mic audio when you aren't recording
OK, now you are on your own. the program records and plays back through the sound card.  Now you have to figure out how to get that audio to and from your radio via your rigblaster, some other adapter, and whatever plugs on your radio that you choose to use. but the program is set up and working at this point.

Playing Wav files

The program can play wav files in SSB for giving CQ, sending default reports etc. For this to work wav files have to be made with the text to send. These wav files should to be placed in the wav\ directory under the program directory. To call a wav file edit the SSB function keys as in the examples below. It is also possible to send a callsign by sending it's letters and numbers.

It is possible to play more .wav files right after the other by separating the wav files with a comma.
Example:   wav\{operator}\blank.wav,wav\{operator}\number.wav#

More examples can be found in theMacro chapter under {OPERATOR} macro examples and in the Sweepstakes contest setup.

For those with problems with wav files playing from the Function keys... Make sure that under the tab 'Contest' in the "File | Open Log in Database'" you have "Mode Category" set to SSB (or Mixed) and not set to CW.  Check out the Audio tab in the configurer.

Recording Wav files

The first thing to try is to plug the microphone (mic) directly into the sound card. Then open the sound playback control panel, make sure the mic channel is displayed and see if you can get the mic to come out the speakers. Once you do that then plug the mic into the rigblaster and the rigblaster into the mic input on the sound card and make sure it still comes out. Then go from the sound card to the rigblaster and make sure you can hear it in the speakers connected to the rigblaster, then go from the rigblaster to the mic on the radio. That all verifies the audio paths. Note that none of this uses the logger yet.

Now change the volume control to show the recording controls. Make sure the mic input is displayed and select it as the recording source. Open the windows 'sound recorder'. Yes, I know it is a dumb program, but its main advantage is that it is simple. Try to record using the sound recorder and then play it back, the trace should show if audio is getting into the recording.

Now you are ready to try the logger. Watch the status line on the bottom of the entry window when pressing Ctrl+Shift+Fx, make sure it says that recording is started and then that the file is saved. Pressing the same keys again (Ctrl+Shift+Fx) to stop recording. Note the confirmation start/saved messages on the status line at the bottom of the Call Entry window.

If the above steps verified the audio paths then the only thing left is to make sure the PTT keys the radio when you send the file. Note, that you can key manually or turn on the VOX just to make sure that the audio is getting to the rig even if the PTT doesn't work.

N1MM logger only supports standard PCM format files. Some editors use ADPCM instead and you have to convert them to standard PCM to have them played.
More info on recording in the chapter 'Before the contest'

Note: Recommend is to record with N1MM logger since it will put the file in the same place it expects to play them from, and it records only with the formats that it can also play. 

Note: If the soundcard is a Realtek HD, you won't be able to do on-the-fly recording with N1MM  Logger. You'll need to use an external application, such as Windows  Sound Recorder or Audacity.

Soundcard control in configurer

The soundcard has to be set up when playing wav files. This has to be done on the Audio tab in the configurer. Check out the settings for it in the configurer chapter.

Note: This is the most common problem when no sound is heard when playing wav files.
Also check for a non existing wav file and the correct path in the program.
Always check the wav file in a media player if it can be heard from the speakers!

When play SSB wav files, the play volume can be adjusted by the Windows play control sliders.

Quick Edit

Do you ever log a contact with a mistake in the callsign? Want to bring it back, so you can change it? You can do it with "Edit last contact (Ctrl+Y)", but that dialog is complicated and not the right tool for the heat of a contest.

There is an alternative called "Quick Edit" (Ctrl+Q). Quick edit will return the last entered qso to the entry window to allow you to change it. Pressing enter will log the changes, ESC will abandon them. The Entry window text boxes change to blue to let you know you are in quick edit.

Was the mistake three QSOs ago? Then just press Ctrl+Q three times to get to it. The same rules about saving/abandoning apply here as well.

Note: There is no check if the entered contents is valid like is done when the qso is entered normally.
So check thoroughly what you type.

Meaning of Colors

The meaning of the colors is where possible consistent across all windows. The table below will give the meaning per window.

Color Entry Window Available Mult's and Q's Window Check
Window		 Bandmaps
Call Dupe Callframe Buttons Mults Calls Frequencies
Gray Dupe Dupe Dupe Dupe   Dupe Non workable  
Black       CQ Freq.     CQ Freq. CW
Blue QSO   QSO QSO QSO QSO QSO SSB
Red Multiplier   Multiplier Multiplier Multiplier   Multiplier Out of band
Green > 1 Multiplier   > 1 Multiplier > 1 Multiplier > 1 Multiplier   > 1 Multiplier  
Magenta               RTTY

Multipliers and QSOs

The program shows at many place if a callsign is a multiplier, a qso or a dupe. Please study the table with the meaning of colors  above.

Connecting a telnet cluster

How to save the log

Well, there isn't a 'save' function because it is not necessary. Every change you make to the database, is stored 'on the fly', hence the absence of a 'save log' function. The ham.mdb file (default name) on your hard disk is the database where every contest is stored, along with lots of other information used by the program. Also there is no need to make a new file for each contest. Each new contest is stored in one and the same file. Just go 'File |New Log in Database' and pick one out of the list, and you're all set to go. After a couple of years, there are dozens of contests in the database, for a total of a couple of thousand QSOs.

Now, you can make new databases, as many as you want. You can have separate databases for separate calls, separate contests etc. Most users however, only need 1 database. You can copy it to backup etc. Just be sure what you're doing when messing with files...

Function Key macros

You can't skip function key numbers. It is the position of the macro, not the number you identify it with.

The first 12 macros are RUN macros. If you then only fill in 7 S&P macros then 8 thru 12 will be the same macros as the ones you filled in for RUN. So in your example if you set up your {WIPE} macro for F11 in RUN and your S&P F11 was blank then the {WIPE} F11 key would work in both RUN and S&P.

If you want to fill in a blank macro enter the function key comma and a space. You have to put the space as you cannot create a blank macro.

If you want to go from S&P to RUN is a single keystroke then set the first S&P macro to CQ (without F1 in the description) and put the
command QRL? in the macro (Pete's trick). CQ,QRL? So hitting F1 would send QRL? and put you in RUN and start your auto CQ if turned on.

Save and Restore Window Positions

Saving and Restoring window positions is done in the Tools menu under 'Save Window Positions' and under 'Restore Window Positions'.

Example:
New operator PA1M: Hit Ctrl+O and enter: PA1M and after this he presses 'Save Window Positions' in the Tools menu. The window positions for PA1M are now saved.
Next operator comes in and does the same for his call.
PA1M is again the operator and wants his window positions back: PA1M does Ctrl+O and enters: PA1M and after that selects 'Restore Window Positions'. The window positions will immediately change to the saved positions. PA1M has his window positions back!
Note icon TIP!  The callsign used could be RTTY, CW, or SSB. This way it is easy to have window positions saved and restored for the different modes you use.
Not suitable in a Multi-op envrionment but very usable in the single operator  multi mode shack.

Editing (lookup) tables

(Lookup) tables are used widely throughout the program. Example tables are the function keys, telnet stations, exchange abbreviations etc.  These tables can be updated by the user and mostly lines can be added at the bottom of the list or deleted where needed.

Backup and Restore

Information used by the program is partly stored in the database, partly in ini files and in some additional subdirectories. Examples are the WAV files (for the function keys) but also in the Letters directory. So when making a backup not only backup the MDB files but also some text files / or sub-directories. The best solution is to backup and restore the whole N1MM logger subdirectory. Backup/restore proposal 2 is a partial backup/restore.

Full backup/restore on same computer - proposal 1 - backup and restore the whole N1MM logger subdirectory

Partial backup/restore on same computer - proposal 2 - make a partial backup and restore.
Storing all these settings (exported text files, wav files etc) next to all databases (mdb files) on a diskette, CD/RW or USB-pen in case of a computer crash would not be a bad idea :-)

Note: This is not the way to place the program on another computer, the first time you always have to install !.

Installation on a different computer

The difference with another computer is that you first have to install N1MM logger on the new computer , this to get all dll , ocx files etc. copied and registered. After that you may overwrite/add all *.mdb files, settings etc. in the N1MM logger program directory by copying and importing settings. See the restore procedure above.

You have to watch out if the settings like serial ports, directory structure, screen resolution etc. are different on the second computer. This could/will give trouble.

Copy, zip, cd/rw etc.

Compressing the database files for backup/restore with a program like WinZip really helps, these databases (but also Word files, Excel files etc.) compress a lot, mostly down to 10-25 percent of it's original size. This means that a 4 MB database fits easily on a diskette.

The database can be also compressed with File/Copy and compact database.  This is not a zip compression. It recovers space from deleted rows.  Most database engines do not recover deleted rows until a reorganization is done.  They just mark them deleted. This is not the same compression as mentioned above when using zip compression. When doing a compact database the database can still be used afterwards by the program. Using zip compression is only for backup/restore purposes.

It is wise to make a regular backup of the whole N1MM logger subdirectory including all subdirectories to a CD recordable. Copying it to another hard disk (in the same computer but better on another computer when you have a network) is also a good idea.

Basic Functions for RTTY

Tip 1. Use your mouse to grab everything just click on the call sign and it will get passed on to the entry window and click on the exchange it will get sent to the exchange field..
Or use the insert key to grab a call from the grab window and send your call that saves time also..

Tip 2. When you click on a callsign do you still need to press the space bar to advance things. You don't. Go to the digital setup screen by clicking setup/settings on the main Digital window. On the main screen there is a setting to Send space after callsign click. Turn that setting on and you will be all set. The "Righ Click sends Enter routine can be found in the Digital window, select Setup then 'Rt click= Return not Menu'.

Tip 3 Try turning on the Right Click sends Enter routine from the settings drop down menu. What this does is makes the right click of the mouse button while the mouse pointer is in the RX window act like the ENTER key and will step thru the ESM keys without hitting the keyboard. Your hand never leaves the mouse for the whole Q.

Tip 4.  Hover mode: Let's you grab the callsign just by pointing your mouse on the callsign, no click... this way. It's faster then to click right to reply. Hover mode can be found in the Digital window, select Setup then 'Turn Hover Mode On/Off'.

73's Rick N2AMG