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<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>I ran my second
serious contest with Win-Test as M6T SOAB during WPX SSB. I had SO2R better
configured this time but I still ran across a few problems. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>1. There were
occasions where pressing any of the DVP keys would put the active radio into
transmit, but would connect the microphone rather than play the DVP message. I
think this was usually after aborting a DVP message on the second radio (e.g.
via shift F4 and pressing Esc before the message completed). Needed to restart
Win-Test to get everything working again. Probably happened about 20 times
during 36 hours operating. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>2. Sometimes the
outgoing DVP messages would become chopped-up as if another process was getting
CPU time priority. Again - needed a restart. Happened about 10 times during 36
hours operating.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>3. When running
alternating CQs in SO2R mode (using the default macro), when it came to answer a
caller (so using the microphone, not sending a DVP message) sometimes the PTT
and microphone line would be directed to the wrong radio. I think I cleared this
with a couple of presses of the * key and then sending a DVP message. Only
happened about 5 times, but I didn't use alternating CQs very much (< 1
hour). </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>4. I couldn't see
how to configure Latch mode. I only had 2 COM ports on the PC and those were
being taken up by the radios. I tried (briefly) configuring various other fake
SO2R controllers on one of those COM ports as a test, but still couldn't get
Latch mode to work. So my technique for working someone on the second radio was
a rather clunky, SHIFT-F4, *, enter callsign, send report, hit enter,
*.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>Then I have three
feature requests. These fall into the category of - can we make Win-Test behave
more like TR Log - for which I apologise. I used TR for a long time and it
really does have a very slick SO2R interface - but equally, I'm happy to be told
that I'm just not using Win-Test right though!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>1. When in
alternating CQ mode, as soon as you start to enter a callsign, drop the CQ on
the second radio and return PTT and microphone to the radio where the caller is.
Currently Win-Test seems to wait until the end of the DVP message to do this (or
at least doesn't abort quickly enough with Esc) and I was left with a lot of
awkward pauses. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>2. Strangely, I find
having to either toggle CAPS LOCK on or off, or hold the SHIFT key down to enter
a callsign in the 2nd radio window awkward (especially when your fingers are
frozen!), and more so having to hit SHIFT-F11 to clear the window if it's a
dupe, or SHIFT-CTRL-ENTER to clear it and put it into the bandmap. Is there any
config which makes this as simple as TR's ALT-D, enter Callsign, ENTER to do a
DUPE check, MULT check, band map enter and if not a dupe line up ready to call
with just the SPACE bar. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>3. Aborting CQs with
Esc isn't instant - it takes a few hundred ms which means a few more lost
characters when you realise that someone was just starting to call you as you
hit F1 or the auto CQ went off. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>Configuration was P4
1.6 GHz, 1 Gb RAM, Win XP Pro SP2, Homebrew SO2R controller from LPT
port.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>If anyone can shed
any light on any of these problems (do others see them as well), that would be
really helpful. I've made the switch to Win-Test now (reconfigured my SO2R
controller!) - just need to get it working 100%.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2>73,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=953195920-08042008><FONT face=Arial size=2>Andy,
G4PIQ</FONT></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>