>>>AA6YQ comments below
- display frequency-dependent settings for devices like tuners and amplifiers?
No. But then, it's rig control software, not amplifier or tuner control software.
>>>Many hams use tuners and/or amplifiers, and most of these are not PC-controlled. The usual solution is to work out the setting for each frequency, and scribble them on a piece of paper that is taped to the tuner or amplifier, and falls off every couple of weeks. The alternative is to use a transceiver control application that lets you specify your tuner and and amplifier settings for each frequency range, so that the transceiver control application can use its knowledge of the transceiver's current frequency to display the correct tuner and/or amplifier settings.
- perform a callbook lookup on a group of logged QSOs en masse (e.g. after a contest)?
No, does it during log entry.
>>>Performing a QRZ.com lookup over the internet before logging each QSO is often too time-consuming during a contest or when you're on the pointy end of a pileup.
- automatically identify unconfirmed QSOs whose confirmation would advance DXCC or WAZ award progress?
Not 100% sure of your question. I believe you want real time log analysis based upon whether or not you have a confirmed QSO. If that's the case, then no. In the log, while using the spotter window, if the entity in the spotter is in your log (dup) or the prefix is in your log, it will identify it differently (dup = a plus sign and check mark, you have the prefix it's just a check mark). If you have not worked the prefix before, it is marked with a 'X'.
>>>The desired function is "generate outgoing QSL cards for every unconfirmed QSO that if confirmed would advance my DXCC/Challenge or WAZ award progress. To do this, the user must be able to specify his or her DXCC award objectives and WAZ award objectives (e.g. pursuing 5BDXCC but not challenge, pursuing WAZ mode awards but not WAZ band awards) as well as maintaining realtime award status for entities, entity-modes, entity-bands, zones, zone-modes, zone-bands, and zone-band-modes.
>>>Accurately highlighting and announcing needed spots also requires the same knowledge of award objectives and award progress. From your response above, it sounds like this information is only available at the level of entities worked.
- directly print QSL cards and labels from logged QSOs?
Does address labels.
>>>Address labels aren't QSL cards.
- rapidly synchronize (upload and download) with LotW?
Creates ADIF files to wash through TQSL to create the TQ8 file.
>>>Manually uploading to TQSL does not provide a way to update one's log to reflect the acceptance of uploaded QSOs by LotW, or to reflect the confirmation of QSOs by LotW.
- accurately modify many logged QSOs simultaneously (without requiring the user to edit ADIF files)?
No, but not sure why you would need this...
>>>There are countless examples:
- add 1 hour to the start time of each QSO made during the FOOBAR contest because someone set the timezone incorrectly on the PC you used during the contest
- compute the BAND_RX for each QSO that specifies an RX frequency
- set the station callsign to N6YBG for all QSOs made between 1990-03-15 and 1990-06-22
- set my location to "Wayland, Massachusetts" for all QSOs made between 1997-06-15 and 2009-07-11
- etc.
- collect DX spots from multiple clusters simultaneously, and combine spots of the same DX station into a single entry showing when the station was first spotted and most recently spotted?
Yes. It also displays the DX spots on a rather neat slide rule by frequency
>>>If 701DX is spotted on 7001 and then is spotted on 7005, does the "slide rule" show one entry for 701DX or two?
- provide comprehensive spot filtering -- including by spotting station location?
Yes. You must build your own filters
>>>Recent answers on the HRD reflector indicate that filtering is done by the Cluster. This precludes defining a filter like "hide all 6m spots not posted by stations within 250 miles of my QTH".
- identify spotted DX stations known to participate in LotW or in eQSL's Authenticity Guaranteed program?
No. But is that information accurately identified in spotter reports? As a LotW participant, I know of no way to 'declare myself' authentic.
>>>To declare yourself an LotW participant, visit
http://www.hb9bza.net/lotw/>>>HB9BZA collects logs containing LotW confirmations, and uses these to maintain a database of known LotW participants. Such a database can be used to identify spotted stations known to participate in LotW.
>>>eQSL provides a similar database containing the callsigns of participants of its Authenticity Guaranteed (AG) program; only QSOs with AG members "count" towards CQ magazine awards like WAZ or WPX.
- generate point-and-click propagation forecasts using a modern prediction engine (e.g. VOACAP or ICEPAC)?
No. It is built in - however.
>>>VOACAP and ICEPAC are well-calibrated for HF propagation prediction.
- monitor the NCDXV/IARU HF beacon network to assess actual propation?
It's software and can't monitor anything. It compiles data on space weather and displays that information for your own interpretation. You do set it to gather the information for the sources you wish.
>>>Software can command a transceiver to monitor the IARU/HF beacon frequencies -- by band, by location, or by any other combination -- to rapidly allow the user to assess actual propagation.
Well, for free software, it seems to almost grant all your wishes.
>>>Your answers are mostly "no".
Why don't you try it out and see if you agree. It won't cost you a thing and if you know of a better package for the same price, please let the rest of us know.
>>>The answer to every one of those questions for DXLab is "yes", and has been for years (with the exception of realtime award tracking for WAZ, which was added last month). The DXLab Suite is entirely free, and available via
www.dxlabsuite.comI also hope many of your questions were rhetorical.
>>>No, they were a response to your claim that "The Logging software, the digital software and the rig control all interface with one another giving you unprecedented control over all aspects of your station."
>>>There is nothing wrong with promoting the virtues of an application you use and appreciate. Claiming that it provides "unprecedented control", however, prompted my Socratic response.
73,
Dave, AA6YQ
