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Reviews For: N3FJP Contesting Software

Category: Ham Logging Software

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Review Summary For : N3FJP Contesting Software
Reviews: 85MSRP: 6.00
Description:
A collection of Contesting modules that work with or without N3FJP's AC
Log software to make contesting almost run itself! November
Sweepstakes Log 3.8 (System Requirements - MS Windows 95, 98, NT,
ME, 2000, XP or Macintosh under Virtual PC!)
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.n3fjp.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00854.8
KA4CKR Rating: 2007-04-04
Superb Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had used the N3FJP Field Day software before. I found it very easy to use. I needed a logging software to get away from the paper log, so I ordered the entire package (within 15 minutes on a Sunday!). After a couple of days, I had entered all of my contacts into the AC 3.0 program, uploaded all to eQSL and LOTW and all was right with the world.

I don't do a lot of contesting, but I had purchased the entire package and was sitting in the shack one Saturday morning, tuning around on 20 meters when I heard someone call CQ contest. I wondered what contest was going on, so I looked it up and found the CQ WW WPX SSB was going on. I went to the N3FJP website, downloaded the program, found my password list, typed in the correct one, filled out some basic information and was knee-deep in the contest in about 5 minutes. It was so easy to use, I didn't have to sit and look at it more than 30 seconds before I knew how to make it work.

I only worked 13 hours of the 48-hour contest, but I worked 106 stations, over 30 countries (prior to that, I had only worked 5 DX entities), and had a lot of fun working single op. I also worked D44AC which can be seen on the cover of this month's QST.

The software program was super easy to use, announces dupes with an audible, "DUPLICATE" and the entry turns red and disappears. It won't LET you enter a dupe! (unless the contest rules allow them and it has been programmed that way.) And like others, I had my contest log sent in, transferred to my AC 3.0 logging software, and uploaded to LOTW and eQSL within a few minutes. It is utterly painless.
N3VMD Rating: 2007-03-31
Perfect Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Everything you need and nothing you don't!
KB5DRJ Rating: 2007-03-18
Excellent! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use N3FJP contesting software for all the contests that I participate in. I've found the software works great. Most important though is Steve's promptness during the registration process. I highly recommend this software. The price is affordable.
WW9R Rating: 2006-12-06
Great Stuff!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This software really makes contesting fun. I have used it for the past 4 years and have never had a problem with it. Scott writes bullet proof code! ten minutes after a contest I have my log submitted to eQSL, LOTW, and the contest organizers. What more can one ask for?

The software connects with my radio for both control and for sending cw. This feature really makes contesting a whole lot of fun.

Did I mention the updates are free. Simply go to Scott's web site before a contest and download the latest version and away you go.


Do yourself a favor and give his software a test drive. You will be glad you did!


Pat
WW9R
AB3DK Rating: 2006-09-04
outstanding program and fantastic support -easy to use Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The N3FJP program is my first logging program. It is intuitively easy to use, especially for those of us who don't like to read the manual. It supports a my everyday use and a ton of contests; and more importantly Scott and Kimberly provide fantastic support. The support alone is worth the cost of the program. They have answered all my questions promptly and with answers that actually solved the problem-or just explained what I need to do. Today, after owning the program for six months, I finally tried to interface the program with the QRZ data base. I could not connect and sent them a message. I received a response within two hours-it was my virus program. Today is a NATIONAL HOLIDAY. Need I say more!!!!!!!
K7OED Rating: 2006-08-10
OUTSTANDING!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used Scott's software for 4 years running during Field Day, International DX, and November Sweeps and think it is OUTSTANDING, and all of our club contest operators feel the same way! I also use the Amateur Contact log at home, and for a special event station our club runs every Labor Day. All of the packages are quite intuitive, and I became self-taught on the software within 10 minutes without reading any of the documentation. The screens for all packages work the same way, so there is no retraining required when you go to a new contest. Most loads also come in an alternate version that allows you to run with multiple operators, and I really appreciate the indication of approximate azimuth/range to the contact in the the International DX contest version!
The software comes with versions for the 10 Meter Contest, 10-10 QSO Party, ARRL RTTY Round-Up, ARRL 160-Meter, CQ 160 Meter, CQ WPX, CQ WW DX, Field Day, FISTS Sprint, IARU HF, ARRL International DX, Kids Day, Kids Roundup, NAQP, NA Sprint, November Sweeps, QRP ARCI, RAC, 22 Separate State QSO Parties, Stew Perry, and VHF Contest Logs. That's enough to keep you contesting almost every weekend all year long (and I'm one of think that we have too many contests already - I don't want to hear one every single weekend).
Too bad for W3ULS that it didn't have his favorite contest, but I suppose that there will always be some type of contest where the software version choices are limited or non-existant. There are a ton of QRP contests that most of us have never even heard of (just like I hadn't heard of WAECW before tonight). B ut for the average Joe who needs a day-to-day shack logging program and does some casual contesting, Scott's software is a wonderful package!

73,

de KD7OED/Lee
W3ULS Rating: 2006-08-10
Not Enough Support Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am disappointed that this excellent software can be used in only a few contests. Compare the list of contests supported by N1MM's excellent freeware and you will see what I mean. For example, this weekend's upcoming WAECW contest is among the missing on the N3FJP list. Too many othger contests are.

So while it has the best interface and useability, N3FJP's contest software suffers from having no support for many, many contests.

73,
John, W3ULS
KB2PSM Rating: 2006-07-10
A great suite Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I concur with the other reviewers and won't bother to rehash all of the well-deserved praise.
I've typically used the software for Field Day, at two clubs now. Every now and then, someone is tempted to try something different and new. Ultimately, we stick with N3FJP because there is no compelling reason to look elsewhere. The software is simple to run, easy to master and easy to read, even on the older laptops that typically show up for use on Field Days.
W4SK Rating: 2006-07-10
Get It. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
A very good series of programs, and superior customer service.
W5TB Rating: 2006-07-10
Powerful and Easy to Use! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
WOW is all I can say after purchasing the N3FJP software suite and using it in this weekend's IARU contest -- I really loved it. I had previously purchased and used one of the 'big' contest software packages but always found it more of a pain than pleasure to use and the learning curve way too steep for a casual contester like me. Not only does the N3FJP software check and alert for dupes (have I worked this guy on 40 yet?) but is much more intuitive to set up and use. I connected it easily to the Ten Tec Omni VI+ so it knows the time and band - automatically eliminating paperwork and my biggest errors any time I work more than 25 or 30 guys in a contest and start working duplicates or forgetting to note when I switch bands or the time of a contact.

Not allowed so not used in this contest but I took a look at another handy feature -- you can turn on DX spotting and then when you see one you need just click on it and it automatically tunes the rig to that frequency and mode.

Coup de grace - it also sends CW using the F keys so you can hit a button for your call, the other stations call, contest exchange, CQ test, or any other messages you program in. Doing it all by just pushing buttons however takes all the fun out of it for me and after a couple of tries I went back to sending the exchange by hand. Still I am happy to see the software supports all the QRPARCI contests and it will be very handy for me in these fun little contests for calling CQ TEST over and over ;-)

Thanks to this software the IARU log and contest entry was sent in within minutes after the contest ending and for the first time I've uploaded these contacts to the ARRL's Logbook of the World (http://www.arrl.org/lotw/ ) I loaded them into Scott's Amateur Contact Log too. That was all so easy I then downloaded all the files I'd uploaded to EQSL over the past couple of years using that other software, loaded them into AC Contact Log and then uploaded them to LOTW too.

Bottom line, at least for the casual contester, and in my opinion probably for anyone else running only one radio, this software is a great value. It does everything I want it to, and is very easy to set up use. Thanks to this terrific software suite I'll be spending more time contesting and a lot less time on paperwork from now on!