Hi All,

AC Log 4.0 Beta 0.9 is Ready for Testing!

The latest program in my C# rewrite, Amateur Contact log (my general logging program) is ready for beta testing! The folks on the users group have been giving the AC Log betas a good workout over the past few weeks, but I'd really like to have a much broader test before we call it complete. Like the rest of my C# rewrites, every line of code is brand new, so every function needs thorough testing and I would love to have your help with that!

I have added a link on the AC Log page to download the new AC Log 4.0 beta: http://www.n3fjp.com/aclog.html, or you can download it directly by clicking this link: http://n3fjp.ky1v.com/ACL.exe.

Like the rest of my rewrites, this program requires the Microsoft .NET 4.0 Client package, so you'll need Windows XP with Service Pack 3 or later to run it.

You'll find steps to bring over your log file to AC Log 4.0 as test data here: http://www.n3fjp.com/upgradestepsaclog.html, which is simply transferring your log data via ADIF from AC Log 3.4. Since this is entirely new code with a new file format, there isn't a way to bring over your customized settings from the old version of AC Log, but I think you'll find setting AC Log back up even quicker and easier than the old version!

Please consider any data you use in the AC Log 4.0 beta as experimental / test data for now, until we are sure that no problems come to light!

You'll find lots of new features, like easily networking AC Log (making it a great alternative for club stations, DXpeditions and any ham who has more than one operating position in his home), lots of new fields and enhancements to existing features like eQSL bulk uploads and downloads.

There are too many enhancements and changes to list in detail here, but one new feature I want to mention is the addition of the Callbook lookup option HamQTH.com, because it replaces the FCC / RAC lookup option as a free callbook lookup alternative. When I originally started writing AC Log back in 1997, there weren't any free callbook lookup alternatives available. I wanted to help with that, so I wrote code to convert the freely available FCC and RAC data files and then also coded the lookup routines in AC Log. As I'm sure you can imagine, this took a good bit of time.

Since HamQTH.com is now freely available, has more data than the FCC / RAC databases and is a snap to set up, it didn't make much sense for me to spend the time rewriting the FCC / RAC sections of conversion and lookup code. The HamQTH.com data source seems to be working fine and I think you will really enjoy this new, free feature / alternative. You can learn more about HamQTH.com's free callbook lookup here:

http://www.hamqth.com/about.php

Ready for Field Day This Weekend!?

Remember, you must be running the new, C#.NET version Field Day Contest Log 4.0 or the most recent VB6 versions (Contest 3.0 or Network 2.7) or you will not be able to log the new Ontario sections. You should have installed the new versions and tested out the networking by now. If you haven't yet done that, do it today! Problems solved easily in a relaxed environment can seem insurmountable when the clock is ticking! Take some time now, get your Field Day equipment together, install the software and get everything set up, so when Field Day Saturday arrives, you can just relax and enjoy the contest! Here is the Field Day download page: http://www.n3fjp.com/fieldday.html

If you haven't yet located your password, please do that today too. Don't wait until Friday or Saturday morning to realize you have lost your password and try to contact us!

I plan to run 1E and I hope to work you this weekend!

And in response to the questions we always receive when we neglect to include the following in our e-mail announcements...

Package Upgrade Information...

If you have registered one or more individual programs and would like to upgrade to N3FJP's Software Package or N3FJP's Software Package and CD for full use of all our Amateur Radio software, we would be glad to apply the amount that you have registered so far as a credit towards that purchase. Please send us an e-mail directly and we'll let you know your balance.

N3FJP's Software Package includes approximately 50 programs for contesting, net management, general logging and other Amateur Radio related applications. In addition to full use of all these programs, registered package customers are also entitled to receive free passwords for any new software that is added to the package and free upgrades to existing programs. You'll find all the details on the Register Now page at www.n3fjp.com.

Donations are Gratefully Accepted!

And in response to the often asked question for which Kimberly and I are very grateful...

"I know your upgrades are free, but I also realize how much time and effort coding these enhancements and new programs take and that your pricing policy doesn't fully reflect that. Can I send you something to show my appreciation for your continued efforts?"

Yes, thanks so much, your continued support in any amount is very welcome and deeply appreciated! You can use this page:

http://www.n3fjp.com/donations.html

or send your contribution by mail, payable to Affirmatech Inc., to:

G. Scott Davis
118 Glenwood Road
Bel Air, MD 21014-5533

Thank you so much for your continued support!

Thanks!

As always, thanks for your kind words, support, linking to our web site and spreading the word about our software. Kimberly and I really appreciate it!

73, Scott
N3FJP
http://www.n3fjp.com

Serving the Amateur Radio community with contesting and general logging software since 1997.

p.s.

If you need to change your e-mail address for future announcements....

The way Yahoo groups are set up, it is much easier for subscribers to unsubscribe from the old e-mail address and then subscribe with your new e-mail address, than for the list owner to do it for you. Yahoo makes it prohibitively difficult for list owners and limits or blocks their ability to add subscribers, to prevent them from adding folks without their permission.

Fortunately, it is very easy for subscribers to unsubscribe and resubscribe.

Here are the links to the Announcements Only group (low volume group where only I can post):

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/n3fjp_software/

And users group (all users can post questions here, so this can be high volume at times):

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/n3fjp_software_users/

Please go ahead and make that change. Thanks for your cooperation!