Tools

QSO recording, the CW window, program update, language, diagnostics and a few tools for advanced users.

QSO recording

The program can record the audio from the radio (e.g. from a sound card input connected to the radio) and attach the recording to the QSO as an mp3 file. Enable it in the configuration on the Audio Recorder page:

• Enable audio recorder and Record from device (the audio input),
• Record audio after: PTT key pressed (OmniRig is required), Enter pressed in the Their CallSign field, Record button clicked; Start the next recording after the QSO is saved - continuous recording,
• mp3 bitrate, Sampling rate, Limit recording size to,
• File name template with the macros #THEIR_CALLSIGN#, #DATETIME#, #FREQMHZ#, #FREQKHZ#, #MY_CALLSIGN#,
• Buffering time before - how many seconds from before the start of recording are included in the recording.

How it works:

• A record button with a lamp appears next to the callsign field. Right-click it - menu: start / stop, enable / disable, stop and configure, show errors, status.
• The recording ends when the QSO is saved, when you press the button again or when you type the next callsign. One recording lasts at most 2 minutes.
• The recording is kept only when the QSO is saved correctly. The files are in the RECORDS folder.
• You can play them in the QSO edit window (play buttons, Menu: file in Explorer, deleting the file).
• To record your own voice too, turn on the monitor (transmit monitoring) in the radio.

CW window

The CW window sends Morse code from the keyboard and from macros, keying the radio through a serial (COM) port. Open it from the Rig window (Menu → CW window).

• At the bottom there are 12 macros - each with a text and a short description. The TX (F1) … TX (F12) button or the F1…F12 key sends the macro.
• The macro fields and the CW Text field can use macros: the other callsign, reports, your callsign, locator, name, QTH, equipment, antenna, frequency, band, date and time… Right-click a field to open the macro menu; Macros info shows the full list.
• At the top: Their CallSign, RST S/R, My Grid, Power and Save to LogBook - you save the QSO without switching to the LogBook window. The callsign and reports typed in the LogBook appear here by themselves.
• Speed, Random time error (more "human" keying), Send, Stop; macros can be saved to and loaded from a file (Export Macro / Load Macro).
• Configure: the COM port and its parameters, the Key and PTT lines (they cannot be the same), the PTT delay before the first element and the PTT hold after the last one, Tone generation (sidetone on the computer), CW window always on top, Test CW.

Program update

The program checks in the background whether there is a new version (the Check for updates option on the Schedule page). When there is - Updates are available appears at the bottom of the window. The Program update window shows the current and the server version and the required .NET version, and guides you through three steps:

1. Create a backup (recommended),
2. Open the program folder - so you know where to install / unpack the new version (Copy path to clipboard),
3. Open the download page - download the new version and install it in the same folder. Close the program before installing.

Installing a new version does not remove your logs or configuration. The same window opens from the About window (About. Coffee? at the bottom of the LogBook window).

Program language

Configuration → Misc page → Select language / Wybierz język. After changing the language, restart the program. The program also asks whether to translate the program field names (e.g. Parks, Summit) - names you changed yourself stay as they are. This help is in Polish when the program language is Polish and in English for all other languages.

Diagnostics and contacting the author

• System Diagnostics (configuration, LogBook page) - a separate program that shows who is using the radio's COM port, which RigAndLog programs are running and which network ports are in use. See Diagnostics.
• Ctrl+Alt+F12 - a small window with the program's memory and graphics resource usage.
• Contact form (Misc page or the link on the LogBook page) - a message to the author. After a critical error the program shows a window with an option to send a report.
• The program's work log is in the LOGS folder - useful when you report a problem.

For advanced users

• Resource editor (Misc page) - editing the program's data files (e.g. the lists of bands, modes, contests). Change them carefully, preferably after making a backup.
• Clear web browser cache - when the built-in pages (QRZ, propagation) display badly. Works if the browser was not used in this session.
• Disable Internet features / Enable Internet features - clusters, QRZ, e-mail, LoTW, WSJT-X with one button.
• After the computer wakes up from hibernation, the program suggests a restart - network and radio connections may have been interrupted.