[MacLoggerContest] Top 5 features for MLC

[Chuck Counselman]

At 10:30 PM +0000 3/11/05, Jonathan G0DVJ wrote:
>...I offer a draft top 5 features/characteristics of a possible 
>initial MLC.... Please consider this initial attempt at a consensus

My humble comments:

>SETUP:
>...configurable...for any contest....  Full support for all popular 
>national and international contests..., HF, VHF and UHF....

Sure.  Sine qua non, IMO.


>ENTRY/EDITING OF QSOs:
>- Fast entry of required contest logging fields through a 
>"bullet-proof" data entry routine.  Auto insertion of relevant data 
>from radio connection (such as Band/Mode)....  Auto suggested data 
>insertion (zones, area codes, reports, locators etc. as 
>appropriate).  Entry includes the important aspect of editing a QSO 
>easily and quickly.

Sure.  Sine qua non, IMO.


>CHECKING & INFO FOR OPERATORS:
>- Real-time checking (preferably as callsign characters are typed 
>without touching other keys/buttons) of DUPLICATES...

Sure.  Sine qua non, IMO.

>...also country/band/locator/other multiplier analysis, beam 
>headings, potential multiplier status)...

Sure.  Sine qua non, IMO.

>...plus re-scoring in real-time & continuous summary of scoring per 
>band/mode/multipliers/etc.

IMO, real-time scoring (as opposed to accounting for multipliers) is 
not essential in the initial MLC.  I could wait until a later release 
for this.


>INTERFACES & STANDARDS:
>- Use of all existing "standard" file formats...

Sure.  Sine qua non, IMO.


>INITIAL BELL & WHISTLE:
>- A contest CW memory keyer

IMO this is a high priority and should be in the initial release.



>Other outside top 5:  (not in any order).
>
>- A facility to connect to a public/private DX cluster (either on 
>the net or via RF/TNC) which highlights spots which are potential 
>multipliers.

IMO this is a high priority and should be in the initial release, 
especially as DX "cluster" connection is already a feature of MLDX.

<<<============[WHERE I'D DRAW THE LINE FOR THE INITIAL MLC]===========>>>

>- SO2R support for 2 radio operation

Defer.

>- Inbuilt contest voice "keyer" for CQ parrot calling.

Defer.

>- Multi-operator support for logging and statistical analysis of 
>rates and mults etc.

Defer even further.  The market is smaller, first because there are 
fewer multi-op stations, second because practically none of them use 
Macintosh computers, and third because a multi-op station is much 
less likely than an individual to switch to Macintosh.

>- Rendezvous support for Multi-multi operation over ethernet or 
>airport networks.

Defer still further.  The market is still smaller.  I doubt that 
you'll ever see a Multi-multi operation using Macintosh s/w.


>-  Integration with Apple's iChat for IM chat between operators in 
>multi-multi situations, spotting stations etc.

Defer further yet.  The market is still smaller.


The best is the enemy of the good.  A good plan today is better than 
a perfect plan tomorrow.  Let's define a feature set that is enough 
for most of us, and to which Don will commit.

Don Agro and we users are in this boat together.  He needs a market 
and we need his product.  To get past the chicken-and-egg problem, 
perhaps Don and we can devise a way of sharing risk and working 
together.


73 de Chuck W1HIS
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