The following list attempts to organize the major features of DX4WIN in alphabetical order. Make sure to check the screen shots too; they provide additional information.
Awards
Support for DXCC, WAS, WAS and WPX (mixed, mode and band) 5-band DXCC, 5-band WAZ. Separate flags to track the mixed, mode and band awards.Support for Custom awards, County, IOTA and VUCC.
Contesting [Screen Shot]
When contest mode is enabled and a starting time is defined, a new QSO will be checked for a duplicate contact in the contest.An incrementing serial number can be displayed during a contest.
Master Data files can be used from other contesting software for callsign recognition.
CW Keyboard [Screen Shot]
A full function CW keyboard which works under Windows.User programmable memories accessed using function keys.
Adjustable weighting and visual transmit buffer.
Uses interfaces to serial and parallel ports.
Buttons available to send stored CW messages using the mouse.
External data [Screen Shot]
Support for the Buckmaster, Flying Horse (RAC), QRZ!, Octavia and Amsoft Callsign databases on CDROM.Support for the GOLIST to obtain QSL manager information.
Support for QSL information from a callsign CDROM (when provided.)
Gray line [Screen Shot]
Display shadow and gray line on world map.Calculates gray line data between user’s station and DX countries.
User defined gray line ‘window’.
Calculates sunrise/sunset data for user station and DX station for up to one year.
Help [Screen Shot]
Extensive context sensitive help with hotlinks to related topics help available by pressing F1 key.User’s guide is available from installed file or can be purchased printed and bound to lay flat.
Import / Export of Logs [Screen Shot]
Import and Export filter for ADIFFilters for: ARRL, CT, DX4WIN, DXBase (3 & 4). DXDesktop, DXLog, EasyLog, GemRadio, HyperLog, LogBook, LogEQF, LogicW, LogMaster, LogPlus. LogWin, N6TR, NA, SD, SecondOP, SwissLog, TopLog, TurboLog, WB2DND, WF1B, WJ2O and WRTC and others.
QSOs that generate errors when imported are still included in the log with an error message attached. It is not necessary to edit an error file and retry the import.
Users can define their own import / export filters.
Utilities are provided to convert some file formats, such as dBase and comma delimited, to fixed field ASCII suitable for the import function.
Labels [Screen Shot]
To print QSL labels, a number (120+) of popular sizes for labels are defined. The user can also define two custom labels.Multiple labels can be printed across a page and one label can accommodate more than one contact for the same station.
Labels can be printed sorted by callsign or in the sequence as they were marked for printing.
The log file can be searched for QSOs that are not confirmed and when confirmed will contribute to one or more awards (like DXCC, WAS WAZ, new modes or bands.)
Preview of labels avoids wasting paper.
Support for printing SWL labels.
Master Call Data [Screen Shot]
Master Call data can be imported from contesting programs, converted and used in DX4WIN/32 for contesting or general logging.
Multiple Logs
Many users keep separate logs for previously held callsigns, locations or DX-peditions in order to be able to make submissions for awards. With DX4WIN you can also logically split the log file, allowing summaries and award calculations to be limited to certain groups of QSOs.Limiting the summaries to a date range allows the user also to monitor ‘progress’ in a contest.
Operating System
32 bit programming designed to run under all 32bit versions of Windows.User friendly install program.
The log file is a single file and can be in any directory.
Log files are small (500K for 8000 QSOs) and there are no index files etc. making it easy to backup a log on a floppy disk.
Log files can backed-up at a user specified time interval.
Supports serial ports 1 thru 8 and parallel ports 1 thru 3.
Packet [Screen Shot]
Large packet window (up to 16000 lines.)Contents of packet window can be copied to the Clipboard.
Large number of DX spots (up to 16000 entries).
Packet spots are color coded to reflect status of new country / new mode / new band. Color coding is based on the DXCC, WAZ or WPX status.
DX spots are saved so they are available again when the program is restarted.
Filtering of spots based on the prefix and / or the CQ zone of the spotter. Avoid getting excited about a spot that was reported on the other side of the world.
Voice or CW announcements of DX spots using the Windows sound system.
QSX frequencies in spots are recognized in different ways, like QSX 200, WKD 14205, UP 3, DN 4 etc.
Additions / deletions and updates of QSOs are reflected in the colors of the spots immediately.
New DX spots replace older spots for the same station on the same band; no endless repetitions of the same spot if you are not connected to the cluster.
Support to announce DX, grab DX spot, move radio to the frequency of a DX spot, enter DX spot in the scanner.
Tune your radio over the bands and let the DX spotting window find the spot that is closest in frequency.
DX spots can be sorted by time, arrival sequence, frequency, callsign of spotter and priority / callsign; when you sort by priority all new countries are grouped together, followed by new mode / band etc.
Buttons available to select stored packet commands via mouse.
TCP/IP access of world wide cluster sites using the Internet.
Prefixes [Screen Shot]
The country prefix is not part of a QSO; all prefixes are determined when log file is read; this approach leads to a consistent treatment of prefixes for all log files and QSOs within the same log file.Prefixes are date sensitive and one prefix can cover multiple date ranges for which the prefix is used.
Users can edit the country database to add countries, change prefixes, dates, etc.
The prefix and the zone for a call can be overwritten when editing a QSO, and is like all prefixes, date sensitive. The new prefix and zone is added to the country database automatically and will be used for all subsequent contacts with that station.
Previous Contacts [Screen Shot]
In addition to a note for every QSO, there is one single note for a callsign, giving easy access to name etc. stored in a previous contact. This allows easy access to that information when you work the same station again.Both types of notes can by 255 characters long.
When adding a new QSO, state, county, IOTA and TenTen number are obtained from the last QSO with that station.
A window is available showing all QSOs with the same station; including QSL status.
PSK31 Window [Screen Shot]
Has Waterfall and/or Spectrum display with zoom function
Frequency markers
Dual receive window
Intelligent text selection in receive window to set fields in QSO Window
16 Macros that use text form current QSO
Type ahead for transmit window
25 Seconds playback
QSL Management (outgoing.)
DX4WIN can check your log for outstanding, and unanswered QSL’s and mark those QSO’s again to send follow-up QSL.
You can remove multiple QSL’s to the same station for the same band and mode.
Mark additional QSL’s going to the same manager or station for efficient mailing.
Change method of routing (buro, direct, etc.) based on availability of a QSL buro.
QSL Managers
When entering a QSL manager for a station, the information is stored in the QSL manager database.An editor is provided to make changes to the QSL manager database.
Over 1,000,000 QSL managers can be stored.
QSO Filters [Screen Shot]
Searching for QSOs is supported with one or more search value for any field in a QSO. For example, find all phone QSOs on 80m that are not confirmed with countries outside the USA and for which a QSL card was never sent.QSOs, even when the QSO filter is enabled, can be sorted in many ways, can be edited, deleted, printed, exported etc.
The LogBook window will show all QSOs matching the QSO filter
Radio [Screen Shot]
Support for popular radio models (DRC, ICOM, Kenwood, Yaesu.)Interface to radio to get mode and frequency for new QSOs.
Panorama display; shows S meter readings for a range of frequencies around a center frequency.
The Scanner function lets you monitor up to 16 frequencies; and includes support for QSX frequency. Channels can be enabled or disabled individually. The frequencies for the scanner are read directly from the radio or can be entered from the DX spotting window.
Small frequency / mode and split control window
Users can add new radio models to the program by specifying the radio command set.
Reports
Reports can be designed by the user and can be sorted using the same keys as used for the QSOs.Reports are previewed on the screen before printing, and all reports can use lines and shading to make the report easier to read.
A number of reports have a direct link to the QSOs; from a report entry you can reach all QSOs that generated that entry by a mouse click.
Rotator interface
Support for SARtek and Hy-Gain DCU-1 rotator interfaces.Select short or long path antenna heading with direction selection based on the current QSO.
Offset correction and an option to add an offset for special antenna mounting (like a 40M beam mounted at a 90 degree offset).
RTTY
RTTY terminal window using programmable function keys for sending of ‘canned’ exchanges and information which can contain callsigns, reports, etc.If not being used for RTTY, window may be used for secondary packet connection.
Sorting
QSOs are sorted using compound sort keys. For example, sorting by Zone actually sorts by Zone, Band, Prefix, Call, Date, and Time.A large number of sort keys can be used, such as Call, Date, Prefix, Band, County, IOTA, Zone, State, etc. A sort sequence is available in the QSO window and the LogBook window.
Special Hardware
Support for Top Ten devices band decoder.
Speed
Fast! No noticeable delays when updating summary windows etc.Summary reports and award submission are generated in a few seconds.
Import a few thousand QSOs in just a few seconds.
Summaries
The software keeps track of the various stages of a contact: not worked, worked, QSL card mailed, contact confirmed, submitted for award and approved for award. The summary windows (country, zone, state and IOTA) and the reports display these stages by mode and by band.Summary windows only show the bands and modes you are interested in and are updated automatically.
Real-time summaries available for Country, US State, CQ Zone, IOTA, WPX and Grid.
Telnet and WWW access
Using an Internet connection, you can access a DX spotting cluster via Telnet or retrieve DX spots from World Wide Web sites.When the Internet is used in addition to a RF cluster connection, DX spots will be merged into a single DX spot window.
The file of available Telnet and WWW sites can be edited in Notepad as needed.
User Interface
Windows can be re-sized and moved to a different location; user setup can be saved for later recall. Some windows can be hidden from view and redisplayed when convenient.User levels, from beginner to expert, enable the more complicated features of the program.
Consistent use of special keys. Special keys are always visible in the menus and the on-line help.
Change date / time with up- and down-arrow.
No cryptic abbreviations are used to indicate mode, QSL method, award status etc.
Pick a prefix from a list of countries that is sorted by the name of the country or the prefix. A similar function is available for states, IOTAs and USA counties.
World Map [Screen Shot]
World map window graphically represents bearing and path from user’s QTH to DX countries, and is updated by spots as they are received.Show propagation based upon received spots, with user definable parameters.
Shows shadow and gray line.
Various map projections including great circle projection centered on your QTH.
Zoom in on an area, and get coordinates and distance to a location based on the mouse position.