[OVERVIEW.TXT]
                                                        16 Sep 91
KB0ZP CONTEST LOG - Overview

Back in 1983 I thought that it would be a good idea to write a computer
program to help the Amateur Radio Operator in all the chores of
contesting. At that time I had no idea what it would grow into.

I didn't know any programming languages and I was armed with a VIC 20.
Remember them? Then I got a memory expansion cartridge and I thought I had
it made. I mean, gee whiz, I had 64K of RAM. Back then there was no such
thing as the C language or Turbo this and Turbo that. Just assembly
language and Basic. I mean BASIC, not BasicA or GWBasic, just Basic. Well,
I grew out of the VIC 20 real fast and went to a PC Junior. All the while,
trying to teach myself Basic. Most people think that Basic is a stupid and
really slow language. But, once you get into it, there is more there that
meets the eye. Now, with Microsoft QuickBASIC, I can't think of a thing
you can't do with the QuickBASIC language you can do with any of the
others. Maybe you have to think a little more, but that's the fun. Then I
upgraded to a Leading Edge computer. Yes, almost everything that has been
done here is with an 8088 chip running at 4.77 MHz. So, please don't talk
to me about slow.

Well, now I am the proud owner of a 386 computer running at 25 MHz. Boy!
that's fast. But I still have my Leading Edge which will soon be dedicated
to ham radio.

During all this time, the program has been growing to what it is today. I
work on it now and then. More as a hobby than anything else. I am the only
one who is writing it. I do all the creation, planning, programming, and
even the writing of the documentation. So, since I don't have a crew
behind me, it takes a little longer. But, I would rather be the best than
the first. 

Without Beta testing and a whole bunch of "Contest Experts" at my beck and
call, I must rely on my feeble brain and the help of this programs users.
That's you. 

In the future, I can see that all the contest programs will do exactly the
same things. Even right now, they all dupe the callsigns, make printouts,
service the same contests, etc. The differences lie in the presentation.
Is one program more "User Friendly" than the others? Or, does it look
better on the screen? Much like word processors today. They all do the
same thing but in different ways. If you were to write the same letter on
three different word processors, and show me just the letters, I couldn't
tell which letter was done with which processor. They would all look the
same. But, I am sure, you would have a preference as to which word
processor you liked the best. Even tho the results were the same. It is
much the same with contest programs. Eventually they will all do the same
thing but there will be preferences as to the program you like best. 

So, if you have used other programs in the past, try this one. I mean,
give it a chance. Learn how it works, read the features list, how does it
differ from the program you were using, is it easer to use, is it more
difficult just because you are not familiar with it. Use it once in a
contest you really don't care about to see if it works well.

Then if you like it, tell others. If you don't, tell me. My policy is - if
I agree with you, I add it. If I don't agree, I add it as an option. So
that way, everybody should be happy.

This program is menu driven. That means that you don't always have to
refer to a "Users Guide" to find out how to do something. It is right in
front of you. Hopefully that will make your life a little easier.
Everything is spelled out so you don't have to remember what Q, *, M, û,
D, /, or other glyphs mean. Numbers are written horizontally as 24 
not 2
    4. Which I believe is easier to read. If Esc is used to abort, then
Return should be used to continue. Not Ctrl-Return. If UTC is used in one
place, it should be used throughout. Not a mixture of Zulu, GMT, and UTC. 

You will also note that there is room for expansion. Unlimited Bands and
Modes. Even though it is not yet used, you may log crossmode or crossband
contacts. On other contest logging programs, what do you do for packet
contacts during Field Day? You get extra credit for the contacts, but
there is no place to log the contact.

Also, this is NOT a clone of something else. It has to be learned just
like anything else that is worthwhile.

I hope you enjoy using this program as much as I enjoyed writing it. 

Larry Kebel (KB0ZP)
PO Box 2010
Sparks, NV 89432