DX-Messages window

With SWISSLOG you can collect DX-Messages from multiple sources. Please read the detailed information in:

Most clusters will send you the same DX-Spots as the other clusters because they are all interconnected. So it is not really necessary to connect to several sources.

VERY IMPORTANT: If you use Telnet connection, NEVER connect to a Reverse Beacon server! These servers are sending continuous spots overloading the DX window and causing Swisslog freezing or crashing.

The DX-Messages window

The DX-Messages are displayed in DX-Cluster-Messages windows or in band maps. You can open as many windows as you want. Each window can display different statistics and use a different set of filters. You can also have SWISSLOG announce the spot with voice messages, see Configure Sound Announcements.

To open a DX-Messages window: Select View | DX-Cluster Messages. This is what the window looks like:

For US stations, Swisslog will add the US State enclosed in square brackets at the end of the spot comments (if found in the embedded FCC database). This way you will be able to use the WAS statistic. IMPORTANT: Searching US State in the FCC database may affect performance according your computer, number of QSO in your logbook, spot traffic and parallel software being executed along with Swisslog. If you experience this o simply don't want to use this feature, it can be disabled in Options / Query US State to the FCC database for DX message and Band Maps windows.

Swisslog is also able to retrieve the IOTA reference if included in the spot comments in order to use the IOTA statistic.

The following options and functions are available via the pop-up menu (right mouse button):

Most of them are obvious; the others are explained hereafter.

Colors: allows you to select the color you want to see every DX Message according to its statistic status (Confirmed, Worked, Need, New or Not Needed):

What does NOT NEEDED means? All DX messages not matching with the definitions of the selected statistic. Some examples: for DXCC would be all /MM stations because these stations have no DXCC entity assigned. For WAS would be all DX Messages from entities different than W, KL or KH6.

Select Statistics: allows you to select the statistics which should be displayed
Actions when double clicking over a DX message: you can select which actions will be performed when pressing double clicking over a DX message. The following options are available:
- Tune transceiver and turn antenna (default option)
- Tune transceiver and Log QSO
- Tune transceiver, Turn antenna and Log QSO
- Log QSO
Standalone Window: usually the window can not be moved out of the mainframe of SWISSLOG. if this option is set then the Window can be moved anywhere. This is especially useful for PCs with multiple monitors.
Always On Top: This option is displayed and enabled by default only when window is set as standalone. Window will stay on top over all other windows of other programs all the time. Warning: If this option is unchecked, window can be hidden behind the main SWISSLOG window or even placed outside of the visible space. If you place it outside of the visible space (i.e. when you change the screen resolution) you can only bring it back by editing the SWISSLV5.INI file.
Show if LoTW / eQSL AG user: if this option is set two columns will be displayed (LotW and eQSL AG) indicating if the DX station is LotW user and/or eQSL member of the Authenticity Guaranteed program. By default this option is set. Uncheck this option to hide these columns and deactivate the inherent lookups.
Warn if a new Call is entered without saving the current QSO: If you log a QSO from here and a callsign exists in the Add QSO window, a warning message is released prompting user to save changes or not. Uncheck this option if you want to avoid this warning message and replace the callsign without saving.

Select Statistic

Mark the statistics which should be displayed.

Selection criterias for DX-Message

Mark the bands and modes for which DX-Spots should be displayed and select which Spots you want to see. (New, needed, worked, all). You can also set the Spots Lifetime in minutes (default value:60 minutes). Only spots within the defined period of time will be displayed.

Configure Sound Announcements

You can access the sound options directly from the Functions menu and the pop-up menu of the DX-Messages window; or from the main menu select Options ¦ Connect to Packet Program and then select the page "Sound Announcements":

You can configure different announcements, depending on the Statistic-Status of an announced callsign. NOTE: The only exception is the "DX Alerts" option which doesn't depends on any statistic status but the defined DX Alerts. Read Schedules / DX Alerts.

In DX-Type you select the sound which will be played when a DX-Spot with the corresponding status arrives. Each type has its own setting; so you can set a sound for a Needed country, and another sound for a New country on a band, etc.

In Announcements you select the parts of a DX-Spot which will be announced. You can also play a private sound file. Just enter the name of the .wav file in Private Sound File.

In Path for sounds you must enter the location of the sound files. By default the installer sets the sound files in the WAV subfolder, which is located inside the folder where Swisslog is installed. For each letter and number there is one sound file. For example the "a.wav" file announces an A, "b.wav" announces a B. If you want you can record your own sound files, with your voice, your (X)YL's voice, etc.

IMPORTANT: Sound announcements will only read the New, Needed or Worked Dx Types from the first statistic in the DX message window. If you need sound announcements from several statistics, you will have to use different DX message windows selecting only one statistic in every one of them.

Once you have configured the sound options, you can start / stop de sound announcements for the incoming spots by pressing the button or by selecting the appropriated option in the pop-up menu.