Logging Software


Any software program that uses the default standard WSJT-X messaging will work for the FT Challenge.  However, WSJT-X and its several derivative programs have various degrees of contesting support.

WSJT-X

1. Use WSJT-X in the standard default mode.  That is, Uncheck “Special operating activity” on the File>Settings>Advanced tab.  WSJT-X will be used in the normal default mode that exchanges Grid Square and dB report in the QSO.
2. Uncheck “Log automatically (contesting only)” on the File>Settings>Reporting>Logging menu.  “Prompt me to log QSO” can be checked, otherwise use the “Log” button in WSJT-X to log each QSO.
3. Save the wsjt_log.adi file under another file name prior to the contest.  Then, click Erase wsjt_log.adi on the File menu.  This will allow your contest QSOs to be in one log without any QSOs outside the contest period.
4. After the contest, convert the wsjt_log.adi file to a Cabrillo format file using the ADIF to Cabrillo Converter on this website and submit using the Cabrillo Log Submission webpage.

MSHV

MSHV version 2.75 and earlier

Follow the  instructions for FT Challenge on the MSHV website with the following modidifications:

2. Select ‘Standard’ on the Options>Macros menu.  Edit the Tx6 message, if desired, to be contest specific, e.g., CQ FTC %M.
6. After the contest, go to File>View Log>Menu and choose “Export All in ADIF”.  Convert this ADIF log file to Cabrillo format on the ADIF to Cabrillo Converter webpage.  That page will link to the Cabrillo Log Submission webpage for uploading your log.

MSHV version 2.76 and later

MSHV 2.76 introduces support of FT Challenge. Follow the instructions for FT Challenge on the MSHV website. The Cabrillo log can be directly submitted to the Cabrillo Log Submission webpage.

N1MM+

N1MM+ version 1.0.10534 and earlier

1. Choose the WW Digi DX contest type in N1MM+.
2. Uncheck “Special operating activity” on the File>Settings>Advanced tab.  WSJT-X will be used in the normal default mode that exchanges Grid Square and dB report in the QSO.
3. Uncheck “Log automatically (contesting only)” on the File>Settings>Reporting>Logging menu.  “Prompt me to log QSO” can be checked, otherwise use the “Log” button in WSJT-X to log each QSO.
4. Carefully follow the instructions in this N1MM+ documentation: https://n1mmwp.hamdocs.com/manual-windows/wsjt-x-decode-list-window/
5. Note that the claimed score computed by N1MM+ will be lower than actual because of the WW Digi scoring that gives zero credit for QSOs without a received Grid Square.  FT Challenge gives one base point for those QSOs.
6. After the contest, export your ADIF log file from N1MM+: File>Export>ADIF Export.  (Note that the Cabrillo log will be the wrong format for FT Challenge–the QSO lines will be missing the sent and received dB report exchanges.)  Convert this ADIF file to a Cabrillo format file using the ADIF to Cabrillo Converter on this website and submit using the Cabrillo Log Submission webpage.
7. Alternatively, the ADIF log from WSJT-X can also be converted to a Cabrillo log file for submission.

N1MM+ version 1.0.10535 and later

1. Choose the FT Challenge contest type in N1MM+.
2. Uncheck “Special operating activity” on the WSJT-X File>Settings>Advanced tab.  WSJT-X will be used in the normal default mode that exchanges Grid Square and SNR in the QSO.
3. Uncheck “Log automatically (contesting only)” on the File>Settings>Reporting>Logging menu.  “Prompt me to log QSO” can be checked, otherwise use the “Log” button in WSJT-X to log each QSO.
4. Carefully follow the instructions in this N1MM+ documentation: https://n1mmwp.hamdocs.com/manual-windows/wsjt-x-decode-list-window/
5. After the contest, export your Cabrillo log file from N1MM+: File>Generate Cabrillo file.  Submit this file on the Cabrillo Log Submission webpage.
6. Note that the following N1MM+ contest features are not available:

  • WSJT-X “Log Automatically” [NA3M created an Auto HotKey script to do this.]
  • “Autofill ‘ZZ00′” for missing received Grid Square [The Cabrillo Log Submission webpage will do this.]
  • “CQ with contest name”

If WSJT-X adds the FT Contest to the Special Operating Activities in File>Settings>Advanced in the future, these feature will be available.

WriteLog & DigiRite

WriteLog 12.84 and earlier

1. Setup WriteLog for the WW Digi DX Contest.
2. Setup DigiRite with the Grid Square & dB Report exchange.
3. After the contest, Export the ADI log file on WriteLog’s File menu and upload it to the ADIF to Cabrillo Converter webpage.  There it will be converted to a Cabrillo format file and uploaded to the contest log server on the Cabrillo Log Submission webpage.
4. Note that the claimed score computed by WriteLog will be lower than actual because of the WW Digi scoring that give zero credit for QSOs without a received Grid Square.  FT Challenge gives one base point for those QSOs.

WriteLog 12.85 and later

1. Setup WriteLog for the FT Challenge contest.
2. Setup DigiRite with the Grid Square & dB Report exchange.
3. After the contest, create the Cabrillo log file on the Contest>Create Cabrillo menu and submit to the Cabrillo Log Submission webpage.

DigiRite 2.2.2.11 and 2.6.0.n

1. 2.2.2.11 is last “stable” version, based on the engine from WSJT-X 2.2.2 from 22 June 2020.
2. 2.6.0.n is the current “Beta” version, based on the engine from WSJT-X 2.6.0 from 6 January 2023.  The “n” is an increasing release number as bugs are fixed.  The WSJT-X engine has been significantly improved but this version doesn’t yet have many operational hours.
3. Get either version from the DigiRite Download webpage.

Other Software

1. N3FJP does not support FT Challenge for 2024.
2. JTDX should be used in the standard daily mode with Grid Square and dB report exchanges.  Export the ADIF log file and convert this ADIF file to a Cabrillo format file using the ADIF to Cabrillo Converter on this website and submit using the Cabrillo Log Submission webpage.
3. These FT software programs, and others like them, may offer a specific FT Challenge contest mode in the future.