Example of an FDLOG screen
shot. |
A Reliable Logging
System for Field Day
Based on Wireless Networking
Do you operate Field Day with more than one station?
Here’s a way to keep track of all of your stations’ logs in real time.
By Alan K. Biocca,* WB6ZQZ |
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Last year on Field Day (FD) 2002 we used a new
contact logging system developed to address the problems presented by
coordinating multiple stations and maintaining a log database under field
conditions. It is based on low-cost IEEE 802.11b wireless networking
technology configured using the peer-to-peer (ad hoc) model and free
software. The capabilities of wireless networking facilitated a more
convenient and functional system than the ones that had been practical
before. A synchronized replicated database solution provides high
reliability, performance, and scalability. This article describes the
development of that system and discusses other useful applications for
these techniques.
Our Field Day group is technically oriented. Our focus is on problem
solving, and FD is a problem-rich environment. We put a lot of effort into
preparation and planning—selecting equipment, making cables and antennas,
and antenna “launching” systems.
Logging contacts during FD with paper is a real chore, especially when
checking for duplicate contacts. The old paper dupe sheets worked pretty
well when there were only a couple of prefixes, but with wide variations
in callsigns, it is no longer so simple to handle on paper. Logging by
computer was once somewhat of a luxury, but it is now a necessity.
There are many computer programs available for logging that have scores of
features, but I have not found any that meet our requirements quite as
well as I would like. My systems have focused on meeting the fundamental
requirements well without providing a lot of extra features. One of my
goals is to make the Field Day event more enjoyable and to make it very
efficient for the people involved. Consequently, logging software is an
important component.
Requirements for an
Excellent FD Logging System
The term station refers to the radio equipment, and the term node refers
to a computer used for logging contacts. These two don’t correspond
directly. A station may not have a computer logging node, and then its
contacts would be entered later. There may be additional nodes around the
site that are used for monitoring and for communications purposes that are
not associated with the station.
First I will discuss some of the essential requirements, and then the
solutions we have developed for the system.
Ease of Data Entry: One requirement is to minimize the number of
keystrokes that are required to perform the process. The cycle of checking
a callsign for a potential duplicate contact and logging a contact must be
quick, efficient, and straightforward. Many people do not type very fast,
especially when one person is both operating the radio and logging.
Therefore, it is even more important to minimize effort (keystrokes).
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A
Reliable Logging System for Field Day Based on Wireless Networking
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