5MContest has now got TCI implementation.

What has been done:
1. SO2V works in two modes: with SubRX turned off and on.
2. Macro acceleration / deceleration works with the buttons on the keyboard right during its transfer.
3. Macro stop is working.
4. Writing callsign after pressing the Enter button works.
5. Displays the call signs in the panorama. Now you can specify the type of callsign to display.
6. PTT and CW keying are via TCI. Now no need for com port keying, Winkeyer or anything other than TCI.




The download for the update (acquire the full install first from the 5M website) is at:
5mcontest.qrz.ru/5MContest_UP_300119.exe

I have tested 5M with TCI and it works perfectly.

Please note, whilst I will add 5M basic instructions to the UMA soon, at the moment I do not have the time to give support. There is a 5M user Forum.

Erik.

Hello

I also test SDC/TCI to 5MContest and as you say its working fine. When click in the band map (in SKM Server SDC software) the callsigns get into the 5MContest log.
If I activate Telnet server and activate USE band map 1 the skimmer call is transfere and you are moving QRG but the callsign dont end up in 5MContest log. Maybe this is not even suppose to work like this :-) It would be nice to have the Band map in a own window not need to keep the SDC /SKM Server visible

If you are referring to the SDC Band maps, these are separate from the Skimmer and can be moved in their own windows.




As you tune on a callsign, it appears in 5M if it conforms to the settings you have defined (new, mult, etc).

If you are referring to the 5M Band Map, that is a different story and you can ask on the 5M Forum about it.

Erik.

Hi Erik,
Thanks for reply. I am referring to the band map as you have attached. I get all the call signs in the band map but when I click the will not appear in the log.
If i move the mouse over a call sign in the Pan adapter, it will not appear in the log. Only when I move the mouse over a call in the "SKIMMER pan adapter" then it appear in the log. I must do something wrong :-)


Rune

Hello Rune

Yes you have something wrong and I'd check it if I could. But currently my SDR is away for repair so I cannot run SDC/5M just now. When I get it back I will check the operation of the band map / panadapter and see what might stop it putting calls into the log. Meanwhile perhaps another SDC/5M user can respond but, if not, I'll get back to you in due course.

Erik.

Erik,

I will do a second attempt on Wednesday when I have a day off work. Do you have Team viewer ? Maybe you could have a quick look if you have time.

73 Rune LA7THA

Hello Rune,

Unfortunately my main computer with all software is my SDR, the MB1. So whilst it is away for repair I can only use a cell phone for emails / web browser and cannot provide assistance. At such time as the unit is returned to me, if you still need help, I will be glad to do whatever I can.

73 de Erik.

I have checked the SDC band map operation with 5M. It works perfectly.

From here it is not possible to know what the cause of your issue is - or maybe you have solved it by now.

I do have a separate profile in SDC for 5M and 5M needs to be started first so that it invokes and attaches to SDC.

The zip file is a short video of the SDC bandmap being clicked and calls going to 5M.

Erik EI4KF.

Hello,

I would like to suggest the 5M's "Cluster List" instead of the band map windows (any of them). Be sure to set the "Follow the radio" check and they work like a bandmap, but much more useful. From the release of the "panapter spot" feature I find needless any Band Map implementation as the spots are already in the panadapter and "colored" as you like.

73' Enzo
iw7dmh

Hi Erik,

ok I will do a second attempt and start 5M first as you mentioned when home from work tomorrow.
Thanks

73 Rune

I've start using 5MContest these days and it seems it is a good combination with ESDR and SDC.
Very easy and simple move between spots and radios, just TAB, Up/Down, excelent integration with ESDR due to TCI.
I've found ClusterLists very useful and easy to use, I'm still learning.
There are also negative parts like an English Help for example
For example I was not able to find if 5M is using Call History files like N1MM and how to save different macros (F1-F12) for different contests like in N1MM.
Also it seems BandMap cannot be used in the same time with a ClusterList. I think a BandMap is useful to see for example when a callsign is decoded wrong on a freq. where you can find 2,3,4 different interpretation of the same call. It is easier in a Bandmap to see this and delete wrong calls.

Hello, I'll try to answer to your questions.

- For example I was not able to find if 5M is using Call History files like N1MM
give a look at the 5MContest/DOM directory. There are a lot of .HLP files by they aren't loaded by default.
In the Management->5MContest Settings->Common page be sure to select the file you need and then check the Load help file *.HLP option.

- and how to save different macros (F1-F12) for different contests like in N1MM
In the CW/SSB Macro Settings you can only save the default settings (for what I know). Anyway I am finding the ESM system much smarter than the Macro system. With ESM you just need three or four settings.

- Also it seems BandMap cannot be used in the same time with a ClusterList. I think a BandMap is useful to see for example when a callsign is decoded wrong on a freq. where you can find 2,3,4 different interpretation of the same call. It is easier in a Bandmap to see this and delete wrong calls.
BandMap can be used with one or more Cluster Lists windows. You have to get used to go with cluster lists only. Just take a look at the frequency to find the wrong calls, they are all near there.

I wrote some notes on 5MContest, ESM, TCI and CW/SSB contests. Follow the link below, maybe it can help you
https://iw7dmh.jimdofree.com/sunsdr2-pro-pages/5mcontest-guida-parte-1/

73' Enzo
iw7dmh

Hello Enzo, thank you for your answer. I've read your documentation and it was very helpful. I've done a setup with one operator and two radios, with a ClusterList for each radio. I've done all settings as you presented in the documentation but it seems there is an issue with color of the second ClusterList
https://photos.app.goo.gl/yr4sS271Rvrs2SfE9
I cannot find a way to change that black color for direction column and the background.

Another question that I have is related to spots colors. We have two systems, SDC colors and 5M colors. As I understand, 5M knows TCI so perhaps it is able to display the spots on ESDR panorama without the SDC help. How do you use these colors ? For the moment I've disabled colors in 5M and it seems SDC displays spots with the proper color.

I have also another surprising issue with CW transmission, is not very clear as expected, it is somehow distorted, understandable but somehow point and lines are not clearly delimited. I've configured 5M to use TCI.

Thank you!
73, Dan

Hi,

you can change the colums colors from the font & color menu items (right clinck on the cluster lists window).
For the background window choose the proper color from Management->5MContest Settings->Cluster Settings, Colors and Fonts panel. You should set the MULT FON 2R rectangle color.

My Spot colors preferences are shown in the picture below.

When CW transmission is not very clean you should have a latency issue with your computer. It could happen when the second RX is enabled.
You can solve it using an axternal CW/PTT interface. You can disable the CW/PPT check boxes in the TCI menu so that 5M can use the hw interface instead of TCI.

73', Enzo

Hi Enzo,

it works only with FON 2R. It seems that background color is set to black for Radio2 and the text is also black. DX, Freq and From all have a setup color option but not the others. Initially I've changed font color to white and it works somehow. In the end FON 2R solved the issue MULT FON 2R didn't work.





For spots colors I use only those on 5M, I've deselected all colors on SDC and it works as it should be.
CW audio is still not very good, I've tried with and without TCI and it is the same. Anyway the onair signal is good, I've checked it on a WebSDR. Could be from latency as I'm working remote over the internet but the latency is up to 10ms and the PC is used only 5-10% during operation, with all programs opened, 5M,SDC,ESDR and other utilities. I have a microHam keyer and I will try to use it but I'll need to figure out how to install it

Thank you
73, Dan