Logger Feed
Quick and Easy Demonstration of the Logger Feed via the UDP Interface
1/ Type 'LM' to open the Layers Menu, and check the checkbox adjacent to 'Ham Radio > Logger Feed'.
2/ Set the 'Additional Layer Features' to 'UDP Logger Feed - All QSOs, Colored by Band'.
3/ Close the Layers Menu.
4/ Type 'CS' to open the Contest Simulator. Click 'Start UDP Simulation'. MINIMIZE, not close, the UDP Simulator window.
5/ Type 'IL' to show the Logger Feed page of the Info Bar.
Logger Feed Description
For Radio Amateurs, the Logger Feed facility is perhaps one of the most exciting features of the 'Time Mapper UHD'. The Logger Feed will listen for QSOs via a UDP interface sent from the 'DXLog', 'Ham Radio Deluxe', 'N1MM', 'LOG4OM', 'WriteLog', and other logging programs that send in the same format over a UDP Interface. It will also listen for QSOs sent from the N3FJP logging programs via a TCP interface.
Once a QSO has been received, the Time Mapper UHD will display the received callsign on the map, colored by band or mode, and with optional lines and labels. If there isn't a position included in the QSO details, the Time Mapper UHD will attempt to geo-reference it online or from internal databases, and if that fails, it will assign a random position from within the land-area of that ADIF entity or sub-entity region as defined through callsign-parsing. The Time Mapper UHD is the first program to have this capability.
The Logger Feed database will store 3000 QSOs, of which 400 can be plotted on-screen at one time. You can empty the Logger Feed database by clicking the 'Clear Logger Feed Log'. The Logger Log can be exported as a CSV file with a variety of settings using the controls in the 'Logger Feed Log Export' panel.
When showing QSOs from the Logger Feed, you can also add 'Intensity Decay' with the checkboxes in the 'Logger Feed Intensity Decay' panel of 'Settings Menu > Logger Feed'. When enabled, this sets the Lifetime Periods that a QSO continues to have its Line, Point, and Label plotted. Each can be selected individually. The Lifetime that a QSO is shown on screen is split into 2 periods: the 'Full Life Period', when the QSO is shown at full opacity, and the 'Decay Period', when the QSO starts to fade away to nothing. Both are set in minutes using the numeric UpDown controls in the 'Logger Feed Intensity Decay' panel.
Additionally, as a feature that is useful when showing the contest to an audience, such as a large-screen TV in your Field Day Tent, you can enable 'Logger Feed Plot Highlighting'. This will outline the last plotted QSO on the map with a large circle, for a specified number of seconds. You can set the size and color of the circle, plus its duration after the QSO is plotted, using the controls in the 'Logger Feed Plot Highlighting' panel of 'Settings Menu > Logger Feed'.
The Data Bar (the region below the map) also has an option to show details of the latest QSO in large letters: again, this is useful when showing the contest to an audience. Turn it on in one of the Sections in 'Settings Menu > Data Bar'.
To configure the Logger Feed for UDP, enter a Receive IP Address and Receive Port Number to the boxes in the 'UDP Settings' panel.
To configure the Logger Feed for TCP, see below.
To start the Logger Feed routines listening for QSOs, open the 'Layers Menu' and turn on the 'Ham Radio > Logger Feed' map-layer, and choose UDP or TCP via 'Additional Features'.
To stop the Logger Feed routines listening for QSOs, open the 'Layers Menu' and turn off the 'Ham Radio > Logger Feed' map-layer.
The Logger Feed database will retain its QSOs no matter whether the 'Ham Radio > Logger Feed' map-layer is turned on or off.
The Logger Feed database will be displayed even if the TCP client is not connected.
Using the InfoBar
When using the Logger Feed, it is very useful to show the InfoBar with 'IL'. Not only does this provide a wealth of extra information, it also shows the type of interface selected: TCP (for N3FJP Logger) or UDP (for 'DXLog', 'Ham Radio Deluxe', 'N1MM', 'LOG4OM', and 'WriteLog' Loggers) and the current connection-condition. In the case of TCP, it also shows the API version.
Configuring the N3FJP Logger with a TCP Connection
Start the N3FJP Logger BEFORE you start the 'Time Mapper UHD'.
In the N3FJP Logger, click 'Settings > Application Program Interface', then when the 'N3FJP API' window opens, check the 'TCP API Enabled(Server)' box, with the 'Port' box set to '1100'. Click 'Done'
Start the 'Time Mapper UHD' program.
Type 'IL' to show the InfoBar's 'Logger Feed' page. This will give you a better insight into how the 'Time Mapper UHD' is connecting to the N3FJP Logger.
Type 'LM' or click the 'Control Panel > Layers' button to open the Layers Menu.
Find the 'Ham Radio > Logger Feed' entry, and click on it. This will show the layer details on the right.
In 'Additional Layer Features', select one that is prefixed by 'TCP'. The 'TCP Logger Feed - All QSOs Colored by Band' is a good one to start with.
Enable the 'Ham Radio > Logger Feed' layer by checking the box in the 'Layer Visible' column.
Close the Layers Menu.
Watch the InfoBar's 'Logger Feed' page. It will take a little time for the connection to occur, but eventually it will say 'Client Status: Connected to Host', and the current API version, such as 'API Version: 2.1'. The version has to be equivalent to 0.8 or greater, in order to have the capability to send QSO data to the Time Mapper UHD. If the Version is less than 0.8 you will need to upgrade the N3FJP Logging program to a more recent version. If the connection status shows 'Disconnected' then wait 30 seconds for another automatic connection attempt.
OK, we are now ready to map the QSOs as they are entered into the N3FJP Logger. Enter a QSO in the normal way, then click 'Enter'.
The position of the call will be plotted on the map. The point-type, and the addition of lines or labels will depend on the settings in the Layers Menu.
In addition, there are various settings that can be applied in 'Settings Menu':
1/ Data Bar: In one of the Data Bar Sections, choose 'Logger Feed'. This will briefly show the details of a new QSO as it arrives.
2/ Logger Feed: Intensity Decay - fades plotted QSOs over time, and Plot Highlighting - circles every new QSO.
Configuring DXLog
Start the 'DXLog' program.
Click 'Options > Configure Network > QSO UDP broadcast', and set 'IP address' to '127.0.0.1', and 'Port' to '12060'. Click 'OK'.
Click 'Options > Broadcast > QSOs'.
Click 'Options > Broadcast > Use N1MM QSO Format'.
Enter and save a QSO, and the 'Time Mapper UHD' will show it on the map.
This is also explained in: http://dxlog.net/docs/index.php/Additional_Information#UDP_broadcast
Configuring Ham Radio Deluxe
Start the 'Ham Radio Deluxe' program.
Click 'Logbook > Configure > QSO Forwarding'. This is also explained in:
https://support.hamradiodeluxe.com/support/solutions/articles/51000052684-qso-forwarding
Check the option 'Forward logbook changes using UDP to other logging programs'. Set the 'Send Address' to '127.0.0.1', and the 'Send Port' to '12060'. Do not check boxes in the 'UDP Receive' section. Click 'OK'. Configue the Time Mapper UHD as explained above. All new QSOs will now be plotted on the Time Mapper UHD map. If you need to monitor the UDP data coming from the 'Ham Radio Deluxe', you can use the 'UDP Monitor'.
Configuring LOG4OM
Start the 'LOG4OM' program. I am assmuing that you have already created a database in LOG4OM, and can save QSOs.
Click 'Settings > Program Configuration > Software integration > Connections > UDP'.
In the 'UDP OUTBOUND' section, set 'Port' to '12060', set 'Connection name' to 'TIME MAPPER UHD', set 'Service type' to 'ADIF MESSAGE', leave 'Broadcast' un-checked, set 'Destination IP Address' to '127.0.0.1'.
Click the Green Cross, and the connection will show in the 'UDP Outbound connections' box.
Click 'Save and apply' in top left.
Start the 'Time Mapper UHD'.
Type 'LM' to open the Layers Menu, and check the 'Layers Visible' column for the layer 'Ham Radio > Logger Feed'.
In the 'Additional Layer Features' box, select 'UDP Logger Feed - All QSOs, Colored By Band'. Set the Points, Lines, and Labels as you wish.
Close the Layers Menu, and type 'IL' to open the InfoBar for the Logger Feed.
In the LOG4OM Logger, enter a QSO, and save it. You will see the QSO mapped on the screen.
Configuring WriteLog
Start the WriteLog Logger and select the required Contest-Type.
Go to 'Setup > WriteLog Options > UDP Broadcast'.
Check 'Enable' for 'QSOs'. Set 'Address' to localhost', and 'Port number' to '12060'.
Click 'OK' to close the 'WriteLog Options' window.
Click 'Setup > Save Configuration'.
In the WriteLog Logger, enter a QSO, and save it. You will see the QSO mapped on the screen.
Contest Simulator
What happens if you haven't got your Logger program set up, and you want to demonstrate the Logger Feed capabilities? No problem: the Time Mapper UHD includes a Contest Simulator that will send out a stream of random QSOs using a pre-selected mode, on a randomly selected band, over the UDP or TCP Interface. You can choose the QSOs to come from anywhere in the world, or from just one continent, or just one country. You can also type in single callsigns, with optional random positions, to be sent separately. If you start the Contest Simulator going, but don't want to it to obscure the map on a single-monitor installation, you can minimize its Window. It will still continue to send QSOs whilst its Window is minimized, BUT it will stop sending them if you close the Contest Simulator window.
When using the Contest Simulator with a TCP Connection
Start the 'Time Mapper UHD' program.
Type 'IL' to show the InfoBar's 'Logger Feed' page. This will give you a better insight into how the 'Time Mapper UHD' is connecting to the Contest Simulator, which is a standalone program.
Type 'LM' or click the 'Control Panel > Layers' button to open the Layers Menu.
Find the 'Ham Radio > Logger Feed' entry, and click on it. This will show the layer details on the right.
In 'Additional Layer Features', select one that is prefixed by 'TCP'. The 'TCP Logger Feed - All QSOs Colored by Band' is a good one to start with.
Enable the 'Ham Radio > Logger Feed' layer by checking the box in the 'Layer Visible' column.
Close the Layers Menu.
Type 'CS' or click the 'Control Panel > Contest Sim' button to open the Contest Simulator.
The Contest Simulator can simulate two types of interface: UDP or TCP. As you have already chosen one of these when you selected an entry that is prefixed by 'TCP' in 'Additional Layer Features', you will find that when you open the Contest Simulator, the correct interface-type is already selected.
In the Contest Simulator window, click the 'Start TCP Server' button. Watch the InfoBar's 'Logger Feed' page. It may take a little time for the connection to occur, but eventually it will say 'Client Status: Connected to Host', and the current API version, such as 'API Version: 2.2.2'.
At this point, we can start the Contest Simulator. Try sending a single callsign, by entering a callsign in the 'Callsign' box and clicking the 'Send Single Callsign' button. Watch it plot on the map.
Next, click the 'Start Contest Simulation' button for a continuous stream of QSOs. Details of these are also shown in the Contest Simulator text box.
If you only have one monitor on your computer and you want to leave the Contest Simulator running whilst hiding its window, you should click it's 'Minimize' button. DO NOT click the 'X' to close the Contest Simulator window, or that will also stop the Contest Simulation.
UDP Monitor
What happens if you have your UDP logger working, but you are not sure if it is sending out data as expected? No problem: the Time Mapper UHD includes a UDP Monitor that works entirely separately from the main program, that you can use to monitor and display any UDP traffic on the specified IP Address and Port.
N1MM Audio Contest Simulator
Did you know that the N1MM Logger has a built in Contest Simulator? Its just the thing when you want to do some Morse Code contest-practice but there's no contest going on. It is just an audio generator, so you still have to type what you hear in the N1MM log window, then 'Enter' the contact in the usual way for the contact to be logged and the QSO sent via UDP to the 'Time Mapper UHD' for display. How to use it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP67JP5jERU