tlf(1)

NAME
tlf - Contest keyer/logging program for Ham Radio

SYNOPSIS
tlf [option]

OPTIONS

-h Show summary of options and exit.

-V Output version information and exit.

-v Verbose startup.

-d Debug rigctl.

-n Start without packet/cluster.

-x Use rxvt colours and keys.

DESCRIPTION
tlf is a console (ncurses) mode general purpose CW keyer, -logging and -contest program for hamradio. It supports the CQWW, the WPX, the ARRL-DX , the ARRL-FD,
 the PACC and the EU SPRINT contests as well as a lot more basic contests, general QSO and DXpedition mode. It interfaces with a morse code generator, a number of radios, and with a DX Cluster. Tlf can project DX cluster data into the excellent Xplanet program, written by Hari Nair.

Contest operation mimics the popular TR-Log program for DOS, the output file is TRlog- as well as CABRILLO compatible.

The program was written for console mode on purpose, to make it run also on smaller machines, or remotely via a modem link. TLF is developed under Slackware 8.0, and tested under SuSE 8.0, kernel version 2.4.19, and RH 7.2. Beta testers welcome !!!

There is now also a two-floppy version in development called debianham. That version is maintained by the Debian community, and contains a Linux mini-distribution and a copy of tlf (version 0.8.19).

Since tlf-0.8.21 the cwdaemon-0.5 is fully supported, featuring direct mode for the keyboard and output to parallel and serial ports and speed and weight control from the keyboard.

For rig control tlf works with Hamlib-1.1.4., you find it at Sourceforge.com.

This version of tlf provides full ip networking between tlf nodes, syncing/distributing log, packet data, frequency data, local talk, serial numbers, time sync etc...

USAGE
Tlf has been written for console mode. If you want to run tlf from a terminal in X, you will probably get the best results if you set TERM=rxvt. Be sure to set the keyboard mode to Linux, otherwise some of the keys may not work properly. In XTERM e.g. the F1 key does not work, and there are reports of problems with the left-arrow|right-arrow keys. There are excellent results with KDE konsole (I prefer vi colours). If you have problems, try the linux console first and work from there... Normally you start or restart tlf in fast mode with tlf. During debugging of a logcfg.dat file you can start in verbose mode, to have a look at the startup messages. You can stop tlf with the :EXIT command or with Ctrl-c. At restart tlf recalculates the score, which may take some time depending on the number of qso's in the logfile and the speed of your system... Tlf takes the points as they are in the log, and calculates the multiplier from either callsign or exchange field (depending on the contest).

COMMANDS
:HELp show online help :MODe Toggle trx mode (CW|SSB) :CWMode, :SSBmode, :DIGimode switch trx to CW|SSB|Digimode mode :SET, :CFG Set parameters in logcfg.dat file :TONe Set PC sidetone frequency (300 - 900) :SIMulator Toggle simulator mode. In simulator mode you can work a complete CQWW CW contest in TRlog mode. Set CONTEST=cqww. :PACket Switch to the packet terminal (switch back to tlf with ":") :VIEw View the log with LESS :EDIt Edit the log with your favourite editor (the editor (vi|joe|e3} can be set in logcfg.dat :MESsage Edit cw messages :WRIte Write cabrillo file for selected contests (CQ and ARRL contests). Other contests may work, you have to experiment. :EXIt Exit tlf. :CONtest Toggle contest mode on/off :CHEck, :NOCheck dupe check window on|off :SCOre Toggle score window on/off :CLUster, :MAP, :SPOts Show cluster window or bandmap or last 8 spots :FILter Filter cluster info (announce, dx-spots, all) :CLOff No cluster info (non-assisted contest operation) :FREq Show frequency or band/score info... :INFo network status :CTY, :ZONe, :MULt Show country multipliers, zones, multipliers per continent :TRXcontrol toggle trxcontrol on/off (default off, only makes sense with rigcontrol capability) :RITclear rit reset on/off

KEYS
The keymap refers to the linux text console. It may be slightly different on X terminals. From the X terminals KDE konsole has been proven to work best if you set keyboard to linux, and colour scheme to VIM colours , system colours or linux colours. Moreover you must set TERM=rxvt. This also works under vnc. Pg-up If call field empty: Increase Auto_CQ delay (1 sec). Set Aut0_CW delay to message length + pause length. This is because tlf does not know when the cwdaemon is ready... If not empty: increase RST Pg-down If call field empty: Decrease Auto_CQ delay (1 sec). If not empty: decrease RST F1-F11 Send CW message F12 Start Auto_CQ Tab Switch between call input and exchange fields + Toggle CQ/S&P mode (TRlog mode) or Send F3 + log qso(CT mode) Left-Arrow Change band if callsign field empty. (enter edit mode if callsign present, leave edit mode with ENTER or ESC) Right-Arrow Change band ENTER Smart key for contest mode: Calls cq, Calls station, Sends exchange, Logs the qso Backslash log qso w/o CW; ; Insert note in log , Keyboard on. This works only when the call input field is empty. use ctrl-k if it isn't. ESCAPE Return to call input field, keyboard off, stop cw, reset call and exchange (universal undo) '"' (double quote) Send talk message to other tlf nodes - (minus) Delete last qso Up-arrow Edit last qso: Insert, overwrite, and delete; + log view = (equal) Confirm last call _ (underscore) Confirm last exchange # trx qrg -> mem, mem -> trx qrg ! - Get a new shell Ctrl-a switch cluster window Ctrl-b send info to cluster Ctrl-c Quit (Linux cmd) Ctrl-d Stop tlf Ctrl-f Set frequency Ctrl-g grab dx spot Ctrl-k Keyboard Ctrl-p Muf display Ctrl-q xoff (linux terminal function) Ctrl-r Toggle lp0-pin 14 (Mic/Soundcard switch | trx1/trx2 switch) Ctrl-s xon (linux terminal function) Ctrl-t Show talk messages Ctrl-z Stop tlf Alt-0 ... Alt-9 CW messages Alt-a switch cluster window Alt-c Countries display Alt-g gab (talk) Alt-h help Alt-i Show talk messages Alt-j Show stn frequencies Alt-k Keyboard Alt-m Show multipliers Alt-n Note in log Alt-p Toggle PTT (cwdaemon) Alt-q Exit tlf Alt-r Toggle score window Alt-s Toggle score window Alt-t Tune Alt-v CW speed Alt-w CW weight Alt-x Leave tlf Alt-z Show zones worked

PREFERENCES
Tlf can be fully configured by editing the logcfg.dat file. Normally you keep a separate logcfg.dat file per contest. The file can be edited from within tlf by the :CFG or :SET commands. You can set your favourite editor (joe | vi | e3) in the logcfg.dat file.

FILES
/usr/share/tlf/logcfg.dat is a recent example of the configuration file tlf needs to know what to do. Tlf won't start without it. Copy it into the working directory and edit it before use. You can set up a lot of different contests with it. You should do your experiments well *before* the contest... It contains e.g. your call, name of the log file, info about ports for cw, packet or rig control, contest rules, points, multipliers etc. etc.. /usr/share/tlf/ctydb.dat contains a flat ascii data base of info about countries. /usr/share/tlf/mastercalls contains a flat ascii data base of contest callsigns (> 25.000). section files contain a flat ascii data base of multpliers like states, sections, provinces, d.istricts, names, ages, etc... Some are available at the tlf project download site (http://savannah.nongnu.org:/download/tlf).

DOCUMENTATION
An operation manual is available in html format at the tlf project download page (http://savannah.nongnu.org:/download/tlf) or online via the tlf web page.

AUTHORS
tlf was written by Rein Couperus <pa0rct at amsat.org> aka <rein at couperus.com>.