Main Window

Hello Contest's main window contains everything you need to work through the contest:

• a list with all logged QSOs
• control over your radio's VFO
• input fields for QSO data
• macros for the CW keyer
• status indicators for all integrated external systems and databases

QSO Input

• Use the Space key to move between the input fields (except the fields for your own exchange).
• Use the Enter key to log a new QSO with the current content of the input fields.
• Double-press the Esc key to clear the input fields for "their" data without logging a new QSO. The cursor is set into the callsign field.
• When moving out of the callsign field, all the empty exchange fields will be prefilled with the predicted exchange data. Simply change the input exchange field before logging the QSO, if the prediction was wrong.
• When a new QSO was logged, the input fields for "their" data will be cleared and the cursor is set into the callsign field.
• If a required input field is empty, the cursor is set into this field, and an error message is shown below the input fields, describing the problem.

Using Predicted Information

If a callsign or an exchange value can be predicted, this information is shown in the line above the entry fields:

• (1) Shows the best matching callsign, based on the call history and supercheck databases, or the callsign on the current frequency, based on the spot list. Use Alt+Enter to copy this callsign into the callsign entry field.
• (2) Shows the predicted exchange values, based on the call history database and previous contacts in this contest. When you leave the callsign entry field using the Tabor Space key, the predicted exchange values are copied into the corresponding entry fields, if those are empty.
• (3) Shows the value of a contact with the entered callsign, based on the contest scoring rules and the previous QSOs.
• (4) The line below the entry fields shows additional information about the entered callsign, based on the call history database and the DXCC country list.

Super Check Partial

When entering a callsign, the main window shows the best matching callsigns from the super check partial database.

The differences to the entered callsign are marked with different formatting:

• italic for an additional character (e.g. AA3OB)
• underlined for a different character at a given position (e.g. 9A3B)
• bold for a character that sounds similar in CW (e.g. AA3D)

You can copy one of the matches by pressing Alt plus the number in parenthesis in front of the callsign. For example press Alt+2 to copy AA3OB into the callsign entry field.

Using Placeholders

You can enter a . as a placeholder in the callsign field instead of a character, in case you had problems copying this character. To return to this placeholder using Ctrl+Space at a later time to enter the correct character, even when you are in a different entry field.

Editing a QSO

In Hello Contest you can also edit QSOs that were already logged. Just select the QSO in the list, or use Ctrl+L to edit the last QSO.

Commands in the Callsign Field

The callsign field also accepts some commands. Just enter the command and hit the Enter key to execute it.

Command	Example	Meaning
Frequency in kHz	7021	Tune the VFO to this frequency
Band	40m	Switch the VFO into this band
@Callsign	@W1AW	Tune the VFO to the frequency where this station was spotted

Keyboard Shortcuts in the QSO Fields

Shortcut	Function
Alt+1 .. Alt+9	Select the proposed callsign with the corresponding indicator number in parentheses.
Alt+Enter	Select the proposed best matching callsign (shown above the callsign entry field).
Ctrl+Enter	Log the QSO without sending the message (in ESM).
Space	Go to the next entry field.
Ctrl+Space	Go to the next .-placeholder in the callsign field.
?	Send "?" (when in the callsign field) or "nr?" (in any other exchange field).
=	Repeat the last CW transmission.
Esc	Stop transmitting CW.
2x Esc	Clear all QSO fields.
Ctrl+P	Replace the currently entered exchange values with the predicted exchange.

VFO Control

Between the QSO list and the input fields, the current frequency of your radio's VFO is displayed.

You can also switch the band and the mode.

The XIT checkbox enables the automatic control of the XIT function of your Radio by Hello Contest. When this box is checked, Hello Contest automatically enables the XIT function while in Search & Pounce working mode. This can help your signal to stick out of a pile-up. The actual transmit frequency offset must be dialed in using the actual controls of your radio.

CW Macros

Below the input fields, you see buttons for sending the CW macros (3). Their content depends on the currently selected working mode: "Search& Pounce" (s&p) or "Run". The working mode can be selected with the radio buttons above the macro buttons (1).

To change the macro contents, click on the Macros... button (4). It opens a dialog to configure all macros. For more details about the supported placeholders in CW macros and the configuration of presets, please have a look at Configuration, Keyer Presets.

If you change the CW macros, those changes are automatically saved in the contest log file. After a restart of Hello Contest, those settings are still effective. Your changes have no effect on the default macro settings defined in the configuration file. This way, you can adapt your macros on the fly during the contest, and keep your presets untouched in the configuration file.

Below the macro buttons, you can change the CW speed (5). This value is also stored in the contest log so that it survives a restart, your changes have no effect on the default value defined in the configuration file.

Enter Sends Message (aka. ESM)

This alternative input method is known from other contest logger and also supported by Hello Contest. When activated, the Enter key will trigger the transmission of the message best matching the current state of the QSO. If all required information is entered, pressing the Enter key will also log the QSO. This allows to enter a QSO with less key strokes and function key acrobatics.

To prevent any mistakes or surprises, the text that will be transmitted when hitting the Enter key is always shown in the "ESM" line above the keyer buttons ( (2) in the screenshot above). The checkbox at the beginning of this line enables or disables the "ESM" input method (you can press Ctrl-Shift-M alternatively).

ESM in search&pounce mode

Example:

• Step 1: you enter the callsign of the calling station and hit Enter -> your callsign (aka. the F1 message) is transmitted.
• Step 2: the calling station answers with your report -> you press Space to move into the exchange entry field(s), enter the exchange and hit `Enter´ -> your exchange (aka. the F2 message) is transmitted, the QSO is logged.

In case the calling station wants you to repeat the exchange after the QSO was logged, just hit the = key to repeat the last CW transmission.

Active Field	Condition	ESM message
Callsign	field is empty	"?"
Callsign	callsign is invalid	"?"
Callsign	callsign is valid	F1 message
Exchange	exchange is invalid	"nr?"
Exchange	exchange is valid	F2 message

ESM in run mode

Example:

• Step 1: you hit Enter while the cursor is in the empty callsign entry field -> your CQ message (aka. the F1 message) is transmitted.
• Step 2: you enter the callsign of the answering station and hit Enter -> your report (aka. the F2 message) is transmitted.
• Step 3: you hit Space to move forward into the exchange entry field(s), enter the received exchange, and hit `Enter´ -> your closing message (aka. the F3 message) is transmitted and the QSO is logged.

In case the answering station wants you to repeat the exchange, you can either hit Enter while still in the callsign field, or use the = key to repeat the last CW transmission.

Active Field	Condition	ESM message
Callsign	field is empty	F1 message
Callsign	callsign is invalid	"?"
Callsign	callsign is valid	F2 message
Exchange	exchange is invalid	"nr?"
Exchange	exchange is valid	F3 message

CQ Parrot

Hello Contest provides a CQ parrot function. It is activated using the shortcut Ctrl+F1. When activated:

• the workmode is switched to Run
• the keyer continuously repeats the first CW macro using the configured Parrot Interval setting

The parrot stops either when text is entered into the callsign field, or when the keyer is stopped using the Esc key.

Status of External Systems and Databases

The main window's bottom line shows indicators for the availability of external systems and databases that are used by Hello Contest. Each indicator is grayed out, if the corresponding system or database is currently not available.

Indicator	Meaning
Radio	Hello Contest can communicate with the selected radio. (Radio menu)
CW	Hello Contest can communicate with the selected CW keyer. (Radio menu)
DXCC	Hello Contest has access to the latest DXCC database (cty.dat).
SCP	Hello Contest has access to the latest Super Check Partial database.
CH	Hello Contest has access to the selected call history file (Contest Settings, Call History)
Map	The websocket endpoint for HamDXMap is active.