TLF(1) Ham radio TLF(1)NAME
Tlf - amateur radio contest keyer/logging program for Radiosport
SYNOPSIStlf [-dhnrvV] [-f config_file] [-s user:password@host/dir/logfilename]
DESCRIPTION
Tlf is a console (ncurses) mode general purpose CW keyer, logging and
contest program for amateur radio operators. It supports the CQWW, the
WPX, the ARRL-DX, the ARRL-FD, the STEWPERRY, the PACC and the EU
SPRINT contests as well as a lot more basic contests, general QSO and
DXpedition mode. From version 1.2.0 onward there is also support for
the FOC Marathon. It interfaces with a morse code generator, a number
of radios via the Hamlib library, 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 TR-Log compatible. The log can be exported in ADIF or Cabrillo
format.
The program was written for console mode on purpose, which allows it to
run on smaller machines, or remotely via SSH or a modem link.
Since Tlf version 0.9.21 the cwdaemon 0.9 is fully supported, featuring
direct mode for the keyboard and output to parallel and serial ports
and speed and weight control from the keyboard, and band info output on
the parallel port.
For radio control Tlf works with Hamlib (version >= 1.2.3), you can
find it at SourceForge.net ⟨https://sourceforge.net/projects/hamlib/⟩.
Tlf provides full TCP/IP networking between Tlf nodes, syncing/dis‐
tributing log, packet data, frequency data, local talk, serial numbers,
time sync etc.
OPTIONS
Options given to Tlf on the command line.
-h Show summary of options and exit.
-f config_file
Start with non-default configuration file:
tlf-f PA0R
Defaults to logcfg.dat in actual working directory.
-s user:password@host/dir/logfilename
Synchronize log with other node
tlf-s user:password@host/dir/logfilename
-V Output version information and exit.
-v Verbose startup.
-d Debug rigctl.
-n Start without packet/cluster.
-r Start without radio control when user wants to start Tlf without
modifying logcfg.dat.
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=linux and use a Linux console terminal. Both KDE and GNOME termi‐
nals have a facility to start a Linux console in an X terminal as does
Xfce.
By default, Xterm will give unreadable colours. You will have to set
different colours in the logcfg.dat file. Also F1 does not work in
Xterm, which is not compatible with Linux consoles. Other keys (some‐
times F4 and F5) may not work in your Xterm, YMMV.
There are excellent results with the latest KDE, GNOME, and Xfce con‐
soles (I prefer vi colours). As Tlf uses ncurses to format its display
you must use a proper font. (The Linux font works o.k., Inconsolata
does as well). If you have problems, try the linux text console first
and work from there.
Normally you start or restart Tlf in fast mode with tlf. During debug‐
ging of a logcfg.dat file you can start in verbose mode, to have a look
at the startup messages. From Tlf version 0.9.3 you can load different
config files with:
tlf-f config_file
If you have the packet cluster enabled you will first see the packet
screen. Log in with your callsign and switch to Tlf with :<Enter>.
You can come back to the packet screen later with the same command from
the call input field.
You can exit and close Tlf with the :EXIt or :QUIT commands or with
Ctrl-C, Alt-Q or Alt-X.
At restart Tlf recalculates the score, which may take some time depend‐
ing on the number of QSOs in the logfile and the speed of your system.
Tlf takes the points as they are in the log, and calculates the multi‐
plier from either callsign or exchange field (depending on the con‐
test).
COMMANDS
These commands are entered in the callsign field of the main logging
screen. Each command consists of the leading “:” and at minimum the
upper case characters of the command name plus any needed parameters
separated by <Space>.
:ADIf Writes the log to an Amateur Data Interchange Format (ADIF) file
(*.adif).
:CHAr Input the number of characters for CW auto-start or 'm' for man‐
ual start. Possible values are: '0' (off), '2'...'5' or 'm'
(manual). After typing as many characters in the input field or
after pressing the enter key in manual mode Tlf starts sending
the callsign without further keystrokes. You can type in the
rest of the call (but quickly). As soon as the sending catches
your last typed character Tlf automatically sends the exchange
and the cursor jumps to the exchange field. <Esc> stops send‐
ing. This works only in CW contests in RUN mode.
:CHEck
:NOCheck
Turn the dupe check window On|Off.
:CQDelay
Change CQDelay (in 1/2 seconds, with Up/Down arrows).
:CLOff No cluster information (non-assisted contest operation).
:CLUster
:MAP Show cluster window or bandmap.
:CONtest
Toggle contest mode On/Off.
:CTY
:ZONe
:MULt Show needed country multipliers, zones, multipliers per conti‐
nent (depends on the contest).
:CWMode
:SSBmode
:DIGimode
Switch TRX to CW|SSB|Digimode mode.
:DEBug_tty
Debug routine for rig communication links.
:EDIt Edit the log with your favourite editor (the editor
(vi[m]|joe|e3|mcedit) can be set in logcfg.dat).
:EXIt
:QUIT Exit Tlf (synonyms to Ctl-C, Ctl-D, Alt-Q, and Alt-X).
:FILter
Filter cluster info (announce, dx-spots, all).
:FREq Show frequency or band/score information of your other stations.
:HELp Show online help (displays help.txt from working directory or
from /usr/local/share if no local one exists).
:INFo Show network status.
:MESsage
Edit CW (Morse Code) messages.
:MODe Toggle TRX mode (CW|SSB|DIG).
:PACket
Switch to the packet terminal. Switch back to Tlf with “:”.
:REConnect
Reopens the connection to the DX cluster in case it was discon‐
nected.
:REScore
Recalculates the values in the score window (e.g. after deleting
or editing QSOs).
:RITclear
Toggle the RIT reset after QSO On/Off.
:SET
:CFG Edit various parameters in logcfg.dat file and reload it.
:SCAn Enter the SCAN function (return with <Esc>).
:SCOre Toggle the score window On/Off.
:SCVolume dd
Adjust the soundcard volume for the sidetone (Up/Down). Range:
0-99.
:SIMulator
Toggle simulator mode. In simulator mode you can work a com‐
plete CQWW CW contest in TR-Log mode. Set CONTEST=cqww.
:SOUnd The SOUND recorder is a utility to record the voice keyer mes‐
sages and enables you to record the complete contest in chunks
of 1 hour to the hard drive. It does this in the directory:
~/tlf/soundlogs. The sound recorder uses a script called sound‐
log which has to be located in ~/tlf/soundlogs. It can be found
in the scripts directory. If your soundcard is different from
/dev/dsp you can use the SC_DEVICE parameter in the logcfg.dat
file (my soundcard is at SC_DEVICE=/dev/dsp1). The file exten‐
sion is .au, the Sun ulaw format. The recorder produces < 60 MB
per hour. This means you can record a complete CQWW in less
than 3 GB. If your disk cannot handle this, FTP the soundfile
to a server every hour.
F1 ... F12, s, c, ... will record the voice keyer message for
that key.
1: Start contest recording to ddhhmm.au.
2: Stop contest recording.
3: Play back contest recording ddhh[mm][:xx].
xx is the offset from the start of the file e.g.:
2110 will start from beginning of the day 21 hr 10:00
file.
21100013:00 will start from day 21, hh 10, mm 00, + 13
minutes: 0 seconds.
To create a new file every hour add a cron job to run the fol‐
lowing command every hour:
/usr/bin/pkill -f sox > /dev/null 2> /dev/null
Running the cron job at other intervals will create sound
recordings of the interval period in length.
Once started the recorder will run until the lock file ~/.VRlock
is removed.
:SYNc Synchronize the logfile of this node with the logfile pointed to
by parameter SYNCFILE=<user:password@host/dir/logfile>. Tlf
will wget the logfile from the relevant node, make a dated
backup of your local logfile, and merge the 2 files. The score
will be recalculated.
:TONe [dd]d
Set PC sidetone frequency in Hertz. Range: 300-900, 0 = Off.
:TRXcontrol
Toggle rig control On/Off. Default is Off (only makes sense
with rig control capability)
:VIEw View the log with less(1).
:WRIte Write cabrillo file according to specified format (see CABRILLO=
statement).
KEYS
The keymap refers to the Linux text console. It may be slightly dif‐
ferent on X terminals. Turn off any key recognition by the terminal
for its own purposes (menu access, help display, etc.). Pay special
attention to the F1-F12 and Alt-<char> keys. Moreover on some systems
you must set TERM=linux or TERM=rxvt. This also works under VNC.
PgUp Increase CW (Morse Code) speed (from call and exchange fields).
If field not empty and CHANGE_RST is set: change RST value.
PgDown Decrease CW (Morse Code) speed (from call and exchange fields).
If field not empty and CHANGE_RST is set: change RST value.
Ctrl-PgUp
Increase Auto_CQ delay (+1/2 sec).
Set Auto_CW delay to message length + pause length. This is
because Tlf does not know when the cwdaemon is ready.
Ctrl-PgDown
Decrease Auto_CQ delay (-1/2 sec).
F1-F11 Send CW, RTTY or VOICE message.
F12 Start Auto_CQ (sends F12 message).
Tab Switch between call input and exchange fields.
Space Switch from call input to exchange field.
+ (Plus)
Toggle CQ/S&P mode (TR-Log mode) or send F3 message + 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 without CW output.
; (Semicolon)
Insert note in log.
, (comma)
Keyboard on. This works only when the call input field is
empty; use Ctrl-K if it is not.
Escape Return to call input field, keyboard off, stop CW, reset call
and exchange (universal undo).
" (Double quotation)
Send talk message to other Tlf nodes.
- (Minus)
Delete last QSO (Use :REScore to correct scoring afterward).
↑ (Up-Arrow)
Edit last QSO: Insert, overwrite, and delete; + log view.
= (Equals)
Confirm last call.
_ (Underscore)
Confirm last exchange.
{ (Open brace)
In RTTY (DIGIMODE), keyboard mode switch TX on.
} (Close brace)
In RTTY (DIGIMODE), keyboard mode switch TX off (RX).
\ (Backslash)
In RTTY (DIGIMODE), keyboard mode switch controller to command
mode (back to operating mode with 'K <Enter>'.
# (Hash)
Transceiver VFO frequency → mem, mem → transceiver VFO fre‐
quency.
! (Exclamation)
Get a new shell. Come back with 'exit'.
. (Period)
Change bandmap filter configuration. You can filter to show
spots from all or own band only, from all/own mode only and if
you want to see dupes or not (see the help display).
Ctrl-A Add a spot to bandmap and broadcast it on the local network.
Ctrl-B Send a spot to the DX Cluster.
Ctrl-C
Ctrl-D Exit Tlf (synonyms to :EXIt, :QUIT, Alt-Q, and Alt-X).
Ctrl-F Set frequency. Use Up/Down-Arrow for 100hz steps and
PgUp/PgDown for 500hz steps. Return to logging with <Esc>.
Ctrl-G Grab next DX spot from bandmap.
Ctrl-K Keyboard (CW and RTTY).
Ctrl-P Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) display.
Ctrl-Q XOFF (Linux terminal function).
Ctrl-R Toggle /dev/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
Send CW (Morse code) messages.
Alt-A Cycle cluster window: NOCLUSTER → CLUSTER → BANDMAP → ...
Alt-B Band up.
Alt-C Toggle display of checkwindow.
Alt-E Enter QSO edit mode.
Alt-G Grab first spot from bandmap which has the characters in the
call input field in its call. Allow the operator to selectively
grab a specific call.
Alt-H Show help.
Alt-I Show talk messages.
Alt-J Show other local stations frequencies.
Alt-K Keyboard (CW and RTTY).
Alt-M Show multipliers.
Alt-N Add Note to log.
Alt-P Toggle PTT (via cwdaemon).
Alt-Q
Alt-X Exit Tlf (synonyms to :EXIt, :QUIT, Ctl-C, and Ctl-D).
Alt-R Toggle score window.
Alt-S Toggle score window.
Alt-T Tune your transceiver (via cwdaemon). Activates PTT and Key
output for 6 seconds. Stop tuning by pressing any key.
Alt-V Band down (Change speed in CT compatibility mode).
Alt-W Set CW weight.
Alt-Z Show zones worked.
PREFERENCES
Tlf can be fully configured by editing the logcfg.dat file. Normally
you keep one logcfg.dat file, setting up your callsign, the log file
name, the ports and addresses for packet, the radio, the network etc.,
and a separate rules file per contest.
The logcfg.dat file can be edited from within Tlf by the :CFG or :SET
commands (or with any other plain text editor before startign Tlf).
You can set your favourite editor (joe | vi[m] | e3 | mcedit) in the
logcfg.dat file.
You connect the rules file by using the statement RULES=con‐
test_rules_file_name in logcfg.dat.
Tlf will first look in the working directory for a logcfg.dat file, and
if it cannot find one it will look in /usr/local/share/tlf for a
default one. Make sure you edit the logcfg.dat file at least to hold
your call and your preferred system configuration.
LOGCFG.DAT STATEMENTS
Configuration parameters set in “logcfg.dat” located in the working
directory (where @PACKAGE_NAM@ is started).
RULES=contest_rules_filename
Name of the rules file to load. It helps if you name the rules
file according to the contest you want to describe.
SYNCFILE=user:password@host/dir/syncfile
File on remote host you want to synchronize with (use wget(1)
syntax).
CTCOMPATIBLE
Does not use the TR-Log QSO sequence, but “+”, <Insert> and
<Enter> to log the QSO.
The default is the TR-Log sequence which uses “+” to switch
between Run and Search & Pounce modes, in which <Enter> is the
sole key used to call the other station, send the exchange, and
log the QSO.
TLFCOLORx=FG/BG
Defaults:
TLFCOLOR1=23 (Header and footer)
TLFCOLOR2=67 (Pop up windows)
TLFCOLOR3=70 (Log window)
TLFCOLOR4=57 (Markers/dupe colour)
TLFCOLOR5=43 (Input fields)
TLFCOLOR6=63 (Window frames)
The numbers are given in octal, FG/BG or BG/FG (some experimen‐
tation likely required).
You should only specify these if you do not agree with the stan‐
dard colours of Tlf. In some Terminals you can set a special
profile for Tlf with your own colours. Another way is to define
the colours is via an ~/.Xdefault file.
EDITOR=joe | vi[m] | e3 | mcedit
Editor used to modify the QSO log or logcfg.dat.
CALL=PA0R
Your call used in messages and used to determine your country,
zone and continent.
TIME_OFFSET=0
Used to shift the Tlf time with respect to the computer clock.
Normally 0. Range: 0-23.
TIME_MASTER
This node transmits the time over the network (only one master
allowed!).
ADDNODE=Node_address:Port_number
Adds an IP address (and optionally a port number) to which we
broadcast stuff. (WARNING: Only add addresses of other nodes).
THISNODE=A
Node designator (default 'A'). If Tlf hears its own node ID on
the network it will exit and ask you to pick another one!
Range: A-H.
LANDEBUG
Switches on the debug function. Dumps all Tlf net traffic
received on this node into a file named “debuglog” in the work‐
ing directory. This log can be used as a backup log for the
whole network, as it is easy to retrieve QSO data, cluster mes‐
sages, gab messages etc. after the contest. Some users have
this enabled all the time.
NETKEYER
Switches the CW keyer on. Only the IP networked keyer cwdaemon
is actively supported. You may also need the keyer for PTT con‐
trol or band info output.
NETKEYERPORT=port_number
Default port is 6789.
NETKEYERHOST=host_address
Default host is 127.0.0.1 (localhost).
MFJ1278_KEYER=serial_port
Switches support for the MFJ-1278B multi-mode controller on.
The MFJ-1278 supports CW as well as RTTY contesting. Fixed
serial port rate is 9600 bps.
CWSPEED=speed_in_WPM
Range: 4-69.
WEIGHT=weight_ratio
Set the dot to dash ratio. Only for the NETKEYER. Range:
-45-50.
TXDELAY=PTT_delay_in_mS
Delay activation of the Push To Talk pin. Range: 0-50.
SOUNDCARD
Use soundcard for sidetone output.
SIDETONE_VOLUME=soundcard_volume
Set soundcard sidetone volume (default is 70). A value of 0
turns off sidetone output (even for the console speaker).
Range: 0-99.
CQDELAY=Auto_cq
Set automatic CQ delay in 1/2 seconds increments. Range: 3-60.
Use a value which is message length + listening time!
CWTONE=sidetone
Set the PC speaker or soundcard frequency. A value of 0
switches the sidetone off. Range: 0-999.
(Due to a bug in cwdaemon it also turns off the Alt-T tune func‐
tion. Use SIDETONE_VOLUME=0 instead).
BANDOUTPUT
Outputs band information to pins 2, 7, 8, 9 on the parallel
port. Output is 1 (160m), 2 (80m) ... 9 (10m). This format is
compatible with the standard interface for antenna switches,
band filters etc.
BANDOUTPUT=124181818
Output pin 2 for 160, 30, 17 and 12, pin 7 for 80, pin 8 for 40,
and pin 9 for 20, 15 and 10. This comes in handy when you have
3 dipoles and a 3-band beam (...).
NO_BANDSWITCH_ARROWKEYS
This will prevent unwanted band switching when you are not using
rig control. Band up = Alt-B, band down = Alt-V (TR-Log compat‐
ible).
TELNETHOST=cluster_address
Use Telnet to connect to a DX Cluster node using a DNS name or
IP address, e.g. claudia.esrac.ele.tue.nl or 131.155.192.179.
TELNETPORT=telnet_port_of_cluster
DX Clusters often use a non-standard port for Telnet, e.g. 8000.
TNCPORT=serial_port
You can use /dev/ttyS0, /dev/ttyUSB1, etc. anything that looks
like a tty.
TNCSPEED=serial_rate
Tlf supports 1200, 2400, 4800 and 9600 bps.
FIFO_INTERFACE
The FIFO (First In First Out) interface is used when you want to
receive cluster info from the network, or from another source.
The FIFO interface uses a special FIFO file in the working
directory called clfile. Anything you dump into this FIFO will
be displayed by the packet interface.
RADIO_CONTROL
Switches the radio interface on. The rig interface makes use of
the Hamlib library which supports a number of different rigs.
RIGMODEL=rig_number
Look at the Hamlib documentation for the rig_number.
Hint: rigctl -l and its manual page (rigctl(1)).
RIGSPEED=serial_rate
Speed of the serial port for rig control.
RIGPORT=serial_port
You can use /dev/ttyS0, /dev/ttyUSB1, etc. anything that looks
like a tty.
RPC rig daemon users should use RIGMODEL=1901 and RIGPORT=local‐
host. In this case RIGSPEED is ignored (rig model 1901 is dep‐
recated in Hamlib > 3.0 and replaced by rigctld(8) which is rig
model 2).
RIGCONF=rig_configuration_parameters
Send rig configuration parameters to Hamlib.
e.g. RIGCONF=civaddr=0x40,retry=3,rig_pathname=/dev/ttyS0
RIT_CLEAR
Clears the RIT after logging the qso. This only works if the
rig, and the Hamlib routine supports it (tested on the OMNI 6+).
CWBANDWIDTH=width
Sets the CW bandwidth of your rig when changing bands. If unset
or 0 the default bandwidth (as determined by Hamlib) is used. (a
valid bandwidth for the rig must be used).
SC_DEVICE=device
Sound card device for scan function.
e.g. SC_DEVICE=/dev/dsp0
S_METER=calibration
Audio s-meter calibration values for the scan function.
e.g. S_METER=20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1
SSBMODE
Start Tlf in SSB mode (default is CW).
RTTYMODE
Start Tlf in RTTY mode (defaul is CW)
GMFSK=/home/youruser/gMFSK.log
Tell miniterm(1) where to get the data.
DIGIMODEM=/home/youruser/gmfsk_autofile
Tell Tlf where to send the macros.
CLUSTER
Show cluster window at startup.
CLUSTERLOGIN=yourcall
Automatic login for the telnet client.
CLUSTER_LOG
Write clusterlog to disk.
BANDMAP
Shows cluster bandmap on startup. Use '.' to change bandmap
filtering.
BANDMAP=xyz,number
Show cluster bandmap on startup and set start values for filter‐
ing.
<xyz> string parsed for:
'B' - only own band
'M' - only own mode
'D' - do not show dupes
'S' - skip dupes during grab_next (Ctrl-G)
<number> livetime for new spots in seconds (number >=30)
SCOREWINDOW
Show the score window (same as Alt-R).
CHECKWINDOW
Show the country/call check window.
PARTIALS
Show a list of possible contest calls.
USE_PARTIALS
Use the auto-complete utility (takes some practice...). Tlf
will complete the call as soon as it is unique in the database.
This can of course lead to strange effects, but in my experience
there are far more hits than misses. Sometimes you must edit
the call because it has locked on a unique call. Try it, and
switch it off when you don't like it.
LOGFREQUENCY
Put frequency (kHz) into QSO number to enable logging of fre‐
quency (only QSO and dxped mode).
IGNOREDUPES
Enable to allow multiple QSOs in a contest with the same station
(considered a good idea these days as contest bots will take
care of dupes).
SUNSPOTS=SSN
Set the sunspots value which is used to do a rough calculation
of the MUF. If the cluster interface is used the SSN will be
updated by WWV or WCY messages.
SFI=Solar_flux_value
Set SFI used to calculate SSN. The SSN value is used to do a
rough calculation of the MUF. If the packet interface is used
the SSN will be updated by WWV or WCY messages.
CHANGE_RST
If set in logcfg.dat, PgUp and PgDown will change RST instead of
CW speed if field is not empty.
Default is Off.
NOB4 Do not send automatic “QSO B4” message. Default is On.
NOAUTOCQ
No automatic CQ when pressing <Enter> or F12.
MARKERS=file_name
Generate marker file for Xplanet. Xplanet will show the last 8
spots on an azimuthal map. See the relevant Xplanet documenta‐
tion. Use azimuthal projection and center the map on your QTH.
POWERMULT=power_multiplier
Use this value to multiply the final points. If the contest
rule allows to use the power multiplier (e.g. Stewperry, ARRL-
FD), you can pass that here.
NB: The type of POWERMULT is a float, e.g. POWERMULT=1.5, but
the final score will rounded by the C library floor(3) function,
which gives the largest integer value that is not greater than
multiplied score.
SEND_DE
Sends a “DE” word before your callsign, e.g. “DE W1AW”. There is
a special case: if SEND_DE is present in logcfg.dat, and Tlf if
is in DIGIMODE, then the other station's callsign will be sent
before “DE”, e.g. “DL1A DE W1AW”.
RULES
The contest rules can be put into separate files. Tlf will first look
for a directory called “rules/” in the working directory, and a file
named for the contest, “<contest_name>”. If Tlf cannot find such a
file, it will look into the directory /usr/local/share/tlf/rules. A
rules file contains contest specific parameters like multipliers, scor‐
ing rules, CW and voice keyer messages, etc.
NB: The rules file overrides settings from the logcfg.dat file!
WARNING! It is your own reponsibility to try these rules well BEFORE
the contest. The authors of Tlf cannot possibly check all rules for
all contests :) and during the contest there is normally no time to fix
it.
CONTEST=xxxxx
Name of the contest (same as the file name “<contest_name>” ref‐
erenced above). Some contests, like CQWW and WPX, are pre-pro‐
grammed. Look for the relevant rules file in
/usr/local/share/tlf/rules.
LOGFILE=log_file_name
Mandatory!
CABRILLO=cabrillo_format
Specify the name of the cabrillo format to use (see
doc/README.cab).
CONTEST_MODE
Sets Tlf into contest mode. Do not use this parameter for nor‐
mal QSO logging!
NO_RST Do not use RST in contest (e.g. for CW Open or ARRL Field Day).
Use '---' as placeholder instead of RST in the logfile and the
main display. If you want to write a Cabrillo log you must pro‐
vide a conforming format definition without RST values.
CQWW_M2
Put the node ID into the logline (just after the QSO number) to
support Multi/2 operation where the station logging the QSO must
be in the Cabrillo file. This can also be used for M/1 and M/M,
to enable post-contest analysis of the nodes.
Macro characters in the messages
% = your call, @ = hiscall, # = serial number, [ = RST, + =
increase cw speed, - = decrease cw speed, * = AR, = = BT, < =
SK, ( = KN, ! = SN, & = AS, > = BK, ! = his serial (eg: con‐
firm exchange of station in DIGIMODE).
F1=cw message 1
CQ message, (e.g. CQ de PA0R TEST).
F2=cw message 2
S&P call message, (e.g. @ de %).
F3=cw message 3
Exchange message, (e.g. @ ++5NN--#).
F4=cw message 4
TU message, (e.g. TU 73 %).
F5=cw message 5
Call of the other station (e.g. @).
F6=cw message 6
Your call (e.g. %).
F7=cw message 7
QSO B4 message (e.g. @ sri qso b4 gl).
F8=cw message 8
Again message (e.g. AGN).
F9=cw message 9
Query message (e.g. ?).
F10=cw message 10
QRZ message (e.g. QRZ?).
F11=cw message 11
QRZ message (e.g. QRZ?).
F12=cw message 12
Auto-CQ message (e.g. +++TEST %---).
CQ_TU_MSG=cw message 13
Auto Exchange message in CQ mode (TR-Log mode), (e.g. TU %).
S&P_TU_MSG=cw message 14
Auto Exchange message in S&P mode (TR-Log mode), (e.g. TU 5NN
#).
S&P_CALL_MSG=cw message 25
Custom call message in S&P mode. Allows replacing the auto-gen‐
erated S&P call message.
Alt_0=<...> ... Alt_9=<...>
Up to 10 additional messages.
SHORT_SERIAL
Uses short form for serial number (599=5NN, 001=TT1).
LONG_SERIAL
Uses long form for serial number (default).
VKM1=voice message file name 1 ... VKM12=voice message file name 12
Use F1 ... F12 keys to send recorded messages for phone.
VKCQM=voice_message_file_name
Auto Exchange voice message in CQ mode (TR-Log mode)
VKSPM=voice_message_file_name
Auto Exchange voice message in S&P mode (TR-Log mode)
ONE_POINT
One point per QSO.
TWO_POINTS
Two points per QSO.
THREE_POINTS
Three points per QSO
SSBPOINTS=d
Points per SSB QSO. SSBPOINTS and CWPOINTS need to be set for
both to work!
CWPOINTS=d
Points per CW QSO.
MY_COUNTRY_POINTS=d
Points for working your own DXCC entity (often zero (0)).
MY_CONTINENT_POINTS=d
Points for working countries in your own continent.
DX_POINTS=d
Points for working a station in other continents.
2EU3DX_POINTS
Deprectated. Use MY_CONTINENT_POINTS and DX_POINTS instead.
COUNTRY_LIST_POINTS=d
Points for countries in country list.
USE_COUNTRYLIST_ONLY
Score zero points for countries not in the list.
COUNTRYLIST=comma separated list of prefixes starting with colon
e.g. Scandinavia:SM,LA,OZ,OH.
COUNTRYLIST=file_name
File with a list of prefixes.
PORTABLE_MULT_2
Multiply points x2 for portable stations (e.g. R1 field day).
LOWBAND_DOUBLE
Double all points for lowband (40, 80, and 160m) QSOs (can be
combined with any other value). (Will be deprecated in future!
Use BANDWEIGHT_POINTS instead.)
WYSIWYG_MULTIBAND
Exchange is multiplier, per band, whatever you enter. Tlf
builds its own list of multipliers.
WYSIWYG_ONCE
Exchange is multiplier, whatever you enter. Counts once for the
whole contest (not per band).
WAZMULT
Multiplier is the CQ zone (per band).
ITUMULT
Multiplier is the ITU zone (per band).
PFX_MULT
Multiplier is prefix (PA0, DA2, VE7, etc.). Counted once per
contest, not per band.
PFX_MULT_MULTIBAND
Same as WPX, but the WPX only used CQ-WW-WPX, and there a single
prefix multiplier only once, not all band. With this option, the
PFX counts as multiplier on all band. This usable on AA-DX.
COUNTRY_MULT
Multiplier is the DXCC entity (per band).
MULT_LIST=file_name
Name of multipliers file (often sections, provinces, states,
counties). May contain comment lines starting with '#' in the
first column.
SECTION_MULT
Multiplier is section from multipliers file.
SERIAL+SECTION
Exchange is serial number and section, multipler is section from
multiplier file. Mults count per band.
SERIAL_OR_SECTION
Exchange is serial number or section. This option is similar to
SERIAL+SECTION, except the exchange could be a serial OR the
section. The options was introduced for HA-DX, where HA sta‐
tions gives the shortest form of its county, other stations
gives serial.
SERIAL+GRID4
Exchange is serial number and grid (e.g. JO21QI), multipler is
4-character grid (JO21). Mults count per band.
DX_&_SECTIONS
Multiplier is DXCC country or section from multiplier file.
RECALL_MULTS
Exchange can be recycled, will be filled into exchange field
when it is known (see also INITIAL_EXCHANGE).
INITIAL_EXCHANGE=exchanges.txt
The file must contain a comma-separated list of exchanges, if
e.g. the exchange is the name of the operator:
PA0R,rein
PG4I,joop
OK1RR,martin
If RECALL_MULTS is set, Tlf will look in this list for the
exchange and fill it in for you. There are various contests
which have a standard exchange, like e.g. the FOC Marathon. The
module also recognises embedded calls (CT3/PA0R/QRP).
CONTINENT_EXCHANGE
Exchange is continent (NA, SA, EU, AS, AF, OC).
SERIAL_EXCHANGE
Exchange is serial number (formats exchange field).
MIXED Station can be worked both in SSB and CW.
SSBMODE
Start Tlf in SSB mode.
MYQRA For the “Stewperry” contest, this option is used to set the QRA,
e.g.: JN97, or the full form: JN97OM. In Stewperry, the points
are calculated based on the distance between the stations.
QTC If you want to send or receive QTC's on contest (usually on
WAEDC), put this option to logcfg.dat. This needs a parameter,
which could be one of these: RECV, SEND, BOTH - note, that cur‐
rently just the RECV works. For more information, please see the
README_QTC.txt file.
QTC_CAP_CALLS= list_of_qtc_capable_callsigns.txt
If you want to help yourself to indicate, the station is a QTC
capable, you can see it on your bandmap or worked window. Put
the callsign of stations to a file, one callsign per line, and
put it to as argument to this variable.
QTC_AUTO_FILLTIME
If you use QTC feature, and you are on EU station in CW/SSB
modes, then you can only RECEIVE the QTC's. Most sender station
send their QTC's as a most short form, example, after the first
line it doesn't send the first two characters of time field. If
you set this option, then when you fill the first QTC line, then
Tlf will fills the other time fields, only the first two charac‐
ters. Of course, if you change the hour (eg., if there is a
time: 2059, and the next one is 2100), then all next time fields
will be changed.
CONTINENTLIST=comma separated list of continents
Valid values are: SA, NA, EU, AF, AS and OC.
CONTINENT_LIST_POINTS=d
Points for stations from continents in CONTINENTLIST
USE_CONTINENTLIST_ONLY
Score zero points for station from continents not in the list.
BANDWEIGHT_POINTS
Allow a point weighting factor for different bands. E.g.
BANDWEIGHT_POINTS=160:3,80:2,40:1,20:1,15:1,10:2
can be used for AADX contest. It will multiply all QSO points by
3 on 160m, by 2 on 80m and 10m and on all other bands only by 1.
Bands not in list are weighted by 1.
BANDWEIGHT_MULTIS
Allow a weigthing factor for multipliers on different bands.
E.g.
BANDWEIGHT_MULTIS=80:4,40:3,20:2,15:2,10:2
can be used for WAEDC contest. It will multiply the number of
multipliers on 80 by 4, on 40 by 3 and on 20/15/10 by 2.
The multiply operation is executed after any other multiplier
modification.
Bands not in list will be weighted by 1.
PFX_NUM_MULTIS
On WAEDC (and maybe on another contest too) the multipliers are
the different countries. But there is an execption: in case of
some country the different prefix number is a different multi‐
plier. On WAEDC these countries are: W, VE, VK, ZL, ZS, JA, PY
and RA8/RA9 and RAØ. Now with this option, you can list the
affected countries: PFX_NUM_MULTIS=W,VE,VK,ZL,ZS,JA,PY,UA9. Then
Tlf will reads these items, makes a lookup in a countrylist for
a country code, and that code will be used. So, if you placed
UA9 prefix, then Tlf will looks the UA9, which is Asiatic Rus‐
sia. If you made a QSO with a station from Asiatic Russia, then
the PFX number will evaulated with a new multiplier - but
Europien Russia will not.
EXCLUDE_MULTILIST
Some contest has a special multipliers list, which is easier to
write with a substract of two predefined set. For example, the
main set could be COUNTRY_MULT, and you need to substract from
that just a few countries, than SAC test uses (then the scandi‐
navian stations aren't multiplier for each other). In that case
you can use this config:
COUNTRY_MULT
COUNTRYLIST=sac:JW,JX,LA,OF1,OF0,OJ1,OJ0,OX,OW,OZ,SM,TF
EXCLUDE_MULTILIST=COUNTRYLIST Another useful example at WAEDC
RTTY contest: then all stations can work with each others, for
EU stations only the non-EU stations are the multi's, and
reverse: for non-EU stations only the EU stations are the multi‐
pliers. In that case the EU stations can use this config:
CONTINENTLIST=EU
COUNTRY_MULT
EXCLUDE_MULTILIST=CONTINENTLIST Now all country are multi,
except the EU stations. In this contest the non-EU stations can
use this config:
CONTINENTLIST=SA,NA,AF,AS,OC
COUNTRY_MULT
EXCLUDE_MULTILIST=CONTINENTLIST In this example all countries
are multis, except from SA, NA, AF, OC and AS continent, so only
the EU stations left as multipliers.
FILES
/usr/local/share/tlf/logcfg.dat is a recent example of the configura‐
tion file Tlf needs to know what to do. Tlf won't start without one.
Copy it into the working directory and edit it before use. You should
do your experiments well before the contest. It contains, amongst
other settings, your call, name of the log file, info about ports for
CW keying, packet or rig control, contest rules, points, multipliers
etc.
/usr/local/share/tlf/rules/contestname contains the rules of the vari‐
ous contests. You can easily write one for your favourite contest mak‐
ing use of the various multiplier and points capabilities. Check it
before the contest and send a message to the Tlf development list ⟨tlf-
devel@nongnu.org⟩ if anything is wrong.
/usr/local/share/tlf/cty.dat contains a flat ASCII database of info
about countries. This is the same file as used by CT or TR-Log.
/usr/local/share/tlf/mastercalls contains a flat ASCII database of
known contest callsigns.
section files contain a flat ASCII database of multpliers like states,
sections, provinces, districts, names, ages, etc. Some are available
at the Tlf project download site
⟨http://www.iae.nl/users/reinc/TLF-0.2.html⟩. They are invoked by
including MULT_LIST=section_file_name in the rules file.
DOCUMENTATION
An operation manual (a little bit outdated) is available in HTML format
at the old Tlf project page
⟨http://sharon.esrac.ele.tue.nl/pub/linux/ham/tlf/⟩.
Please send bug reports to the Tlf development list ⟨tlf-
devel@nongnu.org⟩.
AUTHORS
Tlf was written by Rein Couperus ⟨pa0r at eudxf.org⟩ aka Rein Couperus
⟨rein at couperus.com⟩ but maintained from 2009 onward by Thomas
Beierlein ⟨tb at forth-ev.de⟩. Lots of valuable contributions from
PG4I (Joop PA4TU), PA3FWM, LZ3NY, VA3DB, OM4AA, OK1RR, DH5FS, G4KNO and
various other contributors. (See the AUTHORS file for more). Thanks to
all for improving Tlf!
Beta testers and feedback are always welcome!
TLF version 1.2.2 TLF(1)
