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CommCat 4.10.0 |
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the DX Advantage |
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CommCat 4.10.0 |
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the DX Advantage |
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"The best power amplifier is a DX program that gets you there first!"
Overview
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Welcome to CommCat, the intelligent Windows radio control and logging program for hams who share the passion for working DX. CommCat combines the latest technological advances in the Internet, personal computing, and radio engineering to provide exciting new ways to enjoy the amateur radio hobby. |
DX contacts can provide so much more than a brief exchange of calls and a 5NN signal report. They also can be an opportunity to learn about the world around us--its geography, history, culture, and the story of its people. CommCat provides a way to learn about the countries and people of the world as you hear and work new countries.
What is CommCat?
CommCat provides tools to help you work DX, log, track awards, and QSL while learning in the process. CommCat is not designed for contesting or specialized communications. There are many excellent programs already available to help you win a contest or predict when the next satellite window will be. If you want to outsmart the pile ups and learn in the process, CommCat--the DX Advantage is for you.
...And What is CommCat Live?
CommCat Live is your own Internet Home Page hosted on the MyQSX.net web server. CommCat feeds live data from your station as you operate so visitors to your home page can watch and listen as you work DX, learn more about you on your About page, and listen to DX sound clips from the CommCat Live DX Clip library. If you are lucky enough to have grandchildren, wait till they see grandpa's web site!
QSXer is a free add-on for CommCat that can be used as a reduced feature version of CommCat Live. To learn more about QSXer, visit http://www.qsxer.com.
...And CommCat Mobile?
Find, work and log DX from anywhere in the world using your Apple iPhone or iPad. CommCat Mobile is a free app available on the Apple iTunes app store. CommCat Mobile connects to CommCat through the Internet to control your radio and antenna rotor, and to operate CW or Phone. If you have a Live subscription, you can use built-in VoIP (2-way audio) to receive and transmit.
...And CommCat Remote?
When you are away from your shack, but have access to a laptop computer, CommCat Remote gives to a way to operate your station. CommCat Remote is a second copy of CommCat which connects to the your shack CommCat. VoIP is provided with a Live subscription for 2-way audio.
Monitor a Telnet connection, your local Packet DX Cluster and the WWW DX Cluster for needed DX spots. CommCat alerts you about new spots within seconds by voice, e-mail, or via your smart phone, so you can be on frequency before the pile up builds. |
Unique Point-and-Pounce control of your rig gets you to the right frequency with a single mouse click. Analyze the pile up using the spectrum analyzer and DX tracker windows to predict where the DX station will listen next as he moves from one station to another. Tune to his anticipated receive frequency with a single mouse click and you are ready for action. |
The CommCat Tuner window shows where you are in any HF band--no more embarrassing out-of-band goofs! Tune from one band to another by clicking on a dial that harkens back to pre-digital days. |
Once you have outsmarted the pile up you can concentrate on working that DX. CW operators can send their call from most CommCat windows using the integrated programmable CW keyer, optional K1EL WinKeyer, or Elecraft K3 radio. Send a signal report with a second keystroke, and you are almost done! |
Complete the QSO by entering the contact details with one keystroke in the CommCat log window. Choose a log format supplied with CommCat or design your own. There are no limits to the number of logbooks you can maintain--keep one log for QRP and other logs for special awards. Complete the information in the log from the MyQSX FCC Database, any one of the popular call sign CD-ROM's, or from the QRZ XML lookup service. Immediately detect if you have already worked a particular station. Check the QSL status for a station at any time. |
A flexible CommCat printing capability helps you design and prepare QSL cards, logs, and mail labels. Each QSL card can be personalized with details for the station you have worked. Add country flags, maps, station photos, or any clip art you wish, to enhance your card. |
CommCat is packed with features that take you beyond a simple QSO. Build and explore an instant web page from the perspective of any other station to see their current weather, local- and wide-area maps, and a detailed summary of the country including history, demographics, geographic features, and economy. |
CommCat provides scores of maps, including a great circle map dynamically drawn with your location as center. Display a Google world map centered on the DX station's location in the Instant Web Page window. Large format maps are also available for most DX entities. These maps show political boundaries, time zones, DX prefixes, and local-focus areas. |
CommCat Demo
CommCat can be installed and then used for 30-days as a Demo. You can enter up to 30 contacts in the log. Because CommCat uses the call you used when you registered the program, not all functions will work until you have your own registration code. Functions that are not available include XML look ups on QRZ, Telnet Web Cluster AutoConnect, and QSXer.
CommCat was written by Howard Nurse, W6HN
