Networking Your Field Day Log- N1MM or N3FJP?
N3FJP Field Day Contest Log
N3FJP Field Day Contest Log has always been a very nice, simple program for everyone to use. It connects to the radios easily and we hardly have any trouble with it. I like all N3FJP software because it is so simple to use and it is very reliable. However, last year we experienced a problem with Windows networking. The Windows computers did not see each other over the network at one point (sample pictures below) and our Field Day Contest Log stopped networking. We switched to stand alone and continued without issues. No dupes.
In addition, Microsoft is changing networking and file sharing in 2019, so I don’t want any hassles this year with laptops running different versions of Windows and what that might entail. See: Changes to file sharing over a network in Windows 10
Is there a solution? I think so.
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- Computer A
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- Computer B
N1MM Logger+ Field Day Log
I’ve used N1MM Logger+ as a standalone program for a long time and with many different contests, but never for Field Day. This will be an interesting change. In testing it seems to work very well over the network and I like the network status window. While testing it does not matter if a computer saw the other computer over the network, N1MM will connect to it.
The N1MM+ network scheme also simplifies and automates the network setup. So long as each computer on the network is running in the same subnet, with the same version of N1MM Logger, and the same contest and multi-operator class in the Contest Setup, the network will be set up automatically. - N1MM Logger website
It's very easy!
Under the same networking scenario as above (sample pictures above), where computer B does not see computer A, N1MM Logger+ still works!
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- Computer A
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- Computer B
Testing N1MM Networking
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- Computer A – No Connection
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- Computer B – No Connection
Network Logging for Field Day
What will you be using this year?
If you have any questions, comments or solutions, please comment below. I prefer the comment section here or in YouTube over e-mail because your comments and questions will help others as well.
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73,
Rich, K0PIR
Sources:
Leave it to Microsoft to change things. I suspect that N3FJP will still work just fine on a Windows workgroup network but I haven’t tried it yet this year. One problem is that in Windows 10 Microsoft changed networking protocols from SMB1 to SMB3 so computers on different versions of Windows might not show up in the ‘network neighborhood.’ However they should be accessible if you access them by IP address or by typing in the name, for example “\\computer1”.
Hi Pete nice to hear from you and thank you for that tip.
Yes our club uses personal laptops so we end up with different versions of windows and of course that causes problems. Then if the laptop ever re-boots during the contest sometimes it takes a little while for someone to get over to help out.
I used a RaspberryPi3 to put the log file on and that worked, but then we weren’t able to use the chat feature or messaging feature in N3FJP Field Day log.
In testing N1MM I disabled Windows file and print sharing and it still worked.
Great to hear from you and good luck on field day.
Rich, K0PIR
Rich,
Rather than using Windows file share we use TCP networking. On the networking screen click the TCP button and check the Enable status/chat checkbox. Put the IP address of the server in the “Server name or IP” box.
Ken WB2KWC
Hi Ken, nice to hear from you and thanks for the tip. As I researched it, this appears to be a problem with many users. I was able to do as you suggested with my Rasbperry Pi3 though.
Your tip will surely help others with Windows.
Hope to hear you on Field Day. Operating as W0PIR on FD.
Best 73!
Rich, K0PIR
Thanks for sharing all of your experiences!
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Thank you. It worked pretty well this year. There were some disconnects, but nothing major.
Best 73!
Rich, K0PIR
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Thank you so much I appreciate your input.
73,
Rich, K0PIR
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