Sunday 22 February 2015

SOTA Database - Importing QSO Data from HRD ver 5.24

I log all my SOTA QSOs in HRD ver5.24.
Getting that info into the SOTA database has always proved to be difficult.
There are plenty of tools around which will do the job, but not a single one, that I have found, will do it without some manipulation.

As an Activator, I always transcribe my written logs into a .CSV and .ADI using the super SASIE SOTA tool.
This makes activation logging a breeze and I highly recommend it.
The CSV it creates can be directly uploaded to the SOTA database, and the ADI is simple to import into HRD.

The problem comes when logging chaser contacts.
Other than manually entering into the database, the process is (IMHO) a real pain.

Anyway, here's how I do it.
For ease of convenience I upload about once a month.

HRD Export


Using the filter option in HRD, select the time window you want to export.



Making sure that the entries are sorted as oldest QSO first, Select the entries you  wish to export.


Right mouse click and select, Export/ADIF.
The following dialogue opens:


Give the export data a file name (in this example mine is jan15.adi)
Make sure you tick the radial button: ADIF+Ham Radio Deluxe.
Under Entries make sure it is set to Selected.

Now hit Export and the file will be saved.
That's the export complete.

Convert ADIF to SOTA CSV

For this process I use the ADIF to CSV tool provided by ON6ZQ.

Firstly you need to do a bit of file manipulation.
In HRD I log the SOTA summit reference in one of the HRD Custom fields. For this to be imported correctly it needs to be in the ADIF <SOTA_REF> field.
This field does not exist, or can I find a way of configuring it in HRD.
There is an easy workaround however.
Open the exported ADI file in a text editor (Notepad for windoze users).
With the file opened you will be able to see that the summit reference field in my instance has the ADIF field of <app_hamradiodeluxe_user_defined_1:9>
This needs to be replaced with the field label of <SOTA_REF>.
To do this use the Replace function (ctrl H) and paste
<app_hamradiodeluxe_user_defined_1
into the find box
and type <SOTA_REF into the replace box.


Select replace all and save the file.
Now, with the editor still open, Select and copy all the text (ctrl A, ctrl C).

Go to the ON6ZQ ADIF- CSV convertor tool.

Paste the copied text into the ADIF box, replacing the sample text. (ctrl A, ctrl V)
Delete the My SOTA summit reference field and tick remove ADIF comment field.


Now hit Submit.
The SOTA CSV is now created in the box below:

As you can see my station Callsign has not been picked up from HRD. We'll solve this in a moment.

Select and copy all the text in the CSV output box (ctrl A, ctrl C).
Open Notepad (or other editor) and paste the copied text.
Now using find and replace, change all instances of <STATION_CALLSIGN> with your own Callsign.


After replacing all, save the file with an appropriate name. jan15.csv.


The file is now ready to import into the Sota database!
Simple.

Upload CSV to SOAT database.


Go to the SOTA database.
Select Submit Log/Import Chaser S2S/SWL TSV/CSV.
Select your saved file.
Upload.
You'll see the uploaded data.


Check and Submit Entry.
Done!

Whilst this may all sound a bit complicated and could probably be scripted, as It's only done about once per month it takes very little effort and is a lot quicker than manual input :-)

Hope that is of some assistance to someone in a similar boat...




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