This release

- when the web server receives an incorrect command, sends back an explanatory error message (tnx to John K8AJS)

- reduces the probability that a new spot will be added to the Spot Database Display just as the user is clicking or double-clicking (tnx to Jamie W2QO)

- ensures that a DXView lookup initiated by clicking on a Spot Database Entry is not altered by a newly created Spot Database Entry (tnx to Jamie W2QO and Rich W3ZJ)

- provides the option to announce callsigns non-phonetically (tnx to Peter K0PLT and Chuck NA6BR)

- provides the option to announce callsigns phonetically, with a choice of 3 speeds (tnx to Peter K0PLT and Chuck NA6BR)

- when spot notes do not contain an explicit QSX, e.g. "UP", only assumes the default QSX ("up 1") if there's not existing Spot Database Entry, or if the existing spot database entry contains no QSX

- when appending a note to the cumulative notes display window, always makes the most recent note visible (tnx to Ken K4XL)

- if audio announcements are disabled with the announcements remaining in the announcement queue, stops announcing and empties the announcement queue

- conveys LotW participation in spot data sent to Commander, including background highlight color (tnx to Bob AD5VJ)

- exploits the asynchronous lookup capability of DXView 2.8.1 or later, which improves responsiveness when you click or double-click a Spot Database Entry with DXView running (tnx to Jamie W2QO)

- updates the ConfigurationAudio.htm online documentation files


A forthcoming release of Commander will exploit the LotW information SpotCollector now conveys with spots by highlighting LotW participants in its Bandspread window.


The new "Include callsign in announcement" and "Announce callsign phonetically" options are available on the Config window's audio tab. There's also a new "Callsign Announcement" panel that lets you select the desired speed at which phonetics are announced, and hear how a test callsign that you specify would be announced, whether you've selected phonetics or not. Before enabling these options, you must download a new package of audio announcement files from

http://www.DXLabSuite.com/spotcollector/Announcements.exe

and extract the contents of this 15 mb file into SpotCollector’s Sounds sub-folder. If you already have the previous set of audio announcement file installed, you can obtain just the new announcement files by downloading the 8 mb file

http://www.DXLabSuite.com/spotcollector/NewAnnouncements.exe

and extracting its contents into SpotCollector’s Sounds sub-folder.

Besides the new files needed for callsign announcements, the above package also includes 

- several new or updated country announcement files: 4O.wav, ER.wav, KH8-S.wav, V2.wav, and VP6D.wav

- three different LotW announcement files: LOTW.wav, LOTW(short).wav, and LOTW(long).wav  [SpotCollector plays LOTW.wav, so rename the one you want accordingly]

- special.wav [used to announce callsigns on the Special Callsign list]

- An improved 20m.wav


If you’re a fan of Joe DX introductions, four new ones are available via

http://www.DXLabSuite.com/spotcollector/Introductions.exe

Extract the contents of this 20 mb file into SpotCollector’s Sounds/Introductions sub-folder, and you’ll get 

- QSO Party Joe DX.wav

- Joe DX Romp and Stop.wav

- Startup Tune In Joe.wav

- Joe DX Funky.wav (my personal favorite)
      
Clearly the Joe DX team of Peter K0PLT and Chuck NA6BR have gone “above and beyond” for this release. Thanks guys!


SpotCollector 4.0.5 is available via the DXLab Launcher, and via http://www.dxlabsuite.com/download.htm .

     73,

          Dave, AA6YQ