    
                      HAM LOG VERSION 4
  
  
     * * * INFORMATION CONCERNING COUNTRIES AND PREFIXES * * *
  
  Firstly, the  ARRL has  decided in  March 1998  to refer  to all
  Countries as  Entities. For  the purposes  of  clarity  in  this
  document, this  is ignored.  This document  attempts to  explain
  some of  the difficulties  associated with  the  "current"  DXCC
  "Countries".
  
  Without the  ARRL changes,  there have  been  without  precedent
  significant political  changes at  the end  of the 20th century.
  This has  resulted in  anomalies that  are  beyond  the  amateur
  powers of control. For example, the "new" ex-Soviet Union states
  have resulted  in  a  plethora  of  prefixes  such  that  it  is
  impossible to  be assured of knowing the country of a station by
  its prefix.  It is  often best  to ask  the station. Indeed, the
  same can  apply with  many prefixes own by the U.S.A. due to the
  revamping of call sign allocations by the U.S.A.
  
  I have  endeavoured to  keep Ham  Log as  up to date as feasibly
  possible, with  the great assistance of many serious "DXers" for
  whom I am grateful.
  
  Any country  or significant  prefix changes  to the database are
  noted in the "Latest Changes" item in the Main Menu of Ham Log.
  
  The following  was written  well before the current release 4 of
  Ham Log  in January  1999, as  much remains  relevant and may be
  helpful.
  
  
  Updates for  the latest  countries information  are available by
  contacting the  programmer. Registered  users will  be  notified
  only of major upgrades to the actual program.
  
  As of  release v.1.13  Ham Log contains three "Germany's". These
  have been changed with regards DXCC status and as such I suggest
  you look  at all  your old  "Germany" QSOs  and ensure  they are
  attributed to  the correct  Germany. The country notes show when
  the country  was deleted  or the dates from which QSOs are valid
  for DXCC.
  
  
         * * * COUNTRY AND PREFIX DATABASE INFORMATION * * *
  
  Old, deleted  countries are still included in the database. This
  allows you  to enter in contacts you had in the past, when those
  countries were valid DXCC countries. Their original prefixes are
  also included (preceded with two asterisks).
  
  Countries that  still exist  and valid  for DXCC,  but have  had
  their main  prefixes changed  present a  slight  problem.  These
  prefix changes  may have  resulted from  political changes.  The
  ARRL has  given them  new prefixes  rather than  delete them and
  "create" a  new country.  An example is Mozambique which had the
  prefix CR7, and now it is C8 and C9.
  
  These old  prefixes have had to be deleted from the database for
  two reasons.  Firstly, it would mean that current DXCC countries
  would show  prefixes that were no longer valid, and two, in many
  cases these  old prefixes  have been  re-issued to  other (often
  "new") countries.
  
  Those wishing  to add  old contacts  with current  countries but
  with old  "expired" prefixes, need to manually apply the correct
  country to  the QSO. This is easily done from the F2 facility at
  the QSO menu.
  
  PLEASE NOTE:
  
    THE COUNTRY AND PREFIX DATABASES IN DEMONSTRATION VERSIONS ARE
    WELL OUT OF DATE.
  
  
  73's
  
  Robin Gandevia, VK2VN  Sydney, January 1999.
  rhg@bigpond.com
  
