Logging software for clean start

[K9VA]

Coming back from 30 years QRT and loving it. Got antennas and rig (K3/10), and in the 21st century one needs logging s/w. I am very computer/networking literate and appreciate a clean, intuitive interface. I see my operating profile as mostly CW, light/medium contesting and DXing. Would also like guidance on platform requirements (i.e., can I use an old clunker or should I get something modern (Ipad, etc.). Pay vs. free not an issue. Thanks in advance. - Kurt/K9VA

[AA6YQ]

Coming back from 30 years QRT and loving it. Got antennas and rig (K3/10), and in the 21st century one needs logging s/w. I am very computer/networking literate and appreciate a clean, intuitive interface. I see my operating profile as mostly CW, light/medium contesting and DXing. Would also like guidance on platform requirements (i.e., can I use an old clunker or should I get something modern (Ipad, etc.). Pay vs. free not an issue. Thanks in advance. - Kurt/K9VA

DXLab is a free-ware suite of 8 applications that can operate independently, but detect each other's presence and interoperate automatically. You can start with one or two applications, e.g. transceiver control and logging, and then add others in whatever order you choose; the DXLab Launcher lets you download and install a DXLab application with a couple of mouse clicks, and provides a single point of control for the suite. A PC with a dual core processor and 2 GB of RAM running XP or Windows 7 will yield good performance, but there are plenty of users running DXLab on older Pentiums with 1 GB of RAM.

Besides the usual logging, transceiver control, DX spot collection and digital mode features you'll find in most applications, DXLab provides many additional capabilities - but keep in mind that you can learn these capabilities step-by step as you add applications in whatever order you choose:

- controls up to 4 transceivers, with optional transceiver selection by frequency

- supports transverters for 6m, 4m, 2m, and 70cm operation

- can direct a secondary transceiver or receiver to follow the primary transceiver's frequency and mode

- interoperates with SDR Consoles used as panadaptors (e.g. SpectraVue) or skimmers (e.g. CW Skimmer)

- provides 10 banks of 10 memories, with the ability to continuously scan a bank's frequencies

- as you QSY, displays frequency-dependent settings for devices like tuners, amplifiers, and antenna switches, with optional control via parallel port signals

- provides user-defined transceiver control sequences initiated by up to 16 buttons and up to 8 sliders; for example, see http://www.dxlabsuite.com/commander/screenshot1.jpg
- provides both map-driven and callsign-driven operation of all commercial PC-controllable rotators

- can display a translation for up to 50 "QSO phrases" in the languages likely used by your QSO partner based on his or her DXCC entity; more than 60 languages are supported

- tracks confirmation and verification of QSOs for DXCC, TopList, and WAZ awards, highlighting needed DX spots, automatically generating outgoing QSLs that request confirmation of needed QSLs, identifying confirmed QSOs for submission to the ARRL DXCC desk, and generating DXCC submission paperwork

- highlights DX spots needed for the annual CQ DX Marathon award, and generates the required submission spreadsheet

- reports progress towards DXCC, TopList, Challenge, VUCC, Marathon, WAS, WAC, IOTA, WAZ, WPX, USA-CA, Canadaward, Holyland, DOK, WAE, WAB, DFM, SRR, RDA, WAHUC, WAIP, WAJA, JCC, JCG, and AJA awards

- synchronizes with LotW and eQSL.cc, initiating upload and download operations with a single mouse click without requiring the user to manually invoke TQSL, deal with ADIF files, or use a separate application

- extracts address information from all 3 CDROM callbooks and QRZ.com (free with advertising, or no advertising with subscription)

- provides one-click access to more than 80 web-accessible sources of QSL information

- directly prints QSL labels and 4-to-a-page QSL cards - with or without a background image

- directly prints addresses on envelopes or labels

- provides operations that can alter many logged QSOs simultaneously without requiring the user to modify ADIF files -- e.g. performing callbook lookups on already-logged QSOs, or adjusting the start times of QSOs logged during a specific time range, or extracting QTH information from COMMENT fields, or...

- captures DX spots from up to 6 sources (telnet clusters, packetclusters, DX Summit), creating and maintaining a local database with one entry for each active DX station that is color coded by "need" and LotW/eQSL participation, and whose entries can be independently filtered and displayed in a table, on its world map, and on a zoomable bandspread

- optionally announces needed DX spots, and includes a web server that makes all spots browser-accessible from anywhere on your home network

- extracts QSX frequencies from DX spot notes, enabling accurate transceiver setup for split frequency operation with one user action

- captures solar and geomagnetic data from WWV spots and uses this data to display easy-to-understand QST-style graphical propagation forecasts, and to depict the auroral oval on its world map (choice of VOACAP, ICEPAC, or IONCAP propagation forecasting engines, all of which are included)

- monitors user-specified NCDXF/IARU HF beacon schedules to rapidly calibrate propagation forecasts with actual propagation

- decodes all PSK31 or PSK63 or PSK125 QSOs within your transceiver's bandpass and extract callsigns to create and maintain a "stations heard" window

- simultaneously runs soundcard RTTY (using the MMTTY engine) and an optional external modem (e.g. a KAM or PK232) to provide diversity decoding or the ability to simultaneously decode a DX station and callers

- supports PSK, RTTY, CW (generation only), and Phone (voice keying) with a single user interface and macro facility

- interoperates with MultiPSK, MMSSTV, MMVARI, MMTTY, MixW, Fldigi, DM780, HRD, DX Atlas, and CW Skimmer

- is updated with user-suggested features frequently, and downloads/installs upgrades with a single mouse click

- is driven by an active and friendly user community open to everyone

User-reported defects are generally corrected within 24 hours. At this moment, the number of reported but uncorrected defects across all members of the DXLab Suite is 0.

DXLab is available via http://www.dxlabsuite.com

- reference documentation is available in both html and pdf format via http://www.dxlabsuite.com/download.htm#Documentation

- task-oriented documentation is available via http://www.dxlabsuite.com/dxlabwiki/GettingStarted

73,

Dave, AA6YQ

[N5MOA]

What Dave said.

Very nice software. I started off with just Dxkeeper, for logging. It works great, but I had to manually enter the frequency in the log, so I added Commander for rig control.

DXview seemed like something I could use, so I added it. It includes a world map, with beam headings, and shows at a glance which band/modes, if any, I have worked an entity. Very handy.

I had not used RTTY up to that point, so I also added Winwarbler.

And Propview.

AND....you get the point. Add them as needed, or wanted.

As for what computer is needed, the one I was using in the mobile is a Dell Inspiron 1000, running XP with 256m ram. It runs Dxkeeper, Winwarbler, Dxview, Commander and the internet just fine. I did take just about everything else off it, 256m isn't much ram.

It is now my backup ham computer, I downsized to a 11.6" Acer running Win 7 for size considerations while mobile.

On the very rare occasion you have a question, or even rarer, a problem, the dxlab yahoo group is a source of quick answers/fixes. Usually answers from Dave.

I tried several different logging programs. Most are free, try 'em.

DXLabsuite suits my needs best.

[EA4TA]

I am very computer/networking literate and appreciate a clean, intuitive interface.

Then go Linux.
You could do great with CQRLog ("the world's best linux logging program") and TLF (contest software like CT).

[AC0H]

I will ditto the DX Lab suite and CQRLog.

I use them both.

[KW9W]

DX Keeper (from DX Labs). Two thumbs, up!

[N0NB]

Then go Linux.
You could do great with CQRLog ("the world's best linux logging program") and TLF (contest software like CT).

At the moment there really is no good contest logger available for Linux. TLF is unmaintained and now quite old so most of the contest definitions are out of date. It could probably be resurrected with some effort but its UI follows that of TR and not CT. Most likely the latter fact won't matter to you but it does to me (even though it has a CT mode, it isn't the same).

CQRlog is being actively developed and serves well as a day-to-day logger. It now supports multiple databases since version 1.0.0 and I've been catching up with my log data.

[WA4OTD]

I use HRD 5.0 on old Sony Vaio PC. I really like HRD, does everything so as you grow it is easy to keep using existing features.

[EA4TA]

At the moment there really is no good contest logger available for Linux. TLF is unmaintained and now quite old so most of the contest definitions are out of date. It could probably be resurrected with some effort but its UI follows that of TR and not CT. Most likely the latter fact won't matter to you but it does to me (even though it has a CT mode, it isn't the same).

You're right. TLF is outdated. My mistake.
YFKTest is the name of the 'console-logging-CT-alike' with the updated constests.

I find it quite similar to CT when running. And although N1MM looks next century to it's side, the latter has become over bloated over the years to my taste (and light contesting), and much prefer the simplicity of the former.