I'm pretty sure this was the last new ham radio video posted on youtube in the waning moments of 2016. This time I'm looking at the Maclogger DX logging software and rig control for the Mac platform. Plus a 1 minute tour of my shack.
MLDX was my first log. I put my first repeater contacts in it, because I didn't know any better That 2011, but about a year later I started using HRD. Now, as of yesterday's announcement by HRD and the recent bro-ha-ha, I've come back to Mac for my Log and MLDX. I have version 5 and I'm curious to know why I should be going to 6.
I don't bother with computer logging or HRD at all, but yes, there are two Macs in my shack. Typing this on a MacBook PRO and over on my main desk is a Mac PRO (Gen. 6, the round one). Easiest damned computers to use in the world.
I like Apple computers , but can't afford them, so I use cheap MS (or Linux) based PCs. Macs do just work , maybe because their OS is built on Open-BSD (a Unix derivative) that runs circles around Windows... I love NetLogger - as it does upload/download to both eQSL and LOTW, but it is really designed for logging contacts during a net (and showing you who's checked in).. but you can run it stand-alone & put in any call and log a contact with them and it can be setup to pull details for an entered callsign from QRZ (if you have an XML subsciption). It's available for MS, Macs, & Linux.... It was recently re-written and has lots of nice features along with pretty good help files (no manual really needed if you read the help).
Hi all. Any thoughts on RumlogNG? It's free and as powerfull as MLDX. Beside it is free. Give it a try.
I downloaded RumlogNG a while back and purchased the iOS Rumlog package. It was incredibly confusing, first of all. It wasn't very intuitive whatsoever. Just my opinion. I wanted it because I thought it would automagically sync what was on my phone to the desktop. I never got that functionality to work.
Just like I run a Windows VM on my Mac for HRD, I also have a Linux VM. When on Linux, I work with CQRLog which I find works extremely well. It really does all I need. I've got a Linux friend, also a fellow ham, that is consulting me on working with Linux, which is a learning curve. I tried taking an old desktop computer I built back in '03 and using it for a Linux box in the shack about five months ago and the software ran nicely on it, but the processor just crapped out. At Christmas, I took advantage of some of the NewEgg sales and purchased some hardware, about 20% of what I need, for a new computer. It will be an AMD 8 core processor machine, so it will be good for a long while. The big issue I've had with Linux is getting N1MM+ to work on it using a Wine emulator or whatever. I have it working, but without rig control. That's not a big issue, because most contests don't care about recording frequency, just band.
I love the look of MacloggerDX and would love to try it someday. Maybe it would be worth getting a used Macbook and trying it out. Thanks and Happy New Year!
Love my Mac(s). In the "Extras" folder included with MLDX, there is an apple scrip program (DQSLManager) that will automate one click uploading of QSL's to LoTW. It will also download confirmations from LoTW and update your log accordingly. Works great!
