Craig Bradley, AE6RR NCDXC March 16, 2006

Page 2 of 57 This Presentation This presentation outlines my search for the best logging programs for my operations –This search was not exhaustive, but I tried to do my homework –There are many logging programs available and it is very likely that most of them will do the job –Most of the information presented here will apply to other logging programs –This presentation is not an attempt to compare or evaluate different programs, the intent is to illustrate the capabilities of computer logging –The goal was to work DX and track awards

Page 3 of 57 History Paper logs –Original FCC logging requirements Log all transmissions Even CQs –All logs were paper, personal computers had not been invented yet… Card files or Rolodex –3x5 cards were used to “remember” data for stations frequently contacted –It was nice to greet an op that you had previously worked by name –Notes could be made on QSO details, equipment, common interests, etc.

Page 4 of 57 AE6RR Logs When I first got my novice license, WV6SVW in 1961, I had a paper log When I got re- licensed in 2004, I went down to the Candy Store and bought a paper log

Page 5 of 57 My experiences with paper logs When I got back on the air, my goal was to work DX –I was advised to get into some DX contests to get my totals going I jumped into the 2004 CQ WW DX contest with a paper log –I didn’t want to make a mess out of my logbook, so I spent quite a bit of time scratching down call letters on a pad and then entering them into the log, this resulted in a low Q rate After the contest, I came to a few of conclusions –If I wanted to submit a log, I realized that now I would have to copy the log data onto submission forms –I spent a lot of time QSLing and tracking the QSLs –There had to be a better way… –Maybe a computer program would be the answer

Page 6 of 57 Why do you need a computer? Bill Gate’s Mother once asked him why anyone would need a personal computer… Chances are that you already have one in the ham shack or near by You may be using it for DX Cluster packet spots, , PSK31, antenna modeling or other tasks How about getting some more use out of it?

Page 7 of 57 Why do you need a logging program? General Operation DXing Contesting

Page 8 of 57 General Operation Have you have ever contacted this station before? –Recall the Op’s name, QTH and any QSO notes –Automatically look up the station’s info on QRZ.com

Page 9 of 57 Contesting Quick entry of QSOs –No need to enter date/time as the computer already knows that information –No need to enter the frequency and mode as that information can be read from the rig –Automatic “dupe” checking –Automatic score calculation –Prompting for the correct exchange information for the particular contest –Packet spotting –Easy submission of the contest log – just it

Page 10 of 57 DXing Quickly log the contact with the correct date and time (UTC) –No scrambling around for a pencil in the heat of battle – the computer knows what time it is in UTC –The current frequency and mode can be read from the rig and logged –The stations QSL data can be logged directly from QRZ.com or a CD data base If the station was not found on QRZ.com, did you log the call letters correctly? This is good confirmation after you have logged the “rare” one

Page 11 of 57 DXing (cont.) Integrated Cluster Packet spots –Do I need this station? What mode, band, etc.? –Alerts – the program can notify you when a country that you need gets spotted –Many logging programs can tune your rig to the spotted frequency of the DX station and turn your antenna to the correct heading by just double clicking the spot data –A logging program can start the QSO log entry with the stations call letters, frequency, etc. All you have to do is click the Add or Save QSO button when the DX confirms your call.

Page 12 of 57 DXing (cont.) Award tracking –Track QSLs Record date sent and received (hopefully) Print QSL labels and mailing labels Print reports of outstanding QSLs and “new ones” that you have not sent the QSLs to –Track award status How many DXCC “countries” have I worked (by band, mode)? How many confirmed? Which ones have I submitted? Which ones have been accepted?

Page 13 of 57 DXing (cont.) Award tracking (cont.) –Track other awards such as IOTA, WAS, WAZ and DX Field Award –Submit log data to Logbook of the World (LoTW), eQSL or other online award systems (save postage…)

Page 14 of 57 General Features Import / Export data –Most programs can export or import in the standard ADIF format –Export data from your Contest logger and import it to your DX logger after the contest to check for any new countries and generate QSL information –Export data to LoTW –Export data to Excel or a data base program for detailed analysis

Page 15 of 57 Contest Logging WPX DX Sweepstakes QSO Parties

Page 16 of 57 Contest Logger Selection Contest logging can be very complex –Multiple ops & networking –Calculation of score –Must be reliable, if your program crashes in the middle of the contest, you could lose it all I asked some local contesters for recommendations –Several recommended WriteLog –I purchased WriteLog and proceeded to type my contest log in –It worked well and I used it in the next contest with good results

Page 17 of 57 After the Contest After submitting my contest log, the next step was QSLing –My original purpose in entering a DX contest was to work new countries –My first step in QSLing was to look up all of the stations worked in QRZ.com and compile a list with addresses, manually –I spent hours filling out QSL cards by hand and addressing envelopes –There had to be a better way…

Page 18 of 57 DX Logging WAZ

Page 19 of 57 Awards My Award Goals –WAC –WAS –DXCC Manual Award tracking –Marking up published lists from ARRL Cards were sorted and calls entered on lists Blank spots on the list were the “needed ones” There had to be a better way…

Page 20 of 57 The DX Logger There are many logging programs available – most will do the job –Some are shareware (free) Disadvantage (perceived) – you usually get what you pay for Advantage – no cost –Some need to be purchased Disadvantage – could be expensive –What if you spend the money and decide that you don’t like the program? Advantage – support, fancy graphics, etc. Many offer an evaluation download version

Page 21 of 57 Commercial Logging Software Cons –Some did not have a field for power entry –Some did not log the frequency, only the band –No refunds if you decide that this one is not for you Pros –Tech support available –Fancy graphics – color maps, grey line charts, etc.

Page 22 of 57 The Investigation I started by downloading a couple of programs to try out, some commercial and some freeware I found some features that I didn’t like –Lack of some log fields that were important to me –User interfaces that seamed awkward to use –Lack of a standard “Logbook” entry screen I was used to the paper logbook My contest logger, WriteLog had the classic logbook screen Features that I liked –Database processing (you can access data by any field) –QRZ.com interface –Online user groups for support (support at 1AM?)

Page 23 of 57 Commercial Programs Tried Out DX4WIN –Cost $89 (download – no CD or printed manual) –No Frequency field – just logs the band –No Power field –Many other features –Free download of demo version DXbase for Windows –Cost: $99 (download – no CD or printed manual) –Supports many awards –Full featured logging program –Demo version expired before I was able to spend much time with it

Page 24 of 57 Freeware Programs Tried Out XMLog –Free (download – no CD or printed manual) –Basic logging program –Easy to use –I imported some contest logs and was up and running –As this program worked out well, the search ended here

Page 25 of 57 XMLog The Survivor

Page 26 of 57 First Impressions Freeware –Download for free Author asks for donations if you like the program – and Yahoo! User Group support Most of the people posting on the group seemed to like the program Easy to setup –You can start with the basic QSO entry screen –Additional screens (windows) can be opened and configured when you are ready for them

Page 27 of 57 First Impressions ADIF Import / Export –You can import your contest logs (or any other logs –You can export to another program if you decide to change programs later on – you are not committed to this one –You can upload logs to LoTW or eQSL No logbook entry screen –There is a report that lists QSOs in a logbook type display –At first this was a problem for me, but I got used to it

Page 28 of 57 The QSO Window

Page 29 of 57 The QSO Window Other fields can be added via a setup menu –Time off field –Contest In/Out fields –Satellite fields Clicking the button at the bottom left will select other screens that can be cycled through –Address fields –Award tracking fields –Station info fields

Page 30 of 57 QSLing Downloads data from QRZ.com –Operator’s name and address –QSL manager –QSL address –Station info such as Zone and Grid locator Prints labels (standard Avery labels) –QSL labels in several formats Multiple QSOs Single QSOs –Mailing labels Tracks QSL sent and received dates for each log entry

Page 31 of 57 QSL Labels Labels can be printed on standard Avery label stock –Multiple Qs per label or a single Q –Address labels from QRZ.com data –Custom labels can be created, even QSL cards –Just peel them off and stick ‘em on!

Page 32 of 57 Award tracking XMLog tracks the following awards –DXCC –WAS –WAZ –Counties –IOTA –Grids 2, 4, or 6 digit – can be used for CQ Field Award, satellite or VHF/UHF award tracking

Page 33 of 57 DXCC Award Reports DXCC Totals

Page 34 of 57 DXCC Award Reports DXCC Checklist

Page 35 of 57 DXCC Award Reports DXCC Countries Worked/Confirmed

Page 36 of 57 DXCC Award Reports DXCC Critical QSOs

Page 37 of 57 DXCC Award Reports DXCC Needed Countries

Page 38 of 57 DXCC Award Reports DXCC Submission Tracking

Page 39 of 57 DXCC Award Reports DXCC Submission Forms

Page 40 of 57 DX Cluster Spotting Sometimes called Cluster Spots, Packet Spots, Packet Networks, etc. Original spotting clusters were via 2M radio packet repeaters (digipeaters) Now most spotting clusters are on the Internet –There are 2 types Web (html) based –DX Summit - Telnet based –telnet://n7od.pentux.net/telnet://n7od.pentux.net/ –telnet://dxc.ab5k.net/telnet://dxc.ab5k.net/ XMLog and most other logging programs only work with the Telnet based clusters

Page 41 of 57 Telnet Based Spots

Page 42 of 57 DX Spots with XMLog The Cluster Spots Packet Window

Page 43 of 57 Hunting DX The Band Map Window

Page 44 of 57 Rig Interface QSO mode and frequency can be read from the rig and automatically filled in on the QSO window The frequency and bearing from the Packet Window can be used to tune the rig to the DX frequency and point the beam (if you have a rotator with a computer interface) Interfaces to most modern radios that have a serial interface (Kenwood, Icom, Yaesu, Ten Tech, etc.)

Page 45 of 57 The QSOs/Check Call Window Checks Calls or partial calls –Displays needed status –Displays any previous QSO info with Op’s name

Page 46 of 57 The Display Window Displays or prints QSOs in the standard log book format –Can also export to Excel for special analysis

Page 47 of 57 Log Searches The log file is a database –It can be searched for desired information Searches can be on any log field –Country prefixes –Date ranges –Entry or lack of in any field (i.e. IOTA entered) Searches can use “wild cards” such as * or ? Search can use “not” data –You could search for all Qs with calls that are not a ‘W’

Page 48 of 57 Other features CW keyboard window –Can send CW messages Packet spots history –A list of packet spots Voice alerts –Notifies you when a new one is spotted

Page 49 of 57 How to get XMLog Go to –Download the file There are usually two versions available –The last released version with no known problems –The latest Beta version »Contains the latest enhancements and fixes »I usually download this one –Run the install program –Configure the program for your installation Setup the rig interface for your rig Setup callbook preference (QRZ.com, etc.) Setup the packet node for your favorite Enter your station info (QTH, etc.)

Page 50 of 57 Tips Don’t try to setup everything at once –Start with the QSO window Select your defaults for logging (power level, get freq./mode from rig, get info from callbook, etc. Setup your station QTH info under the Options/Station Info menu Setup the callbook under Options/Callbook Setup before importing or entering Qs –Move on to other windows such as Cluster packet when you are ready

Page 51 of 57 Entering Data I have umpteen million Qs in my log, this is hopeless… Here are some options to get going –Start by importing any computer logs that you may have, such as contest logs –Start with this year’s, this month’s or today’s Qs –Start by entering your QSL cards –Start by entering your DXCC record –Pay a high school kid or family member to enter logs Be sure to setup your station info and call lookup preference (QRZ.com or CDROM database) before entering Qs

Page 52 of 57 Backup Your Log! Back it up frequently, especially if you just entered a lot of data! Backup to another computer or storage medium –Use floppy disks or CDs –Use a network to copy log files if you have one When you download a new version of the program –Backup your whole directory before installing a new version

Page 53 of 57 Question & Problems Join the Yahoo! Group –There are many knowledgeable users that monitor the group –Someone on the group may have had the same question or problem that you are having –The author of the program, Mike, W1ETC monitors the group the author

Page 54 of 57 Suggestions for Enhancements If you have ideas for enhancements to the program –Post them on the Yahoo! Group –Mike is open to enhancements that would be of general interest to the users The program is frequently updated with new features –Watch the group postings for new beta releases If you enjoy XMLog and think that it is useful –Consider making a contribution to the author –He does have expenses with the web site etc. –If you make a contribution, your suggestions could have more weight…

Page 55 of 57 Other Programs Some may be better suited to your needs If you start will a freeware program, you can evaluate the benefits of computer logging at no cost The only investment is your time You can always upgrade to another program later if want features that are not supported

Page 56 of 57 Enjoy Computer Logging Remember this is a hobby –Have fun –Don’t try to do it all at once –You don’t have to be a computer nerd to do this – you can find one to help if need be AND…

Page 57 of 57 BACKUP YOUR FILES!

Page 58 of 57 Good DX 73 de AE6RR