[Elecraft] [HAM] Contesting with logging software on a PC (not MAC)

[Julius Fazekas n2wn]

With 1TB drives in the sub $100 range it's possible to store a tremendous
amount of contest info. Think this is excellent advice.

I run N1MM on Win2K and XP machines. The Win2K machine is probably 6 years
old. I've never had a HD fail, but have had a PS go out just as a contest
started and really should have implemented this advice already. I've had too
many problems with Vista to trust it, FWTW.

Don't forget eQSL along with LoTW. LoTW does not officially provide backup
logs. You can download sync information for various general logging
software, but believe this only has LoTW confirmed QSO information, some
details may or may not match what you have logged.

Will have to look into dropbox as a repository option too.

Helpful info all around...


Lee J. Imber (WW2DX) wrote:
> 
> 
> On Jan 6, 2010, at 10:08 PM, Gary Hinson wrote:
> 
>>> One 
>>> thing I would recommend is to run your log/db on a USB flash 
>>> based device, this way if your PC decides to  act up or even 
>>> worse the drive dies then your log will be safe. 
>> 
>> Errr, not if the flash drive dies, unless you meant to use the flash as a
>> backup.  With no moving
>> parts, flash drives are probably more reliable than conventional hard
>> drives but they are not
>> immortal and are only rated for so many read/write operations.  Also
>> *all* your local drives of
>> whatever type may go up in flames if the PC or shack catches fire, or
>> someone may steal the lot ....
> Hi Gary,
> 
> No actually I meant use the flash for the actual live log. Flash based
> drives are far more reliable then traditional platters.
> Flash has a life expectancy for ~10K read/writes far less then what would
> be used in a 24hr contest :)
> I have had many platter drives fail in my career and as of to date never
> had a flash device fail (knocking on wood).
> 
>> 
>> 
>>> There are also a few other technologies other then the flash 
>>> drive approach, you can get a free 2GB account from 
>>> http://www.dropbox.com and point your log to your dropbox 
>>> folder and it will backup into the ether in real-time and you 
>>> can even have the same dropbox folder on a backup PC ready to 
>>> go. 
>> 
>> That's the better option - an offsite backup - if used as a backup, in
>> other words again not the
>> only copy.  The online file systems are fine if you have a sufficiently
>> fast and reliable Internet
>> connection, but again I would advise sending backups off-site and
>> retaining one or more local copies
>> of your log as well, just in case the organization running the offsite
>> system has a technical fault,
>> or deletes the files, or whatever (trust me: it happens).
> 
> I am also a huge believer in off-site backups as well, we are seeing newer
> technologies like dropbox where it acts more like a local drive then a
> backup device. I use that service to create corporate wide shared folders
> across large geographical locations and its been very reliable. 
> 
>> 
>> You can also take occasional offline log backups onto CD-ROM, or yet
>> another flash drive, that you
>> physically remove from the machine and place elsewhere in safe storage,
>> far enough away from the
>> shack not to be caught in the same fire/burglary/whatever.
>> 
>> If that's all too much effort, at least consider uploading your log
>> regularly to Logbook of the
>> World.  LoTW is a 'last resort' backup since it only stores the minimal
>> amount of info on each QSO,
>> but at least it is possible to retrieve the basic QSO data if you have no
>> other choice.  This has a
>> useful side effect of increasing usage of LoTW!
> 
> I don't want to wander off topic here, but John was specific about
> contesting scenarios and I think we have him covered :)
> 
> Also, does LOTW allow for "restoring" your log? I thought they once
> frowned upon that at one time.
> 
> 73
> 
> Lee
> WW2DX
> 
>> 
>> 73
>> Gary  ZL2iFB
>> 
>> PS  This applies equally to Macs and PCs.  And PDAs.  Even paper logbooks
>> are both valuable and
>> flammable!
>> 
>> 
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-----
Julius Fazekas
N2WN

Tennessee Contest Group
http://www.k4ro.net/tcg/index.html

Tennessee QSO Party
http://www.tnqp.org/

Elecraft K2/100 #4455
Elecraft K3/100 #366
Elecraft K3        #1875
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