[Elecraft] Final Thoughts on Logging Software

Mon Feb 29 17:08:13 EST 2016

Yes, Ken it will track USACA and many other awards. It will track anything
DX Lab will. I am not saying it is better. I am saying you can customize it
to track anything. 
I've been using it since version 5 (LOGIC5) back in the mid to late 90s.

Mark, WB9CIF

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ken G
Kopp
Sent: Monday, February 29, 2016 8:48 PM
To: Terry Brown <n7tb at comcast.net>; elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Final Thoughts on Logging Software

Thanks for your detailed report.

Will the program track US Counties for CQ's USCA?  This is an absolute must
for me.

73

Ken Kopp - K0PP
On Feb 29, 2016 13:37, "Terry Brown" <n7tb at comcast.net> wrote:

> Hello All Elecraft Users,
>
>
>
> Several days ago I started a thread asking for recommendations for 
> logging software.  I later reported that I was in the process of 
> deciding what way I wanted to go.  I thought it would be helpful to 
> the group to share what I found after a day or so reviewing, 
> installing and comparing logging programs that interface with the KX3, 
> with the understanding that logging software is a very personal 
> preference.
>
>
>
> I had been using LOGic9 which I recently upgraded to after about a 9 
> year hiatus from amateur radio.  I had been using LOGic8 for years.  
> With the upgrade, I was getting crashes and at one point the program
locked up.
>
>
>
> What I found was that all the logging programs that were suggested 
> were very good and would do most of the things any ham would want.  I 
> spent a great deal of time with the DX Suite of programs and found 
> them very thorough but a bit of learning curve ahead of me.  When I 
> imported my log data, it threw out many of them.  I was running 
> Amateur Contact Log and was amazed to find that when the spotting 
> window was opened, I could click on the spot and my radio would go to 
> that.  (later I found other programs, including LOGic, did as well).  
> I was about to switch but found that the QTH field was not in that 
> program.  I finally decided to go back to the new LOGic documentation 
> and re-read it, because I had not done that for 9 years.  You would 
> think that with a Ph.D., I would have done that first, but no, I 
> didn't think I "needed" to!
>
>
>
> Long story short, I found that LOGic9 was an amazingly powerful yet 
> customizable all-in-one logging, contesting, and awards package.  
> Regarding changing my radio frequency to the spot frequency, LOGic 9 
> did it extremely well.  In fact, i have a friend in Rarotonga who is 
> on periodically.  I found I could set his call in the filter, let 
> LOGic run recording spots and if his call was recorded, LOGic would 
> send me an email telling me he was on.
> It will even give you an audible announcement, or send email, if a 
> contact comes up that one might need for any of the many awards that 
> one might be going for.  Logic tracks all the awards that are most 
> common, and you can create your own awards that LOGic will track as 
> well.  Having an audible notification is helpful if you are doing 
> other things in your shack.  There are multiple spotting sites that 
> one can configure to run with LOGic.  The logging form is totally
customizable with preselected fields with the
> capability of creating your own custom ones as well.   I run LOGic on a
> computer that is on 24/7 for a weather station I have, so keeping 
> LOGic running in the background will be great for giving me notifications.
>
>
>
> Contesting forms are included that are fully customizable, and I don't 
> think you have to download your contacts into your regular database at 
> the end of a contest, but can have them automatically recorded there 
> if you desire.
> As
> one would expect, LOGic has full capability to interface with LOTW and 
> download contest logs.
>
>
>
> I found LOGic was probably the most all-inclusive, customizable 
> software I came across, and I looked at a lot.  I like the fact that 
> when I am using my laptop portable, I can copy my log, then when I go 
> to my main computer, it will import, if I select it, only the QSO's 
> that are not already in the log.
> Going from one computer to another is very easy.
>
>
>
> Anyway, most of my problems were self-imposed.  If I had spent some 
> time with the manual (and the program itself has extensive and 
> thorough help
> available) I would have avoided a lot of my frustrations and crashes.  
> The software is so customizable, that I had created some fields without
the
> proper properties.   When I reread the manual, I realized again why I
chose
> LOGic years ago.
>
>
>
> I am now happy using LOGic9 and enjoying all its power and 
> flexibility.  It is not free, however, it is $129.00.  With the amount 
> of time I spend in my shack, and the amount of money I paid for my 
> wonderful Elecraft equipment, it was a small investment in the greater 
> scheme of things.  I believe my upgrade was less than $90.  With a 
> registration, you get free updates for a year.  It has great importing 
> flexibility so you can import your logs from other logging software to see
how it works in LOGic.
>
>
>
> There is a free 30 day trial you can use to try it out if you are 
> interested.
>
>
>
> I understand from the author that they are still working on polishing 
> up the interface software for the K3 (KX3), occasionally there are 
> issues.  Things
> are running well for me now.   The author gave me detailed instructions
for
> using OmniRig with the software if I have problems in the future.  I 
> suspect any remaining issues will be resolved shortly anyway.
>
>
>
> I hope these ramblings are useful for others who may be looking to start
> using or change their logging software.   For sure, logging software is a
> personal preference, and it was clear to me from all the direct emails 
> I received and from those on the group, that most people are very 
> happy with the software they are using.
>
>
>
> Sometimes it is good to take a fresh look at what is out there.   With the
> log importing capabilities of most packages, going from one to the 
> other is pretty easy to do "test runs."  If I had not had problems, I 
> never would have taken the time to look at the various products out 
> there.  I am glad I took the time to do it.  Others might find it 
> useful to take some time to do the same.
>
>
>
> Very 73's,
>
>
>
> Terry Brown, N7TB
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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