[Elecraft] Don’t throw those old DOS computers away

[Jim Brown]

Yes, he SHOULD throw it away and learn modern logging software. Among 
other things, that modern software can easily link computers from 
multiple stations in a club setup. That's important, because each 
station can see the other's log. We work QRP battery with a single K3, 
and are often weak at the other end of the QSO. When logging computers 
are linked, each station sees the QSOs we've already had on 20 (easier 
copy) when we work them on 40, 80, and 15, so it's rare for them to need 
a fill if they are networked.

It was disappointing to see that so many hams fail to continue their 
ongoing education by learning new stuff, like modern logging software. 
I'll be 80 in the fall, a ham since age 15, BSEE in 1964, and I still 
try to learn new stuff every day. BTW - I do LOTS of FT8 and MSK144 on 
6M and FT8 on 160M, our QRP CW operation was all CW. W6JTI and I made a 
combined 680 QSOs. I've been using K1JT's digital modes for more than 
ten years. So have a bunch of OTs I know. And when I was taking a break 
from CW, I worked FT8 on 6M (along with K6EU, our primary VHF op) to 
pass out our rare grid (CM86). That VHF station ran high power and was 
not part of our QRP FD operation from a contesting point of view. Tom 
and I were simply lighting up our rare grid.

73, Jim K9YC

On 6/28/2021 1:34 AM, David Wilcox via Elecraft wrote:
> One of the hams running our CW tent used his old favorite logging program and brought along an old DOS computer to run it……. I can’t remember the name of the program but it worked well and he racked up a good score.  Everyone was shocked to see the old big DOS computer sitting on the table.  I guess one should never throw anything away that works and you are comfortable with it.