[FARC] logging program...

Sat Jul 5 23:02:29 EDT 2008

Anthony,

OK, well at least now we know a little more about what you are looking for.
On eham.net under reviews, they have listed 90+ logging programs.
It is a mixed bag, but you have a lot to review and consider.
A lot of "Me Too" products I am afraid.

The list quickly drops to 30 if you focus on programs reviewed by more than 
10 people.
Pay attention to the last review dates on them. An old review may not 
reflect what the current version works like.
A lot of software developers will let you "evaluate" their product for 
either a certain number of days or cripple the program so that it is not 
fully functional until you register it. That implies "purchase" the one you 
feel meets your requirements. If you find a "freeware" logging program I 
feel almost certain you will not like it. The ARRL's LoTW might be the one 
exception, however membership in the ARRL is required. I consider LoTW to be 
a repository anyway and it only supports ARRL sponsored events.

I would suggest you ask what others use and why!

As for myself I have been a DX4WIN (rate 4.3) for my day to day logging 
since it was first released. Why?

Simple I know all the people that first developed and still update the 
product today. They are all local (regionally speaking) and are combinations 
of DX'ers, Contesters etc. Most of them are members of PVRC and/or NCDXA 
which are other regional radio clubs I also belong to. I felt if I am going 
to spend money for this "long term" shack accessory, then I prefer to spend 
it locally.
Let's not go into details like I normally end up getting updates to the 
program when we are out at Dayton.

For contests I roll still out my old DOS machine and (like many) use CT 
(K1EA). Why? First contest logging software I ever used, got familiar with 
it, not that I love every feature (it's only a contest) about it but it was 
always supported when Ken was doing it, and if you look at current competing 
programs, they all use many of the data base files K1EA uses in CT. After 
the contest you simply take your log file send it off to the contest sponsor 
to post your score then convert it into an acceptable format and import that 
into DX4WIN.

Now my day to day station logging station has all of my contest QSO's 
entered. In the eham reviews, it rates well with a 3.9 (04-28-2006). Watch 
your country and band totals leap if you enter a few contests and do the 
ARRL 10 meter and 160 meter single band events.

Both software support (various) rig control plus rotor azimuth for most of 
the popular rotor controllers' currently available.
So just basically point and shoot. Yes, even the DOS version of CT!

One suggestion no matter what you finally end up with. Once you start going 
to a paperless log, back up your log file on a very regular basis and since 
you stated you have multiple networked computers, keep a copy of the most 
recent file on several of them...

Regards,
Dan
K3SKE

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ARC" <comulada at verizon.net>
To: "'Frederick, Maryland ARC'" <farc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2008 22:06
Subject: RE: [FARC] logging program...

> Wow, didn't realize there was so much involved.. ;p
>
> I am just starting out so probably the basic daily station logging would 
> be
> just fine for now. So, I can try to keep track of the people I am making
> QSO's with. I do have more than one pc and they are networked but I don't
> think I need to go as far as one or two per band, that's just above and
> beyond my needs at the moment.
>
> Maybe in the future tho...
>
> Anthony
> KB3RJH
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: farc-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:farc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] 
> On
> Behalf Of K3SKE Dan Szymanski
> Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 11:13 PM
> To: Frederick, Maryland ARC
> Subject: Re: [FARC] logging program...
>
> Could you clarify your requirement?
> Are you looking for a contest logging program?
> Or are you looking for a day to day station logging program that tracks
> QSO's and QSL's sent and received for the all too many awards that are out
> there?
> Do your station requirements require networking multiple computers 
> together
> where each one is aware of what the others are doing?
> Some stations around here have up to two computers per band and running 
> six
> bands all at the same time!
> Yes, that means they have six operating positions, one for each band and 
> all
>
> with amplifiers as well.
>
> Dan
> K3SKE
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "ARC" <comulada at verizon.net>
> To: "'Frederick, Maryland ARC'" <farc at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 12:38
> Subject: [FARC] logging program...
>
>
>> There seems to be a ton out there. Need to find a free logging prog to
>> keep
>> all these contacts straight. Unless it's a decent prog for cheap. What 
>> was
>> the one that everyone was using at field day?!?
>>
>> Anthony
>> KB3RJH
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> FARC mailing list
>> FARC at mailman.qth.net
>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/farc
>>
>
>
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