[ILQSO] Logging Software

[David Bunte]

There have been quite a few comments on logging software during, and since
the ILQP.

I work with N9FN in various QSO Parties, and we have been using Write Log
for years.  I have used N1MM on Field Day, and for numerous operations from
my QTH.  Like most hams, I am pretty tight with my money, so N1MM is my
preferred contest logging software.

However, for years, Write Log was the only software (of which I am aware)
that handled 4 county intersections smoothly and accurately, thus we have
gotten used to it.  We have used N1MM from 2 county lines in the Illinois
QSO Party, and it does a great job there.  This year, for the first time
that I can recall... at least 3 different stations sent a separate exchange
for each of the 4 counties they worked when they worked me on CW signing
N9FN.

Someone mentioned N3FJP, and at least one operator we worked in this year's
ILQP was using it, and was having quite a time logging our 4 counties.  I
used N3FJP for 5 years when I was working HF mobile exclusively.  It is not
very expensive.  I think it looks very good on the screen, and worked
flawlessly for me, including LOTW integration that could not have been
better.  However, it has some significant drawbacks for all purpose
logging.  When I am at home, picking away at DXCC Challenge, I like to be
able to see at a glance, what bands, and modes I need for any country
spotted.  ACLOG by N3FJP just does not handle that very well.  The
information is accessible, but it takes numerous mouse clicks, and precious
time.

DXLab handles those tasks better than anything else I have tried... and it
is free.  I have not tried it for contests, but it handles imports from
other programs very well.

Fortunately, there are a lot of options from which to choose.  Probably the
best time to try new software is long before it is needed, rather than
right at the beginning of a contest, but I have sometimes found myself in a
mess when I realize that I set something incorrectly, in software with
which I was not very familiar.

As for ILQP this year.  I sure heard some awesome signals, and some superb
operators.  I am amazed by, and grateful for, the efforts of the mobiles.
I wish I had done a better job of tracking them.  Our score would have been
significantly higher, had I not missed so many of those counties covered
only by the mobiles.  I was also impressed by the fact that VERY few of the
stations I worked on CW needed fills of any of our 4 counties.

Great event, thanks to all.

Dave - K9FN (CW op with N9FN)