Hi Gang,

Thanks to those who replied to my inquiries back in 2023! (I was looking through my emails…. And found that my draft was never completed and sent!)

I have checked out some of the following logging softwares:

N1MM: Took some time to get it up and working. Due to the file locations issues with windows now syncing on the cloud with “One Drive”. is one main hurdle to overcome. I just want it locally on my WIN 10 HP Laptop computer.

DX4WIN seems to have a cost associated with it.
DXLab
DXKeeper 

And will look at the HAMRS for my IPAD. (If it is a one time fee vs. a subscription, then I might consider that.) I prefer free versions. Or I might just try to setup my own in a Excel Spreadsheet.

I just downloaded and sent off for a postcard for LOTW in late 2023. I looked into my EQSL. I had set up an account years ago! And my old password still worked! I think why I never got back to it, was I couldn’t figure out how to upload an image of my own QSL card to use, versus making a new one with their web based EQSL program.

I saw one named ClubLog… but will need to check if that is only used for ham club use. Like for group club events.


I went to a “Hams In The Park” event at a regional park in the twin cities… where a fox hunt I was participating in. It looked like a Field Day event with different people were on the air with other parks in the nation. But only on the air for a limited amount of time compared to the 24 hour run time of FD. 

I was under the impression that you could go to any city park and setup and play radio. I will have to see how often these events happen throughout the year. At first I thought Hams In The Park was a national scheduled event. 

Later on I found out it was just a bunch of hams locally playing radio and not a national event, or even a ham club event. Cause I tried looking it up online and found a webpage for HITP, but the person who organized it moved out of the area and I tried to contact the new person. And I didn’t get a response back from them. Their website stated they were trying to coordinate with other hams in other parks to make contacts with each other. 

I found out later that the (Hams In The Park) and (Parks On The Air) are two different things.

I have been interested in POTA… but haven’t really gotten started with it. I’m a FREE TO PLAY kind of person… and POTA seems to be in the parks where you need to pay to gain access to. I read somewhere you can access these parks for free, but only once or twice a year.…… Too bad Parks On The Air…. doesn’t mean “Any kind of parks”.

Cause all I want to do is go to my local parks near by and activate them, not needing to travel to specific parks. But with more research… maybe I can sneak in for a time or tag along with someone else. I am all for having fun… but limiting my financial costs for the gas to get there to setup, operate, and teardown time. I am considering some sort of portable Chameleon Antenna setup. (Lots of configurations to consider.)

And just like fishing…. Now since I have been able to get a free MN fishing license now every year. I should look into if I can get something similar for those special parks! I will go to the MNDNR website to see if they might have some info. on that.


On Thu, Apr 6, 2023 at 12:01 PM Kirk P <inservice2him@hotmail.com> wrote:
Yes I missed/overlooked the ios... sorry

Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
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From: nlrs-bounces@mailman.qth.net <nlrs-bounces@mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Mike Cizek W0VTT <mgcizek@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2023 10:16:38 AM
To: nlrs@mailman.qth.net <nlrs@mailman.qth.net>

Subject: Re: [NLRS] Logging software
 

This is an interesting topic, but seems to have gone astray…..none of the programs mentioned will run on iOS and he’s looking for something to use on his iPad.  Robert, you may be looking for something that doesn’t exist.

 

There are a very few loggers designed for iOS; some will run on both iOS and  Mac computers (Rumlog, MacLoggerDX) but neither appear to be contest friendly.  They seem more interested in fancy graphics than in function. Are you open to using another device besides your iPad?  A Windoze tablet or small netbook?

 

N1MM+ is used by more contesters than everything else put together, but it is not really intended as a day to day logging program.  You can run it on a Mac using Parallels or VMWare, but not on iOS devices.  It’s a free download.

 

A list of VHF & up contests is here:

https://www.qsl.net/n2sln/contestcalendar.html

A comprehensive contest calendar is here:

https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.php

 

I’m interested in this thread because I played a bit with Mac computers (completely bricking one!) and would like to learn more about them.  Maybe even making a complete change from Windows/Android to Mac/iOS.

 

 

----

73,

Mike Cizek W0VTT

 

From: nlrs-bounces@mailman.qth.net <nlrs-bounces@mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Kirk P
Sent: Thursday, 6 April, 2023 09:11
To: Jon Platt <w0zq@aol.com>; NLRS@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [NLRS] Logging software

 

I use writelog for contesting.

 

I use dx4win and dxlab for general logging. Both of these programs offer a contest logging feature, though in not familiar with its use. 

 

I would assume for the casual contester those functions would suffice for logging within a given contest. 

 

I'll add,  contest software, wtitelog and n1mm, as well as others,  have really made importing contest qsos into a general logging program a breeze. 

 

Moving files into lotw from them is also just a few clicks. 

 

 

 

Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
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From: nlrs-bounces@mailman.qth.net <nlrs-bounces@mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Jon Platt via NLRS <nlrs@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2023 9:02:51 AM
To: NLRS@mailman.qth.net <NLRS@mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [NLRS] Logging software

 

I think this subject is divided into contest logging software and general logging software?   Myself, I am not aware of a software package that does both well, perhaps someone else does.   

 

For contest logging I use N1MM.  You can find it online.  It supports every significant HF through VHF contest, generates the all important Cabrillo files for submitting your score, is maintained and updated, supports digital modes such as RTTY and WSJT-X, and radio control if you use that.  While there is a learning curve, once you have learned it its the same fit and feel user interface for all contests from FD to RTTY RU, to VHF contests.   It supports all State QSO Parties including MnQP.  

 

I do not use any general logging programs so someone else can comment on that.  I'm an old dog that still maintains a paper log, and if you need confirmation I am happy to send a real old school QSL card.  Contest logs are submitted to LoTW but my general day to day contacts are not.   Others may have some ideas on a good general duty logging software app that they use.

 

73, Jon

W0ZQ

-----Original Message-----
From: KB0DCO Thomas <kb0dco@gmail.com>
To: Northern Lights Radio Society <NLRS@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thu, Apr 6, 2023 2:17 am
Subject: [NLRS] Logging software

Hey Gang,

 

I have not been on here well over a decade! 

 

Looking to get my all mode radio in operation in my mobile again here soon. I have an iPad and looking for free logging software, but have not had much luck in the App Store.

 

So I might have to create one from scratch in an Excel spreadsheet app. Has anyone else try to create a logbook in excel spreadsheets? I’m looking to do this mainly in the mobile on my iPad… which to me seems to be the best device choice to use for me. 

 

I decided to download N3FJP, ARRL Contest Logs, VHF/UHF.  I was trying to search for the name of contests I used to do years ago working multiple bands. Which was 6M, 2M, 70CM (432) exchanging Grid Squares, Callsigns, and Signal Reports. Getting multiplier points for working one station on those 3 bands. (I always used to call it the Six Meters to Light contest. And I knew it was in the winter time…. February maybe?) as far as I knew it was an ARRL contest. Then there was the mono band contests too. Which I did from home for the VHF Sweepstakes, (I think it was sweepstakes? Not sure.) UHF Sweepstakes (432-440) not sure if there was one for 6M or not. And I think there was one for 220, but I do not have the equipment for that band.

 

So I just recently downloaded Grid Tracker and trying to figure that one out yet. Since I was looking for a software to keep track of all the grid squares I log for my satellite and 6M and VHF/UHF contests.

 

So the software I am trying to look for will handle multiple things.

Such as:

 

Satellite contacts

6 Meter contacts

Field Day contacts

MN QSO Party contacts

6M to Light Contests contacts

 

I have yet to look into and figure out about Log Book Of The World and EQSL. So then all of my contacts get uploaded online so everyone can see them. I have been trying the logbook on QRZ, to me there something not working correctly on it. I tried to send a request from the person I had the QSO with to confirm it. But keep getting error messages like:

 

1 records skipped.

O records successfully requested confirmation.

 

You have requested confirmation for the following QSOs in your logbook,.

Unfortunately the records listed below were not requested for the following reasons:

 

Reason

XX0XXX 2023-03-20 05:28:00

Cannot Request Confirmation for Assisted Contact

 

I put in all the data and save it. Which is really the only part that works. 

 

The star should be yellow once it is confirmed. But yet have not seen one yet. In the past, when I worked Satellites about a decade ago… I used to get QSL cards within a week of the contact. Now I guess everyone went to doing digital QSL Cards… So if anyone can help me with me for portable logging and  from home logging would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

--

KBØDCO
Thomas Gagnon
Sent from my IPAD 4th Gen. Air Touch

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