Computer Logging for DXing

1
Computer Logging for DXing

• Craig Bradley, AE6RR
• NCDXC
• March 16, 2006

2
This Presentation

• This presentation outlines my search for the best
  logging programs for my operations
• This search was not exhaustive, but I tried to do
  my homework
• There are many logging programs available and it
  is very likely that most of them will do the job
• Most of the information presented here will apply
  to other logging programs
• This presentation is not an attempt to compare or
  evaluate different programs, the intent is to
  illustrate the capabilities of computer logging
• The goal was to work DX and track awards

3
History

• Paper logs
• Original FCC logging requirements
• Log all transmissions
• Even CQs
• All logs were paper, personal computers had not
  been invented yet
• Card files or Rolodex
• 3x5 cards were used to remember data for
  stations frequently contacted
• It was nice to greet an op that you had
  previously worked by name
• Notes could be made on QSO details, equipment,
  common interests, etc.

4
AE6RR Logs

• When I first got my novice license, WV6SVW in
  1961, I had a paper log
• When I got re-licensed in 2004, I went down to
  the Candy Store and bought a paper log

5
My experiences with paper logs

• When I got back on the air, my goal was to work
  DX
• I was advised to get into some DX contests to get
  my totals going
• I jumped into the 2004 CQ WW DX contest with a
  paper log
• I didnt want to make a mess out of my logbook,
  so I spent quite a bit of time scratching down
  call letters on a pad and then entering them into
  the log , this resulted in a low Q rate
• After the contest, I came to a few of conclusions
• If I wanted to submit a log, I realized that now
  I would have to copy the log data onto submission
  forms
• I spent a lot of time QSLing and tracking the
  QSLs
• There had to be a better way
• Maybe a computer program would be the answer

6
Why do you need a computer?

• Bill Gates Mother once asked him why anyone
  would need a personal computer
• Chances are that you already have one in the ham
  shack or near by
• You may be using it for DX Cluster packet spots,
  email, PSK31, antenna modeling or other tasks
• How about getting some more use out of it?

7
Why do you need a logging program?

• General Operation
• DXing
• Contesting

8
General Operation

• Have you have ever contacted this station before?
• Recall the Ops name, QTH and any QSO notes
• Automatically look up the stations info on
  QRZ.com

9
Contesting

• Quick entry of QSOs
• No need to enter date/time as the computer
  already knows that information
• No need to enter the frequency and mode as that
  information can be read from the rig
• Automatic dupe checking
• Automatic score calculation
• Prompting for the correct exchange information
  for the particular contest
• Packet spotting
• Easy submission of the contest log just email
  it

10
DXing

• Quickly log the contact with the correct date and
  time (UTC)
• No scrambling around for a pencil in the heat of
  battle the computer knows what time it is in
  UTC
• The current frequency and mode can be read from
  the rig and logged
• The stations QSL data can be logged directly from
  QRZ.com or a CD data base
• If the station was not found on QRZ.com, did you
  log the call letters correctly?
• This is good confirmation after you have logged
  the rare one

11
DXing (cont.)

• Integrated Cluster Packet spots
• Do I need this station?
• What mode, band, etc.?
• Alerts the program can notify you when a
  country that you need gets spotted
• Many logging programs can tune your rig to the
  spotted frequency of the DX station and turn your
  antenna to the correct heading by just double
  clicking the spot data
• A logging program can start the QSO log entry
  with the stations call letters, frequency, etc.
  All you have to do is click the Add or Save QSO
  button when the DX confirms your call.

12
DXing (cont.)

• Award tracking
• Track QSLs
• Record date sent and received (hopefully)
• Print QSL labels and mailing labels
• Print reports of outstanding QSLs and new ones
  that you have not sent the QSLs to
• Track award status
• How many DXCC countries have I worked (by band,
  mode)?
• How many confirmed?
• Which ones have I submitted?
• Which ones have been accepted?

13
DXing (cont.)

• Award tracking (cont.)
• Track other awards such as IOTA, WAS, WAZ and DX
  Field Award
• Submit log data to Logbook of the World (LoTW),
  eQSL or other online award systems (save postage)

14
General Features

• Import / Export data
• Most programs can export or import in the
  standard ADIF format
• Export data from your Contest logger and import
  it to your DX logger after the contest to check
  for any new countries and generate QSL
  information
• Export data to LoTW
• Export data to Excel or a data base program for
  detailed analysis

15
Contest Logging
Sweepstakes
WPX
QSO Parties
DX
16
Contest Logger Selection

• Contest logging can be very complex
• Multiple ops networking
• Calculation of score
• Must be reliable, if your program crashes in the
  middle of the contest, you could lose it all
• I asked some local contesters for recommendations
• Several recommended WriteLog
• I purchased WriteLog and proceeded to type my
  contest log in
• It worked well and I used it in the next contest
  with good results

17
After the Contest

• After submitting my contest log, the next step
  was QSLing
• My original purpose in entering a DX contest was
  to work new countries
• My first step in QSLing was to look up all of the
  stations worked in QRZ.com and compile a list
  with addresses, manually
• I spent hours filling out QSL cards by hand and
  addressing envelopes
• There had to be a better way

18
DX Logging
WAZ
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Awards

• My Award Goals
• WAC
• WAS
• DXCC
• Manual Award tracking
• Marking up published lists from ARRL
• Cards were sorted and calls entered on lists
• Blank spots on the list were the needed ones
• There had to be a better way

20
The DX Logger

• There are many logging programs available most
  will do the job
• Some are shareware (free)
• Disadvantage (perceived) you usually get what
  you pay for
• Advantage no cost
• Some need to be purchased
• Disadvantage could be expensive
• What if you spend the money and decide that you
  dont like the program?
• Advantage support, fancy graphics, etc.
• Many offer an evaluation download version

21
Commercial Logging Software

• Cons
• Some did not have a field for power entry
• Some did not log the frequency, only the band
• No refunds if you decide that this one is not for
  you
• Pros
• Tech support available
• Fancy graphics color maps, grey line charts,
  etc.

22
The Investigation

• I started by downloading a couple of programs to
  try out, some commercial and some freeware
• I found some features that I didnt like
• Lack of some log fields that were important to me
• User interfaces that seamed awkward to use
• Lack of a standard Logbook entry screen
• I was used to the paper logbook
• My contest logger, WriteLog had the classic
  logbook screen
• Features that I liked
• Database processing (you can access data by any
  field)
• QRZ.com interface
• Online user groups for support (support at 1AM?)

23
Commercial Programs Tried Out

• DX4WIN
• Cost 89 (download no CD or printed manual)
• No Frequency field just logs the band
• No Power field
• Many other features
• Free download of demo version
• DXbase for Windows
• Cost 99 (download no CD or printed manual)
• Supports many awards
• Full featured logging program
• Demo version expired before I was able to spend
  much time with it

24
Freeware Programs Tried Out

• XMLog
• Free (download no CD or printed manual)
• Basic logging program
• Easy to use
• I imported some contest logs and was up and
  running
• As this program worked out well, the search ended
  here

25
XMLog

• The Survivor

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First Impressions

• Freeware
• Download for free
• Author asks for donations if you like the program
• Email and Yahoo! User Group support
• Most of the people posting on the group seemed to
  like the program
• Easy to setup
• You can start with the basic QSO entry screen
• Additional screens (windows) can be opened and
  configured when you are ready for them

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First Impressions

• ADIF Import / Export
• You can import your contest logs (or any other
  logs
• You can export to another program if you decide
  to change programs later on you are not
  committed to this one
• You can upload logs to LoTW or eQSL
• No logbook entry screen
• There is a report that lists QSOs in a logbook
  type display
• At first this was a problem for me, but I got
  used to it

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The QSO Window
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The QSO Window

• Other fields can be added via a setup menu
• Time off field
• Contest In/Out fields
• Satellite fields
• Clicking the button at the bottom left will
  select other screens that can be cycled through
• Address fields
• Award tracking fields
• Station info fields

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QSLing

• Downloads data from QRZ.com
• Operators name and address
• QSL manager
• QSL address
• Station info such as Zone and Grid locator
• Prints labels (standard Avery labels)
• QSL labels in several formats
• Multiple QSOs
• Single QSOs
• Mailing labels
• Tracks QSL sent and received dates for each log
  entry

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QSL Labels

• Labels can be printed on standard Avery label
  stock
• Multiple Qs per label or a single Q
• Address labels from QRZ.com data
• Custom labels can be created, even QSL cards
• Just peel them off and stick em on!

32
Award tracking

• XMLog tracks the following awards
• DXCC
• WAS
• WAZ
• Counties
• IOTA
• Grids
• 2, 4, or 6 digit can be used for CQ Field
  Award, satellite or VHF/UHF award tracking

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DXCC Award Reports

• DXCC Totals

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DXCC Award Reports

• DXCC Checklist

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DXCC Award Reports

• DXCC Countries Worked/Confirmed

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DXCC Award Reports

• DXCC Critical QSOs

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DXCC Award Reports

• DXCC Needed Countries

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DXCC Award Reports

• DXCC Submission Tracking

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DXCC Award Reports

• DXCC Submission Forms

40
DX Cluster Spotting

• Sometimes called Cluster Spots, Packet Spots,
  Packet Networks, etc.
• Original spotting clusters were via 2M radio
  packet repeaters (digipeaters)
• Now most spotting clusters are on the Internet
• There are 2 types
• Web (html) based
• DX Summit - http//oh2aq.kolumbus.com/dxs/
• Telnet based http//ab5k.net/ArcNodeList.aspx
• telnet//n7od.pentux.net/
• telnet//dxc.ab5k.net/
• XMLog and most other logging programs only work
  with the Telnet based clusters

41
Telnet Based Spots
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DX Spots with XMLog

• The Cluster Spots Packet Window

43
Hunting DX

• The Band Map Window

44
Rig Interface

• QSO mode and frequency can be read from the rig
  and automatically filled in on the QSO window
• The frequency and bearing from the Packet Window
  can be used to tune the rig to the DX frequency
  and point the beam (if you have a rotator with a
  computer interface)
• Interfaces to most modern radios that have a
  serial interface (Kenwood, Icom, Yaesu, Ten Tech,
  etc.)

45
The QSOs/Check Call Window

• Checks Calls or partial calls
• Displays needed status
• Displays any previous QSO info with Ops name

46
The Display Window

• Displays or prints QSOs in the standard log book
  format
• Can also export to Excel for special analysis

47
Log Searches

• The log file is a database
• It can be searched for desired information
• Searches can be on any log field
• Country prefixes
• Date ranges
• Entry or lack of in any field (i.e. IOTA entered)
• Searches can use wild cards such as or ?
• Search can use not data
• You could search for all Qs with calls that are
  not a W

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Other features

• CW keyboard window
• Can send CW messages
• Packet spots history
• A list of packet spots
• Voice alerts
• Notifies you when a new one is spotted

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How to get XMLog

• Go to http//www.xmlog.com
• Download the file
• There are usually two versions available
• The last released version with no known problems
• The latest Beta version
• Contains the latest enhancements and fixes
• I usually download this one
• Run the install program
• Configure the program for your installation
• Setup the rig interface for your rig
• Setup callbook preference (QRZ.com, etc.)
• Setup the packet node for your favorite
• Enter your station info (QTH, etc.)

50
Tips

• Dont try to setup everything at once
• Start with the QSO window
• Select your defaults for logging (power level,
  get freq./mode from rig, get info from callbook,
  etc.
• Setup your station QTH info under the
  Options/Station Info menu
• Setup the callbook under Options/Callbook Setup
  before importing or entering Qs
• Move on to other windows such as Cluster packet
  when you are ready

51
Entering Data

• I have umpteen million Qs in my log, this is
  hopeless
• Here are some options to get going
• Start by importing any computer logs that you may
  have, such as contest logs
• Start with this years, this months or todays
  Qs
• Start by entering your QSL cards
• Start by entering your DXCC record
• Pay a high school kid or family member to enter
  logs
• Be sure to setup your station info and call
  lookup preference (QRZ.com or CDROM database)
  before entering Qs

52
Backup Your Log!

• Back it up frequently, especially if you just
  entered a lot of data!
• Backup to another computer or storage medium
• Use floppy disks or CDs
• Use a network to copy log files if you have one
• When you download a new version of the program
• Backup your whole directory before installing a
  new version

53
Question Problems

• Join the Yahoo! Group
• There are many knowledgeable users that monitor
  the group
• Someone on the group may have had the same
  question or problem that you are having
• The author of the program, Mike, W1ETC monitors
  the group
• Email the author

54
Suggestions for Enhancements

• If you have ideas for enhancements to the program
• Post them on the Yahoo! Group
• Mike is open to enhancements that would be of
  general interest to the users
• The program is frequently updated with new
  features
• Watch the group postings for new beta releases
• If you enjoy XMLog and think that it is useful
• Consider making a contribution to the author
• He does have expenses with the web site etc.
• If you make a contribution, your suggestions
  could have more weight

55
Other Programs

• Some may be better suited to your needs
• If you start will a freeware program, you can
  evaluate the benefits of computer logging at no
  cost
• The only investment is your time
• You can always upgrade to another program later
  if want features that are not supported

56
Enjoy Computer Logging

• Remember this is a hobby
• Have fun
• Dont try to do it all at once
• You dont have to be a computer nerd to do this
  you can find one to help if need be
• AND

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BACKUP YOUR FILES!
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Good DX

• 73 de AE6RR