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Final Thoughts on Logging Software

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Terry

Final Thoughts on Logging Software

Hello All Elecraft Users,

Several days ago I started a thread asking for recommendations for logging
software. I later reported that I was in the process of deciding what way I
wanted to go. I thought it would be helpful to the group to share what I
found after a day or so reviewing, installing and comparing logging programs
that interface with the KX3, with the understanding that logging software is
a very personal preference.

I had been using LOGic9 which I recently upgraded to after about a 9 year
hiatus from amateur radio. I had been using LOGic8 for years. With the
upgrade, I was getting crashes and at one point the program locked up.

What I found was that all the logging programs that were suggested were very
good and would do most of the things any ham would want. I spent a great
deal of time with the DX Suite of programs and found them very thorough but
a bit of learning curve ahead of me. When I imported my log data, it threw
out many of them. I was running Amateur Contact Log and was amazed to find
that when the spotting window was opened, I could click on the spot and my
radio would go to that. (later I found other programs, including LOGic, did
as well). I was about to switch but found that the QTH field was not in
that program. I finally decided to go back to the new LOGic documentation
and re-read it, because I had not done that for 9 years. You would think
that with a Ph.D., I would have done that first, but no, I didn't think I
"needed" to!

Long story short, I found that LOGic9 was an amazingly powerful yet
customizable all-in-one logging, contesting, and awards package. Regarding
changing my radio frequency to the spot frequency, LOGic 9 did it extremely
well. In fact, i have a friend in Rarotonga who is on periodically. I
found I could set his call in the filter, let LOGic run recording spots and
if his call was recorded, LOGic would send me an email telling me he was on.
It will even give you an audible announcement, or send email, if a contact
comes up that one might need for any of the many awards that one might be
going for. Logic tracks all the awards that are most common, and you can
create your own awards that LOGic will track as well. Having an audible
notification is helpful if you are doing other things in your shack. There
are multiple spotting sites that one can configure to run with LOGic. The
logging form is totally customizable with preselected fields with the
capability of creating your own custom ones as well. I run LOGic on a
computer that is on 24/7 for a weather station I have, so keeping LOGic
running in the background will be great for giving me notifications.

Contesting forms are included that are fully customizable, and I don't think
you have to download your contacts into your regular database at the end of
a contest, but can have them automatically recorded there if you desire. As
one would expect, LOGic has full capability to interface with LOTW and
download contest logs.

I found LOGic was probably the most all-inclusive, customizable software I
came across, and I looked at a lot. I like the fact that when I am using my
laptop portable, I can copy my log, then when I go to my main computer, it
will import, if I select it, only the QSO's that are not already in the log.
Going from one computer to another is very easy.

Anyway, most of my problems were self-imposed. If I had spent some time
with the manual (and the program itself has extensive and thorough help
available) I would have avoided a lot of my frustrations and crashes. The
software is so customizable, that I had created some fields without the
proper properties. When I reread the manual, I realized again why I chose
LOGic years ago.

I am now happy using LOGic9 and enjoying all its power and flexibility. It
is not free, however, it is $129.00. With the amount of time I spend in my
shack, and the amount of money I paid for my wonderful Elecraft equipment,
it was a small investment in the greater scheme of things. I believe my
upgrade was less than $90. With a registration, you get free updates for a
year. It has great importing flexibility so you can import your logs from
other logging software to see how it works in LOGic.

There is a free 30 day trial you can use to try it out if you are
interested.

I understand from the author that they are still working on polishing up the
interface software for the K3 (KX3), occasionally there are issues. Things
are running well for me now. The author gave me detailed instructions for
using OmniRig with the software if I have problems in the future. I suspect
any remaining issues will be resolved shortly anyway.

I hope these ramblings are useful for others who may be looking to start
using or change their logging software. For sure, logging software is a
personal preference, and it was clear to me from all the direct emails I
received and from those on the group, that most people are very happy with
the software they are using.

Sometimes it is good to take a fresh look at what is out there. With the
log importing capabilities of most packages, going from one to the other is
pretty easy to do "test runs." If I had not had problems, I never would
have taken the time to look at the various products out there. I am glad I
took the time to do it. Others might find it useful to take some time to do
the same.

Very 73's,

Terry Brown, N7TB

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Ken G Kopp

Re: Final Thoughts on Logging Software

Thanks for your detailed report.

Will the program track US Counties for CQ's USCA? This is an absolute must
for me.

73

Ken Kopp - K0PP
On Feb 29, 2016 13:37, "Terry Brown" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hello All Elecraft Users,
>
>
>
> Several days ago I started a thread asking for recommendations for logging
> software. I later reported that I was in the process of deciding what way
> I
> wanted to go. I thought it would be helpful to the group to share what I
> found after a day or so reviewing, installing and comparing logging
> programs
> that interface with the KX3, with the understanding that logging software
> is
> a very personal preference.
>
>
>
> I had been using LOGic9 which I recently upgraded to after about a 9 year
> hiatus from amateur radio. I had been using LOGic8 for years. With the
> upgrade, I was getting crashes and at one point the program locked up.
>
>
>
> What I found was that all the logging programs that were suggested were
> very
> good and would do most of the things any ham would want. I spent a great
> deal of time with the DX Suite of programs and found them very thorough but
> a bit of learning curve ahead of me. When I imported my log data, it threw
> out many of them. I was running Amateur Contact Log and was amazed to find
> that when the spotting window was opened, I could click on the spot and my
> radio would go to that. (later I found other programs, including LOGic,
> did
> as well). I was about to switch but found that the QTH field was not in
> that program. I finally decided to go back to the new LOGic documentation
> and re-read it, because I had not done that for 9 years. You would think
> that with a Ph.D., I would have done that first, but no, I didn't think I
> "needed" to!
>
>
>
> Long story short, I found that LOGic9 was an amazingly powerful yet
> customizable all-in-one logging, contesting, and awards package. Regarding
> changing my radio frequency to the spot frequency, LOGic 9 did it extremely
> well. In fact, i have a friend in Rarotonga who is on periodically. I
> found I could set his call in the filter, let LOGic run recording spots and
> if his call was recorded, LOGic would send me an email telling me he was
> on.
> It will even give you an audible announcement, or send email, if a contact
> comes up that one might need for any of the many awards that one might be
> going for. Logic tracks all the awards that are most common, and you can
> create your own awards that LOGic will track as well. Having an audible
> notification is helpful if you are doing other things in your shack. There
> are multiple spotting sites that one can configure to run with LOGic. The
> logging form is totally customizable with preselected fields with the
> capability of creating your own custom ones as well. I run LOGic on a
> computer that is on 24/7 for a weather station I have, so keeping LOGic
> running in the background will be great for giving me notifications.
>
>
>
> Contesting forms are included that are fully customizable, and I don't
> think
> you have to download your contacts into your regular database at the end of
> a contest, but can have them automatically recorded there if you desire.
> As
> one would expect, LOGic has full capability to interface with LOTW and
> download contest logs.
>
>
>
> I found LOGic was probably the most all-inclusive, customizable software I
> came across, and I looked at a lot. I like the fact that when I am using
> my
> laptop portable, I can copy my log, then when I go to my main computer, it
> will import, if I select it, only the QSO's that are not already in the
> log.
> Going from one computer to another is very easy.
>
>
>
> Anyway, most of my problems were self-imposed. If I had spent some time
> with the manual (and the program itself has extensive and thorough help
> available) I would have avoided a lot of my frustrations and crashes. The
> software is so customizable, that I had created some fields without the
> proper properties. When I reread the manual, I realized again why I chose
> LOGic years ago.
>
>
>
> I am now happy using LOGic9 and enjoying all its power and flexibility. It
> is not free, however, it is $129.00. With the amount of time I spend in my
> shack, and the amount of money I paid for my wonderful Elecraft equipment,
> it was a small investment in the greater scheme of things. I believe my
> upgrade was less than $90. With a registration, you get free updates for a
> year. It has great importing flexibility so you can import your logs from
> other logging software to see how it works in LOGic.
>
>
>
> There is a free 30 day trial you can use to try it out if you are
> interested.
>
>
>
> I understand from the author that they are still working on polishing up
> the
> interface software for the K3 (KX3), occasionally there are issues. Things
> are running well for me now. The author gave me detailed instructions for
> using OmniRig with the software if I have problems in the future. I
> suspect
> any remaining issues will be resolved shortly anyway.
>
>
>
> I hope these ramblings are useful for others who may be looking to start
> using or change their logging software. For sure, logging software is a
> personal preference, and it was clear to me from all the direct emails I
> received and from those on the group, that most people are very happy with
> the software they are using.
>
>
>
> Sometimes it is good to take a fresh look at what is out there. With the
> log importing capabilities of most packages, going from one to the other is
> pretty easy to do "test runs." If I had not had problems, I never would
> have taken the time to look at the various products out there. I am glad I
> took the time to do it. Others might find it useful to take some time to
> do
> the same.
>
>
>
> Very 73's,
>
>
>
> Terry Brown, N7TB
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

markmusick

Re: Final Thoughts on Logging Software

Yes, Ken it will track USACA and many other awards. It will track anything
DX Lab will. I am not saying it is better. I am saying you can customize it
to track anything.
I've been using it since version 5 (LOGIC5) back in the mid to late 90s.

Mark, WB9CIF

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ken G
Kopp
Sent: Monday, February 29, 2016 8:48 PM
To: Terry Brown <[hidden email]>; [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Final Thoughts on Logging Software

Thanks for your detailed report.

Will the program track US Counties for CQ's USCA? This is an absolute must
for me.

73

Ken Kopp - K0PP
On Feb 29, 2016 13:37, "Terry Brown" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hello All Elecraft Users,
>
>
>
> Several days ago I started a thread asking for recommendations for
> logging software. I later reported that I was in the process of
> deciding what way I wanted to go. I thought it would be helpful to
> the group to share what I found after a day or so reviewing,
> installing and comparing logging programs that interface with the KX3,
> with the understanding that logging software is a very personal
> preference.
>
>
>
> I had been using LOGic9 which I recently upgraded to after about a 9
> year hiatus from amateur radio. I had been using LOGic8 for years.
> With the upgrade, I was getting crashes and at one point the program

locked up.

>
>
>
> What I found was that all the logging programs that were suggested
> were very good and would do most of the things any ham would want. I
> spent a great deal of time with the DX Suite of programs and found
> them very thorough but a bit of learning curve ahead of me. When I
> imported my log data, it threw out many of them. I was running
> Amateur Contact Log and was amazed to find that when the spotting
> window was opened, I could click on the spot and my radio would go to
> that. (later I found other programs, including LOGic, did as well).
> I was about to switch but found that the QTH field was not in that
> program. I finally decided to go back to the new LOGic documentation
> and re-read it, because I had not done that for 9 years. You would
> think that with a Ph.D., I would have done that first, but no, I
> didn't think I "needed" to!
>
>
>
> Long story short, I found that LOGic9 was an amazingly powerful yet
> customizable all-in-one logging, contesting, and awards package.
> Regarding changing my radio frequency to the spot frequency, LOGic 9
> did it extremely well. In fact, i have a friend in Rarotonga who is
> on periodically. I found I could set his call in the filter, let
> LOGic run recording spots and if his call was recorded, LOGic would
> send me an email telling me he was on.
> It will even give you an audible announcement, or send email, if a
> contact comes up that one might need for any of the many awards that
> one might be going for. Logic tracks all the awards that are most
> common, and you can create your own awards that LOGic will track as
> well. Having an audible notification is helpful if you are doing
> other things in your shack. There are multiple spotting sites that
> one can configure to run with LOGic. The logging form is totally

customizable with preselected fields with the

> capability of creating your own custom ones as well. I run LOGic on a
> computer that is on 24/7 for a weather station I have, so keeping
> LOGic running in the background will be great for giving me notifications.
>
>
>
> Contesting forms are included that are fully customizable, and I don't
> think you have to download your contacts into your regular database at
> the end of a contest, but can have them automatically recorded there
> if you desire.
> As
> one would expect, LOGic has full capability to interface with LOTW and
> download contest logs.
>
>
>
> I found LOGic was probably the most all-inclusive, customizable
> software I came across, and I looked at a lot. I like the fact that
> when I am using my laptop portable, I can copy my log, then when I go
> to my main computer, it will import, if I select it, only the QSO's
> that are not already in the log.
> Going from one computer to another is very easy.
>
>
>
> Anyway, most of my problems were self-imposed. If I had spent some
> time with the manual (and the program itself has extensive and
> thorough help
> available) I would have avoided a lot of my frustrations and crashes.
> The software is so customizable, that I had created some fields without

the
> proper properties. When I reread the manual, I realized again why I
chose

> LOGic years ago.
>
>
>
> I am now happy using LOGic9 and enjoying all its power and
> flexibility. It is not free, however, it is $129.00. With the amount
> of time I spend in my shack, and the amount of money I paid for my
> wonderful Elecraft equipment, it was a small investment in the greater
> scheme of things. I believe my upgrade was less than $90. With a
> registration, you get free updates for a year. It has great importing
> flexibility so you can import your logs from other logging software to see

how it works in LOGic.

>
>
>
> There is a free 30 day trial you can use to try it out if you are
> interested.
>
>
>
> I understand from the author that they are still working on polishing
> up the interface software for the K3 (KX3), occasionally there are
> issues. Things
> are running well for me now. The author gave me detailed instructions

for

> using OmniRig with the software if I have problems in the future. I
> suspect any remaining issues will be resolved shortly anyway.
>
>
>
> I hope these ramblings are useful for others who may be looking to start
> using or change their logging software. For sure, logging software is a
> personal preference, and it was clear to me from all the direct emails
> I received and from those on the group, that most people are very
> happy with the software they are using.
>
>
>
> Sometimes it is good to take a fresh look at what is out there. With the
> log importing capabilities of most packages, going from one to the
> other is pretty easy to do "test runs." If I had not had problems, I
> never would have taken the time to look at the various products out
> there. I am glad I took the time to do it. Others might find it
> useful to take some time to do the same.
>
>
>
> Very 73's,
>
>
>
> Terry Brown, N7TB
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email
> list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to
> [hidden email]
>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message
delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]