A Shorthand Introduction to an Epidemic Form of Madness

Keeping A Record       

Getting into the Charts

Strictly speaking, this toolbox is useful for everybody, not for DXers and contesters in particular. In most countries, radio amateurs are (still) obliged by their telecommunication authorities to keep record on their transmissions. But even if this would not be the case, keeping a station log belongs to the most important activities of a (DX-focussed) radio operator. The station log will act or should act as a true and exact portrait of the communicative activities and thus of the performance of a radio station, documenting the callsigns of all stations worked, exact dates and times (in UTC), frequencies (or bands), modes, signal reports, locations, operator names, QSL information etc, the details depending on the operator's particular interests. My log sheets in the eightees even had columns for daily ionospheric data and personal remarks on propagation, condition anomalities and disturbances. A log acts as the very basis for filling in QSL cards or printing QSL labels, for checking incoming QSLs. The log is undispensable when applying for awards and diplomas. DXers and contesters in particular would be completely lost without logkeeping.

With the entry of PCs into amateur radio, a strong tendency developed towards making use of electronic logging which seems to little by little replace the traditional paper logsheet or log book. In view of the unrivaled advantages of electronic logging, which reaches from simple EXCEL-logsheets (which are little more than paper logs on a computer screen) to highly complex computer programmes with literally hundreds of special features, this is not very difficult to grasp. One of the problems seems to be, which logging programme to choose, complicated by the fact that most computer programmes for one mode or a variety of modes contain their own - simple but mostly fully sufficient - logging facilities. AC6V's fantastic website lists more than 75 different logging programmes, both shareware (you can test them for a while but you have to pay for full functionality) and freeware (you get them free of charge). Get yourself the information you need for making your choice.

The decision for a specific logging programme can only be a very personal decision based on personal preferences. Some programmes are simply "overloaded" with features you will never use. Don't be too much impressed by jam-packed computer screens; make your decision for a certain programme by means of a list of features you (not the programmer!) place importance on. Here is a list of features I consider to be absolutely essential (or at least more than wishful); you are invited to complement this list from your point of view:

     - Support of your transceiver (via CAT interface)

     - User-definable and configurable log entry

     - Ability to sort the log by callsign, frequency, mode, date, and other parameters

     - Simple, preferably automatic backup of the log file(s)

     - Tracing the contacts for awards you are collecting for (DXCC, IOTA, WAZ...)

     - Ability of entering QSOs online and (!) offline

     - Ability of editing the QSO database (e. g. DXCC-database)

     - Printing the log

     - Ability of producing the statistics you want/need

     - Full ADIF compatibility (very important if you want to export your QSO database or import another database)

     - Access to a DX cluster and the Internet (QRZ.COM...)

Append other features you personally think you should insist on (e. g.  the ability of printing labels, grayline and other displays, propagation forecasts, configurability of fonts, fore- and background colours etc etc). Be aware, however, that special programmes for single features are mostly more comfortable and efficient than simple modules in a very comprehensive programme. Do not seek for the proverbial egg-laying wool-and-milk sow!

If you do not trust electronic logging at all (hard-disk crashes certainly have a much higher probability than fire in your house), if you feel confused or distracted by so much computerisation or crammed computer screens, if you simply have no inclination to type in the thousands upon thousands of QSOs of your personal pre-computer era, if you feel that making QSOs is more important than searching for bugs in a logging programme or the integrated DXCC-database (I admit this is a very nasty remark...)  -  why not stick to paper-logging? Isn't it a good compromise to using your PC to make your own log design? I have a simple, but nice-looking logsheet for you for download. In this (editable) WORD-file replace "Call" by your callsign. Change whatever you like to change. Print a couple of sheets whenever you need them. Life can be that easy...