Posted: 3/15/2017 9:28:46 AM EDT
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What do you guys use to log contacts?
I am looking for a good program for linux, a good spreadsheet that works in LibreOffice or some other good way to do it. |
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Quoted:
linux.....check out CQRLOG i gave up on linux and ham radio and use HAM RADIO DELUXE's log in digital, it logs automatically so much ham software is geared towards MS windows, it just makes sense to setup a windows 10 machine I really hate windows, I mean really, but I get your point. |
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Now we all know where you live, Bob. 
What soft-wear do you use? |
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I tried that. It's a mess. Then I tried a spread sheet with macros someone pointed me to, but the macros are written for excel and they don't work in LibreOffice on Linux. Now I am trying Xlog on Linux but I have to retype everything into it. I only started this a few weeks to a month ago, but I have many many many pages to type. |
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Quoted:
I use a cheap notebook and a pen, sometimes a pensil. No windows in my shack, just one door. What do you record? Maybe I am recording too much info? Date, UTC, Band, Freq, Mode, QTH, power, Name and any remarks that are different. As an example, I was trying to get fldigi working again so I put the power to 0%, which puts out about 1 watt. Then later I answered a CQ from Germany and got a 4n3 report and then recognized I was only transmitting about 1 watt LOL with an inverted Vee! |
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If you want to use paper, I would suggest a logbook from the ARRL. There is a column for all required info, and a (very) small space for notes, for each contact. It keeps everything nice and neat.
My primary computer is a MacPro, and that is my preferred platform. But darn near everything in the ham radio world works on Windows, so I bought a basic Windows computer for that purpose only. For electronic logging, I use the N3FJP amateur Contact Log. It's brilliantly simple and effective. |
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The major problem with paper logs is that if you ever want to do any sort of electronic award confirmation you're in for a workout.
If you are going to log your contacts, electronic is definitely the way to go. However, only the amateur radio community can take something as simple as logging contacts and turn it into a procedure that makes the flight plan/checklist for a lunar mission look like a kid's book. Then of course is making everything work with everything else. Remember all the electronic QSL programs I mentioned? You have to interface with them as well. Most of the logging software out there does this automatically, but if you're using excel you will need to convert that data to a .ADIF or .ADI file. Wanna participate in a contest? Many will allow you to submit a paper log if you don't have many contacts, but most are going to want your log in cabrillo format. Do you remember the late 1980s and early 1990s, when there was IBM compatible and mac, and then you also had Microsoft word, and WordPerfect, and Lotus? And remember how everything had proprietary file extensions, and how if your buddy wanted to give you a disk with lotus files on it but you had word it was a real shit show? Do you also remember how the same basic programs had massively different ways of doing things, so if you had to use lotus on your buddy's computer you were completely lost? Well, the world of amateur radio software is still stuck in that time zone. So, yeah. The bottom line here is if you plan on doing any sort of electronic QSL/award programs, welcome to the suck. There are no right answers here. Also note that you are under no obligation to log contacts. However, if you go that route be neighborly and write on your QRZ page "Casual operator only. Sorry, don't keep a log and can't confirm contacts." It will save you and others some frustration. |
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Quoted:
What do you record? Maybe I am recording too much info? Date, UTC, Band, Freq, Mode, QTH, power, Name and any remarks that are different. As an example, I was trying to get fldigi working again so I put the power to 0%, which puts out about 1 watt. Then later I answered a CQ from Germany and got a 4n3 report and then recognized I was only transmitting about 1 watt LOL with an inverted Vee! Back in the days when I was going to a university (25 years ago_, I learned to write without looking on what I write and as fast as a person can talk (at a normal conversational rate). This was a necessity. Now everyone uses computers and some people can't even write coherently without a word processing software with a spell checker. Heck, they don't even teach calligraphy in a first grade anymore. Aa a result kids can't write nor hold a pen properly. Sad but true. I buy cheap notebooks in Dollar Tree and a pack of pens for a $1. My log looks like this: ------------------------------------------------- 3/16/2017 (written on top of each page)---------------------------- 7.130 W1AW 59/59 John Newington CT (..............short notes, if any.................) 01:39 ........................................................................More notes if needed.................................................. |
