QSO #9 — Logging Software

Last time, we talked about logging of contacts in general and my travails in maintaining a manual, handwritten log. It’s low tech and always available, but it does require considerable re-typing effort to input the results into various databases for confirmation, awards and printing.
After my re-start in ham radio in 2015 and especially after I acquired the Flex radio in 2016, I started dabbling in ‘logging software’ which could be directly integrated with the transceiver. The pitch was that by having the logging software track what you do on the radio automatically (such as frequency, mode, power output, etc.) that it would automagically fill in that info in the log — leaving only a few elements such as signal reports, names, and other comments to be provided by the operator. It would make things much simpler.

I initially played around with some logging apps and attempted to integrate them with my Yaesu FT-991 (my first rig after I got back in 2015).

Setting it up to work was challenging as the FT-991 has a rather simplisttic USB interface and getting data to flow still needed a lot of RS-232-era ‘bit setting’ to get it to go. When it did finally get working, I found I still neeeded to fill in most of the log entry by hand (all that was coming into the logging software was the frequency, date and time) and then re-type into all the other programs, so I gave up.
When the Flex came into the shack, I was pretty set in my ‘logging ways’ so I didn’t really think about logging software any more. I dabbled a bit with some of the better known logging programs — N1MM, HRD Deluxe, DXLabs and the like, but none of them really suited my needs. Some were very difficult to get setup and working with the Flex (they still used old RS-232 connections for data transfer). Others were/are for very specific situations. N1MM for instance, is designed and built as a contesting log package. It will work as a general logger, but that’s not it’s forte.

HRDeluxe is a pretty powerful package, but it’s a LOT more than just logging (antenna positioning, propogation monitoring, antenna switching, etc. etc.) and there’s a license fee. All in all, it was just too much for me. I needed something simpler that would integrate well with the Flex.

DXLabs is similar to HRDeluxe in that it does a LOT of stuff, but there are quite a few modules to download and integrate together. It’s focus is primarily on chasing DX (distant contaccts) and, the interface was just too much for me to deal with.

Until this last summer. I was skimming through the discussion threads on the Flex Community and another one came up regarding recommendations for the best logging software to use on the Flex. Of course, the ‘usual suspects’ came up (all of which I had tried and rejected) but someone mentioned LOG4OM which is written by IW3HMH (Daniele) in Italy and supported by G4POP (Terry) in the UK. It’s basically freeware (you donate if you find it useful) and it integrates well with the Flex (and other name-brand rigs as well!). It has a lot of features, and it’s all contained within one package (you don’t have to install a whole bunch of different modules).
So, I thought I’d give it try. Downloading was simple; installation was straightforward; and it worked pretty much on the first try. Not bad! The thing I liked about it right off is that to me, the functions are relatively intuitive. The buttons do what I’d expect them to and there are no ‘hidden’ menus/functions that you have to search for in unexpected places.

The other thing I love is the integration with the other ham radio sites I use. LOG4OM directly integrates wtih QRZ.com, Clublog.ORG and LOTW (as well as others). The integration allows for real-time look-up of call sign info, location, QSL information, bearings for pointing antennae and propogation conditions. Plus, if you want, LOG4OM will either automatically upload contact info once you complete each QSO, or in a batch later on. I prefer the latter and I can’t tell you how much fun it is to simply ‘upload’ 25 QSO’s to QRZ, eQSL, and LOTW, rather than having to individually re-key each one. Using the batch mode, it usually takes less than a minute to finish off all 3!

LOG4OM also has the ability to output your log in PDF format, but it’s a bit bland and I still prefer the look of QRZ.com’s log pages, so I think I’ll stick with that.

I tell ya… using a well-written and intuitive logging program is wonderful. It makes logging a breeze — all I have to input during a contact is the receive and sent signal reports and whatever other miscellaneous info I want to include about the QSO. Everything else is either taken from the radio or from the call sign lookup. It’ll even tell me if I’ve worked them before and in what bands/modes they were!
LOG4OM may not be the logging software for you, but if you’re working the HF bands, I would highly reccomend looking at some sort of logger. It just makes things even that much more enjoyable. And it can open up features and capabilities you either didn’t have or use before! For those using 2M and above, sorry…. this isn’t going to be much help. Most of hte VHF/UHF rigs today don’t have the USB/RS-232 ports on the back to provide real-time integration with a computer. Too bad, really.

Till next time, 73

Don VE7ATJ
drtolson at outlook dot com