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Contest and DX Software
The integration of Amateur Radio and computers is a natural, and thanks to many hams who are also gifted programmers, there is a huge variety of software available to us. For a list of links to virtually every logging program in existence, see AC6V's Logging Software Page. For other software, see AC6V's Software Page.
Here, we'll just cover a couple of programs that are very useful for contest logging and general DX logging. If you think these are just log databases, think again. Many of these programs include full station automation including transceiver control, dupe warnings, Packet Cluster interface, beam heading (and rotator control!), automatic QSY and split, voice and CW memory keyers, band scopes, awards tracking, automatic callbook lookup, well, the list goes on and is only limited by the imagination of the programmers.
Operating a contest using traditional paper logs and dupe sheets compared to a fully computer-integrated station is a bit like going to a dentist who doesn't even use novocaine compared to one who uses nitrous oxide ("laughing gas")...the latter is definitely less painful, and a whole lot more fun! (this analogy is for Dr. Jerry-WDØEGK!)
Over the years I have used four contest logging programs: CT, Writelog, N3FJP's programs and N1MM Logger. Each program has it's staunch supporters, and each can be described as a full-featured program.
CT by K1EA is the "original" serious contesting program and was originally designed to run on a DOS platform.
Writelog took full advantage of the Windows platform. Its original focus was on RTTY contesting, but it now supports all modes. Both CT and Writelog are "commercial" and are a bit pricey for anyone other than a serious contester with definite preferences for one or the other program.
Scott, N3FJP, writes individual programs for each of many different contests. Each is available as shareware and requires a nominal fee for full registration. Scott's programs are generally quite simple and intuitive to use, but over time he has been adding substantially to some of his programs to bring them into the "full-featured" category. LARC has used N3FJP's Field Day logging program with great success.
Finally, the biggest treat in the contest logging category has to be N1MM's Logger. It supports a long list of contests and is definitely a very "full-featured" and professionally written program. So why is it such a treat? It is completely free! I have been using this program exclusively for two or three years, and I like it so much that I would still use it even if it cost $80 or $90 like some other commercial programs. (for some examples of N1MM Logger set up, see N1MM Example.
People have always dreamed of the day when there would be one full-featured program for both serious DXing and for contesting. So far, there really isn't any such animal. One of my father's pearls of wisdom was that "any machine built to do two things won't do either well". With today's technology I'm not sure that really holds true anymore, but it does seem to for logging programs, at least for now.
My favorite general logging program is DX4WIN. After using three of four others over the years, this is what I've settled on. It is a commercially priced program and again, you need to be pretty serious to justify the price. But it does boast a tremendous number of features, as you can see by visiting the link above.
In addition to his contesting programs, Scott, N3FJP, has also written a very nice general logging program, again with a nominal registration fee. It is a great intro to computer logging, and for many hams will fill all their needs.
There are other fine logging programs available...and more than a few not so fine ones. If you have a favorite you'd like to list here, let me know.
For user reviews of these and many other logging and ham software programs, check out the E-Ham Log Reviews. Remember, though, that these are USER reviews...and some users are more adept at evaluating things than others!
For now, we've just provided links to the home pages for these programs so you can check them out yourselves. In the future, we'll add some photos and descriptions of how a fully computer-integrated station can make your contesting as much fun as laughing gas!!
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