Best Logging Software for Flex 6xxx

Dave

I am currently an HRD user and am curious what people use for logging?  I have no issues paying for HRD but it seems there has not been alot of feature updates that are valuable to me.  Really looking for software that has modern UI and features such as the ability to auto upload log entries to the major sites such as HRDLog/e-qsl/LOTW. Cross platform even better! Windows/Mac.  Thoughts? 

Ted VE3TRQ

Unfortunately there appear to be few cross-platform logging solutions. I just log everything to my Mac using MacLoggerDx. There are also a few for Linux, but again, other than CQRLog, I do not like them - and CQRLog is Linux-only. And I do not contest, so I don’t need those loggers. Maybe Mark can make FlexLogger (or whatever it will eventually be called) crosss-platform :-)

Jean_Luc F5JRC

On PC Log4Om, N1MM, N3FJP, DXLab are excellent, and sorry for those I forget, but if you're lucky enough to be on Mac, MacLoggerDX is absolutely fantastic!
My humble opinion!
(for now using iMac 27" with Parallels Desktop, W10 family, SmartSDR and MacLoggerDX).
The management of LoTW and others online logs is super easy.

Phil N3ZP

I have been using N3FJP ACLog for many years. I works well with my Flex 6400 and tracks frequency and mode from a comport. It interfaces with Winkeyer for CW. I does have the ability to upload entries to LOTW and EQSL. It can also download from LOTW to mark QSOs as confirmed. It's very intuitive to use. I have also used his contest software. The contest software does not have all the features of N1MM+ but it is much simpler to use. You can order the CD of all his programs and have all the contest programs and get updates when released. 

Bill -VA3WTB

I hear Mark has been doing great work on his Flexloger software,,nice thing about it is that it is made For flex users.

Mark_WS7M

I doubt that FlexLogger (soon to be renamed) could run natively on Mac any time soon.  However, I expect it could and might work under something like Wine and for sure Virtual Box.

I have not tested it under these yet but the program really only needs a network connection to function.  Everything else is pretty much rolled in.

M - WS7M

Gene Duprey

Now if it was only Mac compatible also.

Ted VE3TRQ

Only network required would make connectivity to the radio rather trivial. The rest depends on the tools used to provide the database and user interface, doesn’t it. If it will run easily under Wine (really dependent on Windows APIs / libraries used) that’s great for Mac or Linux. Of course VirtualBox is a pretty complete Windows solution on almost any platform. No library issues of any kind, just need a copy of Windows :-) Licenses are apparently available at a good price (read: really cheap).

Roger_W6VZV

I use the HRD logbook, which I really like, and I use JT-Alert to port over my WSJT-X contacts from WSJT-X to the HRD logbook.  Works really well.

de Roger W6VZV

Michael Coslo

Regarding N3FJP, I have interfaced with Scott for many years, and he is a joy to work with. A First Class guy. 

Bill English

I have used Winlog32 since 2001 and have over 70K QSO's in it. Very nice program. I cannot find another logger with the same features and ease of operation. Although Flexlogger is well on the way to matching it. 

Mark_WS7M

Ted,

Again I have not tested it but the APIs are mostly based around .NET 4.7.2 and the database is SQLite which is mostly included under .Net 472.

I will at some point give it a try.  I do know for a fact it works just fine in VirtualBox with a minimal windows installation and in my test with VirtualBox I had no issue connecting to the radio.

But WINE is worth a shot.  It is just a matter of time.

Ted VE3TRQ

Hi Mark. Would you use Mono to run the .Net stuff, or do you need Wine actually load (the right version of) .Net? I guess the Wine folks would object to using a VM, and the Windows folks would find Wine cumbersome :-( I find VirtualBox to be an excellent solution, although fighting with ALSA for audio can be a challenge.

WX7Y

DXLab's DXkeeper though pretty complected to set up is a very good logger and reports to EQSL and LOTW

Flex Logger looks very promising and if I remember right uploads to LOTW.
73's
Bret
WX7Y

W9HH - Steve

I’ve used most of the logging packages mentioned here already, but my favorite for use with the 6400 is the DXLabs suite. It has tons of features along with e-QSL / LOTW submission. It will also put DX spots on the pan adapter and does a good job of interfacing with the flex radio in general. I would say that it does pretty much everything you could expect a logging package to do. This is a highly configurable suite of programs. if you can think of it, you can probably do it. On the flip side, the interface is not what I would consider modern and there is a good learning curve, but its worth the effort. Is DXLabs the perfect logger? No it’s not. The perfect logging program doesn’t exist, but for free it’s certainly worth a try to see if it works out for you.

For field day logging, my vote goes to N3FJP. It’s quick to setup, easy to use and works on just about any old windows computer that you have lying around.

Both DXLabs and N3FJP are updated on a regular basis by their authors.

73 –

Steve W9HH

K9SO

I use TRX-Manager. Supports all FlexRadio features

73,
Fred
K9SO

Burch - K4QXX

Scott is a good guy and his software is very good and the price is extremely reasonable.


szawrotny

I agree. N3FJP’s ACLog is much more intuitive than HRD. You buy once and get life-time support and updates, not like HRD. I won a copy of HRD and tried it. I was using another logger at the time. I got so frustrated with it that I gave up and bought ACLog.

Sergey KN7K

I keep an eye on Flexlogger, but my primary log is LogHX - it is free, updated frequently, author available almost every day on the forum. I wish it could do a multiply slices (it may come some time later), but otherwise it is perfect. And I was on many other logs before.
Sergey, KN7K

Lionel

DXLab does a fine job. Been using for ten years or so.

Dave

Thanks everyone!  There has been alot of buzz about Flexlogger.  Anyplace to download this?  Does not seem like an official product yet.  

Dave AA6YQ

For DXers, describing DXLab as providing excellent logging would be like describing a Corvette as providing excellent steering. Yes, excellent logging is essential, and DXLab automates the procedures involved in logging QSOs, confirming QSOs, and managing award credit -  enabling you to spend more time DXing. But for the DXer, excellent logging is far from sufficient.

What distinguishes DXLab from all other applications that claim to support DXing is the database of currently-active stations it maintains in real time, and its ability to immediately recognize whether an active station is “needed” for one or more of the awards that you are pursuing: DXCC, IOTA, Leaderboard, Marathon, VUCC, WAS, WAZ and WPX – taking into account the bands and modes on which you are pursuing each award.

The database of active stations is continuously populated from up to 7 sources: DX Clusters, DX Summit, the Reverse Beacon Network, CW Skimmer, and WSJT-X. Multiple independently filterable views of active DX stations are provided – tabular with a row for each active station, on a world map, in a vertical bandspread, and on a SmartSDR panadapter – all color coded to highlight stations with whom a QSO would advance your progress towards the awards you are pursuing, and to indicate participation in LoTW and eQSL.

DXLab also includes both propagation prediction and propagation monitoring, identifying band openings between your QTH and needed stations, and characterizing each active station by the probability that you can work it via the short path or long path.

Using your Flex for DXing? Try DXLab; it's entirely free.



Using WSJT-X? DXLab interoperates with it directly, color-coding decoded callsigns to indicate both "award need" and participation in LoTW and eQSL:

Chuck Sinclair

I use HRD and love it.

Johan _ SE3X

HRD .. for me too! Tried a lot of other programs. Keep coming back to HRD   

It's main log for my SE3X station. For contest logging we use N1MM. 

AC9S

I have been using Logic for years.  With the exception of integration with FT8 it pretty much does everything - logging, awards tracking, reporting, QSL generation, color coded spots, etc.

Keith - AC9S

Kevin

In addition, excellent documentation, excellent developer and community support, very responsive to bug fixes, consideration and conversation for feature requests. It's a natural for DXing and perfect for general use.

W5AP

I also use Logic 9 and have been doing so for years. I'm also using DX Labs which is great. I find I can upload Logic 9 to Lotw easily and I haven't figured out how to easily upload DXKeeper to LoTW without first exporting the ADIF file and using TQsl or Logic.  So I need to find and read the documentation for DX Labs.  When I figure it out or find some time, I'll be using DX Labs DXKeeper all the time..73, Jim - W5AP

Mark_WS7M

Hi Dave,

FlexLogger is still being developed.  Its name will be changing.  You can download the current version here:

http://www.ws7m.net/flinstallers/FlexLoggerSetup-0.1.0.5.exe

The renamed version is about 1-2 weeks out.  It will feature an alert system that you can configure to alert you on just about anything you need or want to track:

AC9S

Sounds good - Maybe I'll check out DX Labs this summer when things get noisy here in Illinois.

Keith - AC9S

Mark_WS7M

DxLab is simply amazing.

I've used HRD and kept finding myself struggling with it. Then one time it gave me a message that it could not open my database file and after a month of support back and forth I gave up.

Personally, I would be using DxLab except that I wanted/desired very specific things so I decided to write my own which, as a developer, I find fun and interesting.

I have not in this thread pushed FlexLogger.  It has some very neat abilities but it is no DXLab or even close yet.   But I will continue to work on it and improve it not for the reason of trying to do a better job than these other great programs, but just because I can and this is a part of the hobby I enjoy.

I am considering approaching both DxLab and SliceMaster to see if we can all work in unison somehow to arrive at the best possible suite of programs for the Flex operator.

This is another reason I don't use HRD.  HRD tries to work with every rig out there.  I intended FlexLogger to for Flex 6000 series radios only.

Mark - WS7M

Dave AA6YQ

We share the same motivation, Mark; I'd be happy to work with you and Don. The more value we can provide to the user community, the better.

     73,

            Dave, AA6YQ