I worked a guy yesterday, who emailed afterwards. He ended his email with:
Great to meet you and look forward to catching you down the log. 73.
This was actually our third contact. When I typed his call into my computer log, the two previous QSOs popped right up. I replied:
My computer says that our QSO yesterday was our third. I hope that the fourth is sometime soon.
He replied:
That’s really great! I log on paper so it has some charm but not much logistical practicality ! I’m always impressed when someone is able to tell me that we have talked before.
Do you know the dates of those contacts? Id like to see if I can find them in one of my paper logs.
I replied with the dates. The, it struck me that he had hit on the primary issue of whether to log on paper or on a computer. Paper logging is more “charming” as he put it, but if the information isn’t readily at hand, then all that “charm” is for naught. I worked one guy who, in addition to his paper log, kept an index card file with a card for every station he ever worked. On the card, he’d right the date (and maybe some other info) of each contact with that station. He could then presumably look up the previous contacts in his paper logs.
I thought that was a pretty ingenious way to get some of the benefits of computer logging while I at the same time preserving the practice of paper logging. Of course, it is more work to do this, and if you’re a contester who might make hundreds or thousands of contacts during a weekend, it’s probably impractical to record every single contest QSO.
It would also be harder to look up information on previous QSOs. You’d have to dig out the index card, then the appropriate paper log. With a computer, it’s all right there on the screen in front of you. And, finally, logging this way is more prone to human error.
All in all, I think I’ll stick with the computer.
Dave New, N8SBE says
I kept paper logs for years, and tried a couple of times unsuccessfully to change over to computer logging. Not until I got a radio that connected to the computer, so it would automatically log the frequency and mode, did I really warm up to it.
Since then, I’ve done everything electronically, and even got a LoTW account, which I get about a 50% return rate on, so that’s definitely been worthwhile.
And yes, contesting really pushed me in that direction, as well. Using a good contest program like N1MM+ makes it much easier to deal with single operator logging during a contest. After the contest is over, and I’ve submitted the Cabrillo log (which a lot of contests insist on, instead of paper logs — it makes cross-checking logs much simpler for the contest organizers), I export it as an ADIF and import it into Ham Radio Deluxe, as it has a no-brainer interface to LoTW.
I’ve never used the TQSL program directly to submit a log to LoTW. HRD does it for me, and tracks all my awards, as well.
I also use HRD for casual (non-contest) logging, as it will show me immediately if I’ve worked a station/country before on that band/mode, and controls my rotor, so with a key press, it can turn my antenna to point at the station I’m interested in.
It also supports DX packet cluster, showing spots in both a list format, and on a band scale. I can click on either, and the radio will change bands, modes, and frequency, so I can call that station.
I guess I’m just saying that so much of my current station operation revolves these days around my computer, that I end up spending more time on the computer keyboard instead of the radio knobs, although I don’t find HRD’s GUI radio interface of much use. I’d rather “frob the knobs”, so to speak.
Walter Underwood says
When hiking or backpacking, I use the good ol’ ARRL MiniLog. I really should switch to the all-weather version.
You can see it under the HT in this photo.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/walter_underwood/17417496311/in/album-72157652448882921/
Afterwards, I transcribe the contacts into RUMLog and let it do the submission work.
Dan KB6NU says
Well, yeah. You wouldn’t want to carry a laptop when you’re on the trail!