CT logger screenshot
Which logger or contest logger could run
on my PC ?
Which logger or contest logger program should I chose for
my activity ?
Is generating CW with a PC killing the ham spirit ?
(hi..!)
1)Depends on how powerful is your PC and which operating system you have on it !
If you have an old 486 or even worst, running Win95 or Win3.11 I suggest You to use it with pure DOS, there are a lot of powerful loggers, someone is also freeware, running properly in DOS environment such :
DOS ENVIRONMENT LOGGERS
But beginning with WinMe, Win2000, WinNT, WinXP you should have a DOS partition to fully enjoy the DOS logger without problems.
Or even better if you have one of such operating system is to use :
These are the most famous supporting several contests.
OK, now for the lucky guys with at least a Pentium II and Win98 or higher grade PCs and operating system, we could consider loggers for Windows.
Consider anyway that with Win95 and Win98 and older Pentium you could successfully run the above mentioned DOS loggers also from MSDOS prompt without requiring to bootstrap in pure DOS mode.
WINDOWS NATIVE LOGGERS
Following the motto "if a thing is free I like it even more !" we should consider at first beginning only freeware loggers.
N1MM Logger developed by a group of great hams guided by Tom N1MM , IS MY FAVOURITE LOGGER, IT'S FREEWARE AND WITHOUT LIMITATION, SUPPORTS A LOT OF CONTEST, AND HAS A LOT OF POWERFUL FEATURES, YOU SURE WILL USE IT !!! see the screen above, fully freeware. Follow the instructions at this link!
WINCT by K1EA (the Win version of CT), see the screen above, now freeware.
425DX News You could find the result of a poll to find out the most used loggers with a lot of links to the loggers site.
This programs are for just generating CW typing in a PC keyboard, and are very comfortable with memorised messages that you could easily retrieve typically with functions (F1,F2...) keys. The most of these could work togheter with a logger, read a paddle acting also as a keyer and obviously keying my interfaces for generating CW.
DOS ENVIRONMENT CW KEYBOARDS SW
CW Keyboard by WB8DQT Check these very nice CW keyboards (serial and parallel port versions downloadable developed by WB8DQT, freeware. Please verify wich pins is using in LPT or COM port for keying, because do not use CT standard pins, and if you use my interface circuitry some changes are required !
WINDOWS ENVIRONMENT CW KEYBOARDS SW
Look for CWType (my favourite) developed by UA9OSV, is very nice and pleasant to use, could key serial or parallel port, just change the settings in the
.ini
file, downloadable, freeware.
VERY IMPORTANT : ALL MENTIONED PROGRAMS ABOVE WORKS WITH MY INTERFACES, SO AFTER YOU GOT THE SOFTWARE NOW YOU NEED TO HAVE AN INTERFACE TO TRY IT !
2) "Which logger or contest logger program should I chose for my activity ?"
2) If you are or want to become a cw contester you could'nt compete seriously without a PC loggers, and anyway without you will sweat a lot during and after the contest!!!
Also if you aren't a contester but you like chasing DX-peditions in huge pile-ups and you do not have antenna farm and broadcasting linear amplifier, how many time do you send your call in an hour pile-up? May be it is more comfortable to press F2 key to send without error your callsign at high speed trying to win the pile-up ???
So for this you could use one of the CW keyboards above or one of the loggers as
well.
Do you want to know if that country is already logged without searching three hours in your old paper log box ? Do you want to print easily QSL labels with complete QSO data ?
So for this you could use one of loggers mentioned above.
3) "Is generating CW with a PC killing the ham spirit ?"
3) Absolutely no ! Receiving CW with the PC with a soundcard will sure go in such direction but using PC to generate clean and easily understandable CW will only help CW receiving for the others hams listening at your signal !!!
So if you aren't yet convinced try one logger in a big contest with a CW PC
interface and let me know !!!
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