Amateur radio communication logs (QSO logs) for Linux: installation and comparison - Part 1

October

2021

Amateur radio communication logs (QSO logs) for Linux: installation and comparison - Part 1

трансивер

20 October 2021 16:49

A log for maintaining a list of radio contacts is an integral part of an amateur radio station. I will try to classify and compare logging programs for Linux.

The question “Which hardware log to choose for Linux” is quite common, but it is difficult to answer. First you need to develop a list of requirements for the program, then find all existing programs and classify the applications, and finally consider each one individually. Finally, weigh the pros and cons.

The easiest place to start is by classifying hardware logging programs.

Classification of hardware logs of radio stations

I. For main purpose:

programs for competitions, including network multi-user (special)
- programs for competitions on ultrashort waves (VHF) - EDI report
- programs for competitions on short waves (HF) - Cabrillo or ERMAK report
hardware logs for recording everyday radio communications (general purpose)

II. By platform:
DOS
Linux command line or shell scripts
Windows
Linux for GUI (X-Windows)
Macintosh (Apple)
Windows that run on Linux in Wine
Cross-platform (work on many operating systems - there are distributions for several operating systems)
for Android

III. By difficulty of mastering:
Complex
Common, Requires Some Study
Lightweight, intuitive

IV. By program language:
Not localized (in English)
Translated into Russian or multi-language

V. Based on user interface (GUI) and screen resolution requirements:
Overloaded, requiring high display resolution
Medium or custom (unnecessary fields can be removed)
Lightweight interface (occupies a small part of the screen)

VI. According to the database for storing information:
Text files (including XML)
MS Access
MySQL
SQLite
your format (binary, etc.)

VII. By connection to a PC (CAT interface)
Connected to PC via CAT interface
Works without connecting to a PC.

VIII. Communication with other programs (WSJTX, JTDX)
Yes
No.

IX. QSL managers and other services

X. LOTW and other world magazines: unloading - yes/no

XI. Documentation
There is detailed documentation.
Brief description.

CQRlog

The current version is 2.5.2 from 2021.
Everyday and for competitions on short waves (“contests”) hardware log for Linux, difficult to learn, in English, overloaded interface, with support for CAT (2 radios) and CW, with support for external programs fldigi, wsjt, any ADIF, with QSL managers, rotors and other services, uploading to HamQTH, ClubLog and HRDlog.net, good documentation (in English).

Installing cqrlog:

sudo apt install mariadb-server
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ok2cqr/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get remove cqrlog-data
sudo apt-get install cqrlog

Appearance:

Documentation:https://www.cqrlog.com/help/index.html
Support forum:https://www.cqrlog.com/forum/1

Xlog

Version 2.0.17 from 2020.
Everyday hardware log for Linux, simple, in English, user-friendly interface, with reading the frequency and type of modulation (with support for the CAT interface) via the HamLib library, without CW, with support for importing from external ADIF files (other programs such as WSJT-X), without QSL managers, without rotor control and other services, practically without documentation (in English). The log is stored in a text file in the form of a table with columns.

xlog installation:

sudo apt-get install xlog

Appearance:

fldigi

Version 4.1.06
Casual and contest magazine for Linux (mainly for digital modes - PSK, RTTY, Olivia), medium in complexity, in English, with a regular interface (but for a widescreen display), with support for CAT (in various ways) and CW with macros, with support for external ADIF magazines, uploading to eQSL, LOTW, pskreporter, good documentation (in English).
The log is stored in the ADIF file.

Installing fldigi:

sudo apt-get install fldigi

Appearance:

Documentation:www.w1hkj.com/Fldigi.html and Wiki Home

UCXlog - execution in Wine

7.18 beta1
Hardware magazine for Linux, everyday and for competitions (contests), difficult to learn, in English, medium-load interface (but very small!!!), with support for CAT and CW macros (under Windows for sure), any ADIF, with QSL managers, rotors and other services, uploading to eQSL and LotW, without documentation.

Website:http://www.ucxlog.org/
Forum:https://www.ham-webservice.de/ucxlogforum/

Since the software requirements only include Windows (not met), Wine has limitations on CAT management and CW generation. The UCXlog program is very popular among radio amateurs in St. Petersburg due to its adaptation to VHF competitions and the formation of control numbers (naturally, also for Windows).

LogHX3

Version 3 build 670.
Does not run on Linux (OLE error), as it is designed for Windows.
Everyday and for contests magazine for Windows, difficult to learn, in Russian, overloaded interface, with support for CAT, CW and digital modes, with support for external programs fldigi, wsjt, any ADIF, with QSL managers, rotors and other services, uploading to external resources, there is a support forum on CQham.ru and QRZ.ru.
loghx2

UR5EQF

Version 3.31.
Installs in Wine, but doesn't work.
Everyday and for competitions (contests) magazine for Windows, average to learn, in Russian, with a complex user interface, with support for CAT and CW macros (for Windows of course), any ADIF, with QSL managers, rotors and other services, uploading to eQSL and LotW. Popular in the countries of the former USSR. Does not work under Linux as it is designed for Windows.
There is one post about running under Linux provided that the MSXML and MDAC components are installed:http://old.dxforum.ru/viewtopic.php?t=408 and one article about installation in Ubuntu.

EWlog

Version 1.4.9
Project of the Belarusian radio amateur EW8BAK.
Externally it looks like EQFlog, but for Linux (repeats the interface).
Everyday and for competitions (contests) magazine for Windows, easy to learn, in Russian, with an average complexity user interface, with support for CAT and CW macros (via hamlib), any external ADIF magazines, with support for fldigi and WSJTX, with QSL managers, rotors and other services, the ability to upload to eQSL.cc and LotW.

Preferred installation method:

echo 'deb [trusted=yes] https://debrepo.ewlog.ru ewlog non-free' | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install ewlog

Another installation method:

Download EW8BAK for Linux:https://night.ewlog.ru/RELEASE/Linux/
Installation:

sudo apt-get install libsqlite3-dev
sudo apt-get install sqlite3 sqlite3-doc
sudo apt --fix-broken install
cd ~/Downloads
sudo dpkg -i ewlog_1.4.9_amd64.deb

Appearance: