Intro to Electronic QSL

A crash course in getting started

by Charles Oertel (ZS1CJO)


This promises to be such an interesting talk...
Anne Bareham

Agenda

  1. Quiz
  2. Overview of Electronic Logging
  3. The CTARC ILLW Logging Process
    • Capturing Log Data
    • Exporting Log Data
    • Log Format Examples
    • Importing to Online Sites

Quiz

Who ...
  1. ... keeps their logs in a paper logbook?
  2. ... keeps logs in software on their computer?
  3. ... uses an online QSL service?
  4. ... has their log software automatically capture data from the radio?
  5. ... uses Open Source software (linux) on their computer?

Intro to Electronic Logging

  1. Definition: A computer version of your paper station logbook.
  2. It could be ...
    • ... a computer program: spreadsheet, DXKeeper, Logger 32, SwissLog, XLog, (Google for more)
    • ... a website (LoTW, eQSL, ClugLog, etc.).
    • ... a combination of the above

Consider Keeping Logs Online...

1. Safer:

  • your logs are kept and managed by professionals and are safer from computer crashes or theft

2. More Functionality:

  • Easy for others to confirm QSOs
  • Automatic/Manual submissions for various awards
  • Look up details of a callsign

3. Cheaper:

  • no postage fees and hassle

Review Confirmed QSOs (LoTW)

Online QSL Sites:

  1. LoTW*: lotw.arrl.org
  2. eQSL*: www.eqsl.cc
  3. SARL*: www.sarl.org.za
  4. ClubLog: www.clublog.org
  5. QRZ.com: qrz.com
  6. many more ... unfortunately

* Used by CTARC

LotW

Logbook of The World

http://www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world

    Logbook of the World (LoTW) is an online service that enables you to
  • electronically submit QSOs for confirmation
  • view resulting QSO confirmations online
  • electronically submit confirmations for credit toward DXCC, VUCC, WAS, WAZ and WPX awards
  • view your DXCC, VUCC, WAS, WAZ and WPX award progress online

eQSL

http://www.eqsl.cc

SARL

  • For local contests, QSLs and Awards.
  • For SARL members only.
  • Current online logging mechanisms not very robust.

SARL cntd...

And that is why I didn't bother videoing the process.

Electronic Logging Process

CTARC ILLW Logs

  1. During the ILLW weekend QSOs are logged on paper.
  2. The paper logs are captured electronically.
  3. The electronic logs are imported to three sites:
    1. LoTW,
    2. eQSL, and
    3. the SARL.

2. Capturing the Logs

Paper logs (often hard to read)

Logging Program - XLog

An Open Source logging program. You can use any other program that allows exporting to ADIF and/or CSV.

Exporting from XLog

We need to export to:

  1. ADIF (for LoTW and eQSL), and
  2. CSV (for SARL).

Log Formats

ADIF - Amateur Data Interchange Format

  ADIF Export from xlog Version 2.0.13
  Copyright (C) 2012 Andy Stewart <andystewart@comcast.net>
  Copyright (C) 2001-2010 Joop Stakenborg <pg4i@amsat.org>
  Internet:  http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/Xlog

  Date of export: 06 Feb 2018 16:08:09
  Callsign: ZS1CJO
  Locator: JF95FW

  <ADIF_VER:5>2.2.7
  <EOH>
  <QSO_DATE:8>20170819 <TIME_ON:4>1000 <CALL:4>ZS9V <FREQ:1>7 <MODE:3>SSB <RST_SENT:2>59 <RST_RCVD:2>59 <TX_PWR:3>100 <NAME:5>Andre <QTH:13>Robben Island <COMMENT:27>ZS1CT @ JF96EC73XP for ILLW 
  <EOR>
  <QSO_DATE:8>20170819 <TIME_ON:4>1035 <CALL:5>ZS1CO <FREQ:1>7 <MODE:3>SSB <RST_SENT:2>59 <RST_RCVD:2>59 <TX_PWR:3>100 <NAME:4>Mike <COMMENT:27>ZS1CT @ JF96EC73XP for ILLW 
  <EOR>
  ...

CSV - Comma Separated Values.

  V51B,SSB,20160820,1104,40m
  ZS1ROD,SSB,20160820,1106,40m
  ZS2ABZ/L,SSB,20160820,1108,40m
  ZS3RW/L,SSB,20160820,1109,40m
  ZS1VDP/L,SSB,20160820,1114,40m

3. Importing Log Data to QSL Websites

1. LoTW

Setup TrustedQSL

  1. Uploads are done by a certificate-secured program called 'TrustedQSL'
  2. The first time, you need to request a certificate from the computer where it will be used. When I got a new laptop I had to re-apply for a certificate (can be avoided if you take a backup of the configuration).
  3. You can have more than one certificate/callsign/location, and club callsigns are supported.

Upload Log File to LoTW using TrustedQSl

2. eQSL

3. SARL

Requirements for Capturing QSLs:

  1. The QSL account for CTARC needs to be linked to the profile of a paid up SARL member. You do this by emailing a request to the webmaster of the SARL site at webmaster@sarl.org.za.
  2. The site accepts only new ADIF format uploads, or CSV files with the following format: 
    • ZS0123,SSB,20050811,1200,40m
  3. The process is buggy and I ended up sending the CSV file to the webmaster by email to upload.

Revision

  1. Quiz
    • Who learned something (anything) today?
  2. Overview of Electronic Logging
  3. The CTARC ILLW Logging Process
    • Capturing Log Data
    • Exporting Log Data
    • Log Format Examples
    • Importing to Online Sites

Thanks...

... to CTARC for the opportunity to learn about electronic logging.

Copy of these slides at ...

https://buchubaron.github.io/ham-logging-intro/

Charles (ZS1CJO)
charles@honeybadger.net