DragonLog 1.6

Log QSO for Ham radio

DragonLog

Author: Andreas Schawo, DF1ASC (HamQTH, eQSL)

DragonLog is a logging program to log hamradio QSOs. Beside logging for ham radio you can also log CB radio QSOs.

Screenshot in german translation

Features

• predefined fields for logging
• log multiple QSOs
• edit logs
• input validation for callsign, RST, locator
• show worked before if a callsign is already logged
• distance calculation
• automatic time
• callbook search and log upload (HamQTH.com)
• eQSL upload, check and download
• log contest and xOTA QSOs data
• LoTW signing, upload and check status
• CAT (band, frequency, mode/submode, power via hamlib integration)
• watch log files for automatic log import of WSJT-X, JS8Call, fldigi and others
• ADIF adi/adx export/import
• Excel/CSV export/import
• log 11m band QSOs
• filter recent QSOs (last week, month, half year, year)
• UTF-8 (i.e. use german umlauts)
• convert non ASCII characters for ADIF export (for supported languages)
• integrates CassiopeiaConsole
• display DX spots from DX cluster via telnet

Installation

The installation requires a python installation (>= 3.10). On Linux you may have to install libxcb-cursor0.

# python3 -m pip install DragonLog

If you want to be able to export/import to/from Excel files install the extra packages

# python3 -m pip install DragonLog[extra]

Run as

# python3 -m dragonlog

Or if your python scripts folder is on PATH you can start DragonLog with

# DragonLog

For windows there is also an installable MSI and ZIP package available for convenience.

Starting and first start

At first start DragonLog opens the settings dialog for you. You should configure at least your callsign, name and locator for a sufficient experience.

Before you can start to log QSOs a database has to be selected. It can be placed on a path where you wish to. The database is created and initialised.

At the next start of the program the last database gets opened automatically.

You can switch between different databases as you like.

Commandline Arguments

If you want to manage different QSO databases you can select them via commandline argument i.e.

# DragonLog QSOs-2024.qlog

If you also want to provide a separate configuration you can use i.e.

# DragonLog -ini DF1ASC.ini

The arguments must follow the format in this order

DragonLog [-ini INI_FILE] [QSODB_FILE]

QSOs

You can log single QSOs by using the shortcut Ctrl+L or use a log loop to enter multiple QSOs via Ctrl+Shift+L.

The displayed form can be handled the easiest if you use TAB key to jump from field to field.

The form requires a callsign from your QSO partner and a start date to save/upload the data. It gives a colourful feedback for the quality of your supplied data. The colour feedback highlights required and recommended data only.

Colour	Meaning
red	required
orange	wrong format
yellow	empty
green	ok
blue	worked before

If automatic time is selected, the end time gets updated at saving the QSO.

QSOs can be edited by double-clicking on an entry in the database view.

DragonLog can retrieve additional OM data from HamQTH.com callbook and upload the QSO.

In log and change mode there is a second view for QSL and different upload status. Here you can check the status of your eQSL inbox or LoTW QSLs.

While eQSL upload is handled per QSO only (currently) LoTW is handled for the whole database.

Make sure that you properly set the credentials for each online service in the settings. The password is stored in the systems key vault (i.e. Credential Manager on Windows or KWallet on KDE/Linux).

LoTW sign and upload

Only QSOs with a matching locator in TQSL application can be signed and uploaded. DragonLog provides a selection from the configured stations in TQSL. Then it searches for all QSOs with the matching locator which were not already sent to LoTW.

If you secured your TQSL set DragonLog correspondingly. DragonLog will then request your password on each upload action.

Automatic log import

If you want to automatically log QSOs from other programs i.e. WSJT-X or JS8Call DragonLog can watch an ADIF file for changes and import new logs as they are created.

Starting file watching opens a file dialog where you have to point to the log in question. Check the manual of the other program to find the correct path.

If you want to use the worked before feature of the other program consider to export your QSOs beforehand. Dragonlog will only import QSOs which are not already included in the current database.

Export

Following formats are supported for export

• ADIF 3 format (ADI/ADX)
• Excel file
• CSV format (UTF-8 encoding)

ADIF ADX is the best choice for creating a backup.

ADIF format export

ADX should be preferred over ADI as UTF-8 is supported. For ADX where UTF-8 (*_INTL fields) is supported additionally the ASCII counterpart is exported.

For ADX ASCII only fields (all ADI fields) all german umlauts and ligatures are converted automatically to suiting counterparts.

.adif is an alternative for .adi (as specified).

Import

Following formats are supported for export

• ADIF 3 format (ADI/ADX)
• Excel file
• CSV format (UTF-8 encoding)

Excel/CSV import

The import file is expected to have the same structure and column order as exported by DragonLog. So best practice is to export QSOs with the current program version and adjust the import file.

Empty rows are skipped. A row is considered empty if the date/time is missing.

ADIF format import

UTF-8 content (*_INTL fields) are preferred over ASCII counterparts when importing ADX files.

For ADI files DragonLog fixes different problems depending on the source of the file (see ADIF Compatibility)

Hamlib integration

You can use hamlib to interact with your radio.

The QSO logging form automatically updates radio information:

• frequency (and band)
• mode (and submode)
• power

Hamlib can be downloaded at https://github.com/Hamlib/Hamlib/releases. DragonLog is tested against version 4.5.5.

After selecting your radio and interface settings you can press the start button to start the communication.

Currently, DragonLog can only configure radios with serial interface.

On Windows

Unpack or install your hamlib release. On the CAT settings tab you have to select your hamlib unpack/installation directory.

On Linux

If no package is available for your distribution you have to compile the hamlib release first. Download the release .tar.gz (not source), unpack, ./configure, make, make install. The rigctld is assumed to be in /usr/local/bin and thus on your path.

Country Data

Each release of DragonLog provides a very recent country data file. If you want to update it manually visit https://www.country-files.com/category/big-cty/ by Jim, AD1C and download a Big CTY Zip file. Unpack the Zip and goto Settings - Dx Spots to select the file. You can check if the file is correctly loaded via Help - About. Check if the Version date and Version entity corresponds to the website.

The flag display is based on the mapping from Flagpedia.net and matched against the Big CTY data. This is sometimes weak and thus error prone and needed manual fixes. There are still 30% unmapped (mostly islands).

If a flag is mapped wrong please stay calm and drop me a mail. The mapping does not reflect my view on country borders.

Copyright

DragonLog © 2023-2024 by Andreas Schawo is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0