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write your own review of the WriteLog by W5XD.
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G4WFQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 1, 2007 13:36
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Bomb Proof and well supported
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Writelog is still the number one choice for my contest logging.
I have tried quite a few contest logging programs including the latest offerings, but what really stands out for me, is that I have NEVER lost a single QSO from any logs with Writelog, despite numerous power cuts on various dxpeditions.
Its stood the test of time, used in both CW and RTTY contests, at home and on dxpedition, G4WFQ/HI9, C6AWF and G4WFQ/6W.
The documentation is all included in the program help files, which are searchable. Works perfectly with Winkey and runs very well in Windows XP without any add ons required!
If your a RTTY contester then writelog supports the MMTTY plug-in and does just about every RTTY contest going.
At $30 and with so many contests supported it has to be very good value!
Cheers
Dave
G4WFQ
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AD6WL
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 23, 2006 14:00
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The best contesting software
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is by far the best contesting software I have ever used. I have been a dedicated user for over 5 years. The price is only $30 as of this writing. There is a learning curve for this program but it is well worth it. I operate CW, phone and digital modes with it. For contests like the CA QP, I can operate CW on one radio and SSB on the other. SO2R on all modes, especially RTTY, is a breeze. All my CQs, Rotor control, filter selection and scoring are automated. Updates and support for this software is excellent.
The following website should solve all your support needs. You will have to follow some of the links to get what you want but it is all there.
http://www.writelog.com/support.htm
If you’re serious about contesting or just want to use an easy automated program this is it. If all you need is a general logging software for casual contacts, I would recommend Logger32, but for contests Write Log is the best.
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K4WPX
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 10, 2006 19:53
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a Must for a Contest
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is the best contest logging software around period. No PHD needed to use it.
The 3Y0X team could not be wrong either! I used this in many contests from Africa with great success and not one problem. If you are into contesting, get it!
The DXpedition mode works great a as general logger!
Well done W5XD!
Andre K4WPX (ZS6WPX,C91Z,7P8ZZ,3DA0WPX,SU/ZS6WPX,5H9AW)
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K9OM
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Rating: 1/5
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Nov 15, 2005 08:35
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Very Poor Documentation
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I purchased WriteLog over a year ago and haven't had the time to get it running yet. Almost no documentation comes with the program. After you purchase the program you are advised to visit multiple websites to glean the information needed to get it running. In addition to very poor documentation the software is not complete and will not allow you to run CW with Windows XP. Therefore, off to a 3rd Party site you go again to download 3rd party software. I downloaded the 3rd Party CW driver but didn't have time to search the net for instructions on how to install and configure it. When I found all this out I asked WriteLog for a refund... but was yelled at for even considering the idea... and then was told "no refunds".
Perhaps when I retire I'll have time to fool with WriteLog. Working 60 hour weeks and fooling with WriteLog is not compatible. For now, when I have some spare time I love working on antennas and operating. In the meantime... NA, CT, TR, and LOG-EQF all work just fine and are a pleasure to use.
Since they charge a healthy price for WriteLog I see no excuse for them not to include a well documented Owners Manual. They charge a healthy price for WriteLog but act like the program is free.
So buyer beware! Don't purchase WriteLog unless you have lots of time to spend searching the net for installation and user information. If I had known this I wouldn't have purchased WriteLog at this time.
Best 73!
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KD8BIZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 27, 2005 09:36
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Great contest logger
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I'm new to Ham, new to contesting, new to everyting.
I got WriteLog and started doing RTTY contests - this is the best RTTY contest software ever - now I'm hooked on RTTY.
This weekend I will try a SSB contest - this thing makes contesting feasible - now if I just had a tower, and decent set of antennas, and an amp.
Not a great general logger - for that I use DXKeeper, but a great contest logger, and you need both.
Dennis
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N4LQ
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Rating: 0/5
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Nov 28, 2004 10:00
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Buyer Beware
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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In order to try this software, you must purchase it. I purchased it via PayPal. It took 3 days to the "download instructions" to arrive via Email. I received an 11 page Email consisting of a disorganized jumble of instructions wherein was hidden the security key. Several attempts to install were needed. I managed to get WL to run my Omni VI but not the Jupiter. CW keying through the LPT port was horrible. In frustration, I asked for a refund. The sales person would not respond to my refund request. I went directly to W5XD who apparently forced the sales person to refund my money. The sales person was relunctant to process the refund and in so many words accused me of wrong doing.
If you like the reviews of this software and want to try it, just keep in mind that basically, you're stuck with it. $75 is a lot of money just to try something. I would recommend trying other logging programs that provide a shareware or demo version before you take the plunge.
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RV3APM
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 2, 2004 13:53
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SuperB Contest Software
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I use WriteLog almost 4 years. WL have many useful functions , very quality with good interface. Support many RTTY-SSB-CW contests.
Very nice job!
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K9YC
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 17, 2003 17:07
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Good software, mediocre documentation
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I was first exposed to this software on Field Day, my first after nearly 20 years of inactivity. The last time I worked a contest, I did my logging and duping by hand on paper -- it took only a few minutes with Write Log to convince me that this was a lot better way to do it! On Field Day, multiple computers, one at each station, were linked together to give a total picture of our progress.
Since I've always enjoyed contesting, I bought Write Log only a few weeks later and have now used it on four contests. I find the software to be fairly well thought out, both in terms of features and the user interface. The only serious weak spot is the documentation, which is best described as quite limited and poorly organized. Yeah, I know there's a FAQ, online help, a third party website, and even an email list, but none of them is really complete in and of itself. But don't take my word for it -- a few weeks on the email list (at contesting.com) will make it clear that others are having just as much trouble figuring out how to use the software as I am.
My definition of an FAQ is a bunch of questions that ought to be covered in well organized documentation but isn't. I had to sort through all four sets of resources listed above to get answers to some pretty basic questions, like how to set up the connections to my radios, the fact that I needed to invert the polarity of the keying (no, it isn't a "level shifter," it's an "inverter!"), how to set up the Function Keys, how the software was designed to operate during a contest, etc.
Call me old school, but IMO, a product is not finished and ready to sell until a real user's manual and other needed documentation are complete. Given that standard, Write Log is far from finished. But I wouldn't consider operating in a contest without it!
Other strengths: It's quite easy to generate the Cabrillo reports for submittal to contest organizers, and to export to other logging software. For example, it took only a few minutes to generate the Cabrillo report for a recent DX contest, and to export the log to DX Keeper to keep track of my contries worked. Downloadable updates to add features (including support for other contests) and to fix bugs seem to come pretty regularly.
Other weaknesses: It isn't at all obvious how to use WriteLog as a general DX logging program, nor does it look very nice for that use. And when setting up for the CQWW DX contest, I made the mistake of choosing the CQ WPX contest instead, and logged the contest on it. I could find no easy way to correct my mistake after the fact -- instead, I had to re-enter the entire log. I tried (successfully) exporting to a spreadsheet and editing it there, but I couldn't find a way to get from the spreadsheet back to WriteLog. All the data was in the original log, so I didn't lose it, but the scoring was different and things were in different columns for the submittal.
Jim Brown K9YC
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VE3YF
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 30, 2003 09:17
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Great Contest Software
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Up till now I have been using a couple of DOS based software programs for all of my contest needs. While they worked good, I wanted something that would work under the Windows Platform. I came to eHam to find reviews of various programs and found this program and I thought I would give WL a try. I got everything to work on the first go and it installed with no problems. I have used it for 2 x RTTY Contests and haven't had a single problem. Plenty of support around for contests that are not self contained. I feel that I am NOT going to go back to DOS! Working in the Windows environment is much better and simpler than DOS! I have also tryed the network feature with the program and I find that it also works great or at least close to great. Great support for Writelog.
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N3MX
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Rating: 5/5
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May 30, 2003 12:24
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Fantastic!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Great contesting software! I have used CT (which is also good but dated)and others and nothing comes close. Very good support too! I highly recommend it. You will not be disappointed!
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