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Reviews For: DX4Win

Category: Ham Logging Software

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Review Summary For : DX4Win
Reviews: 64MSRP: 89.95
Description:
Comprehensive logging software for Windows
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.dx4win.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00644
KB3SMM Rating: 2009-05-04
Excellent Product - Great Service Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've used DX4WIN for about 5 years and nearly 15,000 QSOs. The package included all the features that I was looking for in logging software: ease and management of data entry; awards tracking and reporting; import/export functionality; stability (never crashed or caused windows to misbehave); beam headings, updates to country listings; etc. DX4WIN gets 5 stars because of their great customer service: knowledgable and fast response; special thanks to Paul for noteworthy service! Rich
AC0X Rating: 2008-03-11
Ah... once upon a time Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Way back when, DX4Win was the "cats meow". And you always looked forward to upgrades. 5.x was a nice improvement over 4.x, and 6.x was a noticeable improvement over 5.x

Problem is, the program hasn't changed much since then. 7.x did come out. But it was really just a "6.1 that took a long time to finally arrive". And the rest of the world (both free and "for pay" logging software) has matured miles beyond it.

LOTW requires a dance of ADIF exports, signatures, and reimports, while other programs have had one or two button updates for years.

Interfacing with various multi-mode software is limited to just the MMTTY engine, with little hope of any others in the future.

Want to integrate an atlas, propagation, or QSL lookup program, or have hopes DX4Win might add it's own in the future? Based on the amount/pace of upgrades recently, not likely.

It's data exporting capabilities (for if you do ever decide to move to another program) are anemic. The database is a proprietary format, and the output ADIF doesn't have half the data the program actually stores (like DXCC submission status data).

And then there's DX4Win's method of determining DXCC counties from callsigns. First I'll say (as long as you keep up to date with its DXCC country files) it's probably THE BEST that’s out there. You enter a DX callsign from the past 40 years, and as long as you date it correctly, it'll get the DXCC country correct. But the problem is, IT HAS TO, and that’s because DX4Win DOES NOT STORE THE DXCC COUNTRY ALONG WITH YOUR LOG ENTRY, BUT DETERMINES IT FROM ITS DXCC/PREFIX RECONCILIATION DATA. Which means if you change that incorrectly, THE DXCC COUNTRY ON EVERY LOG ENTRY YOU HAVE THAT IS COVERED BY THAT WILL ALSO BE CHANGED. And also - THAT COUNTRY FILE ISNT EVEN MAINTAINED BY THE DX4WIN PROGRAMMERS, IT IS DONE BY A VERY DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE USER COMMUNITY.

It's all these things that makes me give a "2" to a program I once gushed over with a "5".

Maybe someday 8.x will come out and will make me fall in love again.

But I'm not holding my breath.
W4SK Rating: 2007-07-25
I Give Up Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Been using DX4WIN for several years, have the very latest edition. Now that I need user support, they are no where to be found. Two (unanswered) written requests over the course of the last thirty days is enough for me. Its good software if you dont want or need customer service. Not being a computer person, I need customer service. They wont provide it. I'll have to find something else ASAP.

-W4SK
WD4ELG Rating: 2007-04-02
Works for me Time Owned: more than 12 months.
An avid fan since ver 5 back in 2003. It does everything I need.

Yes, each program has a unique user interface which takes some time to get accustomed to...but once the learning curve is overcome you will enjoy this app.

Another nice feature is the DX4WIN user mailing list which is actively monitored and responded to for all sorts of questions. That kind of free support in near-real-time is very helpful.
K6ZSS Rating: 2006-07-05
Showing it's age Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been a keen advocate of DX4Win for many years. I have been upgrading regularly from ver 0.92 until 7.02. However there are a few niggly issues that I never liked such as the packet window interface and DXCC tracking window, as well as integration with LOTW. I have also started to use the excellent control software - TRX-Manager which is difficult to integrate with DX4WIN.

Earlier this year I switched over to Swisslog as my logging programme and have been happy ever since.

73 Peter G3ZSS
ON6AB Rating: 2005-11-18
The world ends at 30 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Let’s look at this program from a VHF standpoint for a short while, just for fun:
- Does DX4WIN has any means to indicate you worked MS, EME, Tropo, aurora?
o Answer: nope 0/5
- Does DX4WIN let you log a JT65 qso?
o Answer: nope 0/5
Hey guys, nobody is using JT44 anymore!
- Can DX4WIN detect new maidenhead grids from a DX cluster?
o Answer: nope 0/5
- Does DX4WIN has a graphical view were you can see your worked squares/band?
o Answer: nope 0/5

As a VHF man (yes, they DO exist), what rating do you expect me to give?
Alright, DX4WIN is not the only logging program where the world ends at 30Mc but please guys, do something about it!


----------------------
Earlier 4-star review posted by ON6AB on 2003-02-03

DX4Win is a good logging program. It has many features, it is fast and reliable, but it is rather aimed to HF operators. On VHF, you miss maidengrid lines on the map, indications on the map about the worked/confirmed squares, path distances are not saved in the log, propagation modes are not selectable etc...
General short comings are in my opinion: no "keep alive" function for the Telnet connection. This makes the function rather useless these days, since you don't have a visual indication to show you if you're still connected or not. You can wait for DX announcements that will never come...
You can solve this problem by linking to DXTelnet, but it's quite a circus to set up the link every time.
I also find the Award reports rather confusing. The available operation modes are summire and don't include the new digital modes.
The PSK interface programm is usable, but it is rudimentary compared to the modern digital programs as MIXW, Hamscope, Digipan etc..
It does a lot of other things OUTSTANDING though.
With a little upgrade, it could be top of the bill!
9K2HN Rating: 2005-04-25
Helped me alot!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I started using this program in Feb 2004 after converting from DOS Based logging program, I found this program is very easy to use and have some great tools whiched saved a lot of time such as qsling and label printing and tracking my awards is easier than ever.
WK0F Rating: 2004-12-17
Solid Logging Program Time Owned: more than 12 months.
You know, I have looked at other logging programs over the years, and I keep coming back to DX4Win. It does everything I need in a logging program, plus! Imports Writelog logs, CW keyer, good packet spotting, can be used as a (non-serious) contesting program, etc. They have a great reflector. For a good solid logging program try DX4Win. You'll like it!
SM3LGO Rating: 2004-09-08
Simply great Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
After a loooong market survey of log SW, I decided for DX4 in late 2003. I have absolutely no regrets. Very stable, no crashes (running with Win XP). Import of proprietary (my own) format ASCII contest logs went extremely smooth. User interface very good also for manually entereing from paper logs (entered about 13k QSOs this way). Searching/label printing/award management are all very easy. Help function very comprehenshive.

Looking for something to complain about... QRX... Oh, one small thing: when searching for dates, you have to go into an "options" setting to decide if dates are to be interpreted as "before", "after", or "in between". I would have liked a more "friendly" way to decide this on a per-search base. (Maybe there is, but I haven't found it?)
LU4XWT Rating: 2003-06-30
upgrade needed Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I belived that DX4win were a solid program and that this logger works well. I´m registered user for the 5.02 version. I find many problems and I lose twice my last datas because I forgot press Alt+S key in my portable computer. Many problems with import-export from another software. Some times the wonderfull blue screen of W98...
But you can see the reflector (Dx4win - support)and another users will speak for me. The last version 6.02 don´t go fine... Many users are returning to de previous 5.03 that is more solid. I´m waiting for one year the support help and speaking in Ham´s forums they said that the support don´t help to the users. I think that they pay 89,95$ to Rapidan Data Systems not to mailman (reflector), then this software MUST BE FREEWARE. Don´t support a comparative with DXBASE (realy professional software)or LOGGER (good freeware), etc. Many programers know what is the motive of the field NOTES FOR THIS CALL (you will think many time before change to another looger program). I will return to my oldest LOGGER16...Like the Dire Straits song...Money for nothing... The call is not my true call because this comment must be anonymus. But I come from Argentina.