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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
OZ5ABO Rating: 2003-06-17
Great Program and service Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After testing the competitors answer to the everlasting Logging Disciplin I decided to go for the DX4WIN. The decision wasn't difficult at all. DX4WIN represents all the features you might ask for and it's very easy to use.

So yesterday evening after dinner I submitted my order on their homepage.

2 minutes later I had the orderconfirmation in my mailbox.

40 minutes later I had the registration code in my mailbox.

Less than 1½ hour after I submitted my order DX4WIN was installed, configured and up running with interactive internet DX spots etc etc. How difficult can it be?

Well, for me the most difficult part would be entering my old paperlog into DX4WIN... ;-)

73/oz5abo
N2PR Rating: 2003-02-13
The Best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Works Great I have been using DX4WIN for a couple of years without a problem. I also used other Logging programs but I always had problems with them. I will be using DX4WIN for a long time. Product support is the best. With Ver. 6.02 it just gets better. Keep up the good work.
N6WIN Rating: 2002-10-12
Great Program Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The program offers more than I can reasonably expect. I am using version 5.03 and have been impressed with the stability, easy learning curve, features, and most of all QSL label printing & sorting.

I switched to this program after using another and am not sorry about making the move.
ONL5183 Rating: 2002-09-16
Good interface and databases Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
In a first time I used The Logger and various other products that have both plus and minus sides.
Then I found DX4Win v5 and its 3D map of the earth and paths that impressed me. Very fast, and completed with updated databases (DXCC, QSL Mgr, US counties, IOTA, and more), a contest mode and external connexions (COM or TCP) with some regret I decided to give up my Logger and buy a license of DX4Win for my Windows ME environment.
The author quickly satisfied my request by providing me a serial number.

The connexion to the net in order to get DX spot and WWV data online is powerful, easy to configure and many options are customizable (on the remote server as you should do with a TNC).
This option is great. When the system locates a new DXCC to work for example, you have simply to clic on the concerned callsign, DX4Win creates automatically a new QSO entry in the main window and you have only to call the station and type the RST plus a comment if needed. That could not be more easy to use and more fast.

Up to now I am not disappointed at all by this product excepting on the next points :

Negative side, if most windows position (similar call, reports summaries, log, etc) are saved when the application is closed and reopened automatically at the same place at the next run, the DXCC report that I always open to check my current status of DXCC closes down when I close my session and I must reopen it each time. Why this one and why not the others ?...

In the main form all fields are not perfectly aligned and the field "Note for this QSO" for example could be replaced by a larger box with a lift in place of using a long character field in which only a few dozen characters can be displayed simultaneously.

This main window is also the only one to be of fixed size.
It shoud be very useful to made it customisable and adjustable in both sizes and location of field in the window. But this last option requires probably to replace all fields by objects, a upgrade currently not in the author pipeline.

The propagation option is useless. That could however be a powerful tool if it was well programmed (taking in account the solar flux and indices, and country of emission/destination, what the current version doe not). Please take a look to W6UN DOS program for a good example.

It is also a pity we have to access all options via the main scrolling menu. The author could insert some push buttons to create new QSO for example or in order to quickly access to the databases.

Therefore I rate this product 4/5 no more.

Thierry
ONL5183
NR3Y Rating: 2002-05-21
Outstanding Time Owned: more than 12 months.
There are probably too many reasons to go with DX4WIN to list here, but consider these:

[1] The support is nothing short of outstanding. Contrast that with some of the other offerings.
[2] Performance. At Dayton 2002, they demonstrated how it performs with large log files (over half a million QSOs). It took about 30 seconds to load. Show me another product that can work that quickly. Furthermore, that log file was around 40Mb on disk, not the hundreds of MBs that an Access DB would require.
[3] Upgrade policy. Traditionally, minor upgrades (e.g. 5.0.1, .02, .03, etc) have been free; major upgrades (V4 -> V5) have been a nominal amount, usually around $20-30. (One of the first posts in this thread was complaining about the upgrade polcity. I think Rapidan Data System's policy is very fair.)
[4] Features. True, most logging programs have a similiar set of features. However, the DX4WIN users actually influence what goes into the program. Clearly, no program will do everything for everyone, but the authors of this software do their level-best to see that sensible suggestions are incorporated. (Even more features in the upcoming V6 of the program.)
[5] Flexability. I've owned this software since V1.0 (over 6 years), and consider myself a 'power user'. However, I'm still finding new options and capabilities even to this day. A previous poster's comments about it's okay to start with DX4WIn and move on to DXBase are completely unfounded and inaccurate. (Interestingly, some of the big contest stations and DXpeditions use this software, which leads me to believe that it's not simply for 'beginners'.)
W4WNT Rating: 2002-04-01
DX4WIN/Access Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using DX4WIN on a 386 Windows 3.1 platform and find it quite useful and compatible with CT9 which I use for contesting. Logs can be saved as .csv files and imported into Access for database manipulation quite easily. I've used the filter function to sort out QRP contacts and other uses. From what I've been told by those who have more up to date computers, the new versions of DX4WIN are also great. I expect to upgrade to a newer version when I upgrade my computer, but right now, this version of DX4WIN does everything I need as a logging program.
VE3DWT Rating: 2001-09-24
Very Solid Logging Program Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I read all the reviews on EHAM.NET regarding Logging programs, and tried most trial versions before deciding on DX4WIN. I find this program very responsive to my logging needs. I'm most impressed at how fast the program responds to menu commands. The database engine is very quick at returning searches, DXCC reports and summaries, etc. The customizable screen layout allows me to have a world map, log book, previous contact summary window, QSO entry, DXCC Summary, WAZ Summary, and WPX Summary all active at once. The contest mode also works very well for my needs, and is very quick at returning duplicate contact alarms, and identifying new DXCC countries required fast. My only complaint with the software is that it doesn't have an entry for exact frequency used (only Band) thus I am forced to enter this as a QSO comment. All in all though a very responsive and useable contact logging software package.
ON7ZZ Rating: 2001-05-25
PERFECT Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have tried many logging programs (6 differents) and finally now I am using the DX4WIN. For me the best, the easyest. The assistance perfect.
In one word : try it, you will adopt it.
Fine job Steve !
KZ1X Rating: 2001-03-20
V5.02 Top Notch in Every Way Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Upgraded to V5.02 from V4.07 and am happy to have the new features, especially PSK31.

This is one logging program you just can't go wrong with. Every time I use it, I find more thoughtfully executed elements.

Easy-to-use user interface.

I'm very pleased, and find DX4WIN to be an excellent value.
N0PFY Rating: 2000-12-28
Wonderfful support Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I can't say enought about their support. If your simply looking for a contesting program this probably isn't for you, but, for standard logging and awards tracking this is the best there is.