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Reviews For: MacLoggerDX

Category: Ham Logging Software

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Review Summary For : MacLoggerDX
Reviews: 172MSRP: 95.
Description:
General-purpose logging software with interfaces to many radios, internet DXClusters, TNCs, and QRZ CD ROM database. Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.dogparksoftware.com/MacLoggerDX.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
551724.8
M0XDF Rating: 2012-05-31
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I stand by my 1st, 2nd & 3rd reviews (search for M0XDF, 2E0XDF & M3XDF).

MLDX is still one of the best pieces of s/w I have used on a Mac (since 1985!) and a great logging program. The support is unbelievable and the cost minor compared to the service (free upgrades approx 1/month for years).

Features, bug fixes and support for new rigs are produced very quickly (within 1 day for the K3) and the service is personal.

This was my last review:
I posted the below in May 2005 when I was 2E0XDF, I still stand by every word today

I've been in IT for 36 years and this has got to be the best supported program I've ever seen and that goes for all DogPark software . Don's support/service/responce etc is second to none.
I've been using Macs since 1985 and this is one of the best programs I've seen on a Mac (in fact, on any of I don't know how many platforms).

I'm a relativily new ham (Sep'03) and this program has helped me get started and contiunes to do more than I can currently foresee me needing. That's not to say its over complicated, its extremely easy to use, yet very comprehensive.

* 3D Maps have got to be seen to be believed! *

Questions to Don always result in a clear answer and if I don't understand, further questions get the same fast, clear responce.

Suggestions for features etc get added within days (sometimes within hours, one today within minutes!), but if you're the kind of person who likes to wait a little before upgrading, thats not a problem. There has never been a "must upgrade" comment. And MaxLoggerDX is writen to accommadate this.

*** I can't praise MLDX enough. ***

Well done Don and thanks for such a great program with fantastic support.
W6BK Rating: 2012-05-31
superior software for an avid DXer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
MacLoggerDX continues to be an outstanding software aid for Apple users who are also avid DX enthusiasts. There are really no competing products for this group. Using MacLoggerDX, I have within the past few months achieved DXCC Honor Roll, DXCC Challenge, and 5 Band DXCC. MacLoggerDX organizes the information from the cluster and presents the results in an easy to use fashion that makes award chasing easier. It provides easy, fast, and automatic control of the radio, the SteppIR antenna and the rotor. Don Agro provides absolutely excellent customer service. Problems and issues are resolved within hours usually and sometimes within minutes. Updates (new betas) are posted frequently. I would highly recommend MacLoggerDX to anyone with an Apple computer and an interest in DX. It is worth the price several times over.
K3SF Rating: 2012-05-31
GREAT Mac Based Logger Time Owned: more than 12 months.

***** five stars cause it is great *****


Three things to consider when making a software purchase

1.) Is this an ever evolving product? -- YES,

2.) Will the support I need be there when I need it?-- YES

3.) Will the product provide the functionality I need? -- YES


why i answered YES to all the above....

I have had MacDXLogger (MLDX) since version 3.x and now run the current 5.39. and have paid for v3 and small update price to v4 and v5 update. Think how much you paid for OS update and upgrade, or some other s/w you use daily.

When Apple goes to Mountain Lion OSX, i have confidence that Don will be there with a version that just works works. yep this is a living products that has grown over the years and has met my needs for Mac based Logger. (As a side note i got better support from Don on osx 10.7 update than i did from Intuit for Quicken)

Don has kept past version available for those who computer upgrade cycle is every 10 years (power pc vs intel cpu)..but has kept the product current with every evolution of the Mac OS. My personnel approach is to update computer h/w every three years and to keep s/w as current as possible from a security perspective and from a needed( ok wanted) features...

I do have technolust ;-) comes from being a ham

Don has taken user input for suggestions for improvements, new features, and even possible detected bugs directly (direct email to him and not thru user group)and responds quickly for a resolution.

Some suggestion are incorporated in to the s/w almost the same day. I have made a few suggestions over the years that have been incorporated within an hour of my email. Other suggestions that have not but Don clearly explains the reasons.

There is also great support from the yahoo user group from actual users and which don monitors and responds.

Overall great product support.

On the issue of functionality. This is first a logger program with a rig interface, with internet interface for dxcluster operation, with interface for call lookup that are both free internet service and paid services (ie qrz.com).

There are other interface i havent even tried.

To me, the main purpose of the software is to make everyday hamming easier. It can work in a contest by selecting various contest features. These features work but as people have noted there are contest only s/w that works better. So if you are a contester only this may not be the s/w you are looking for. That said, i have used it in various dx contests with ease and success. The popup contest helper does help and checks for dupes as you type the call and calcs your qso rate.

The alarm feature has significantly allowed me to maximize my available hamming time to chase dx. Been trying to get to 300 confirmed on LOTW alone.
Right now stand at 242 lotw confirmed. The alarm function allows me to set parameters for ones i need confirmed and who qsl via lotw.

The spot panel columns as well as the other panel columns are user configured. Put them in the order you want and you can select the sort order on the columns you want. Yep..all my lotw alarm pop to the top of the spot panel. click on call column and get calls in sorted order. click on band column and get everything sorted by band.
there are a lot of user configurable features that they are too many to list.

I am able to easily import and export adif files and have used adif files from arrl lotw site to update the log for lotw qsl confirmation. I have imported adifs from rumlog too.

Overall a great Mac Based Logger program for everyday hamming. Not a dedicated rig control program but has good rig freq/mode interface that works seamlessly. Not a dedicated contest program but has a sufficient set of contest modes and helpers that make the transition from everyday use to contest use easy for the casual contester.

yep... in my opinion, this a great mac based logger that is worth the price


Paul K3SF








----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by K3SF on 2008-07-29

I have been a longtime Mac user and Macloggerdx user. I have seen it evolve over the years.

for me it just ROCKS..

I use it on a day to day basis for casual operating. and also in dx contesting..two extremes of ham hf operating and it works well in both these modes.

for example, while payng bills using quicken, i have hf rig fired up and mldx running at the same time..dxcluster setup to announce any new country i might need...does this mode work...yep..work BS7H on 20 m cw while paying my mortage.. wow what a payoff

this program has helped me make the most of my ham operating time and is easy to use..

just read the manual and if you dont understand, just drop don agro an email and he will help you along..

the program works as advertised..

not only that you can try it before you buy it.. i did this because i wanted to be sure it would work with my computer/comms/radio setup

i was able to troubleshoot my setup without spending any $$$ up front...once i was convinced it was the right stuff..i bought it and havent regretted one bit (pun intented)

i use it in conjunction with cocoamodem, work cw and digital modes and never place a hand on the radio..keyboard and mouse operations

try it.. the demo is free and full featured..it just timesout after 10 minute..start it again and keep on playing with it...you can do this indefinitely..

find out what you like and what you dont...
doesn't cost you anything

as i said before MLDX ROCKS






N1ZJ Rating: 2012-05-31
Best in class Time Owned: more than 12 months.
MacLoggerDX has been around for some time and has evolved into an ultra reliable, mature, comprehensive logging program. It covers nearly every rig made (unlike RUMlog/ed) and has flexible import and export. The displays are also configurable and flexible. Support is the best I have ever experienced. Virtually all bug reports and many suggested improvements are acted on immediately and made available as a download, often within minutes to hours. It integrates cleanly with Cocoamodem for digital modes and has its own CW keying features. One might wonder why SV1HFY is so critical, but I guess we all have known folks who think that anything that's not perfect is trash.It's likely missing some pet feature of his. It does have some shortcomings as a contest program, but that's not what it's meant to be. As far as I'm concerned, MacLoggerDX is the absolute best Mac program for DX logging available., and when you consider the superior level of support and reliability, it's actually inexpensive.
K7FU Rating: 2012-05-30
Makes logging easy. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got back on the low bands and MacLoggerDX is making things easy. I know some people won't want to pay for a program when there are free alternatives, but the support on MacLoggerDX is phenomenal, even on the weekends. Open Source, not so much.

It doesn't do everything I want, but what does? MacLoggerDX and a paid QRZ account and I'm ready to finally get my WAJA and WAS (does anyone really live in Delaware?)
SV1HFY Rating: 2012-05-28
Pretty but lacks functionality and flexibility. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
It looks pretty, so why the one? Just for the looks actually. It doesn't function as good as expected from a logger. There are other things just as important if not more than just the looks and this software lacks major logging capabilities such as log functionality, flexibility and manipulation specially for maintaining your log's integrity as you want it, which is something I would expect from a well designed and paid for logging software such as this one. Save your money as there is free software out there that can deal with your logs in a much better way.

Unfortunately, amateur Mac OS X software is back compared to even free programs available for other *nix OSs but it is slowly getting there. If you must use Mac OS X I would definitely suggest RUMlog and RUMped instead. It takes a little getting used to and they may not look as pretty as MacLoggerDX yet but functionality and price are way better. Give them both a serious try. Both programs are free and made by a DXer and a serious contester and when they are combined with cocoaModem they can serve your station's needs very well for just about anything.
KL2D Rating: 2012-04-17
Great program and AWESOME support!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a great logging program, especially combined with an XML subscription to QRZ.com. Plus, it pulls all of the relevant info from your radio.

The best part is the near instantaneous support from Don. He even returned an email on Easter morning when I was having radio connectivity problems!!! (my fault as it turns out).

I would highly reccomend it, don't be scared off by the price, it is worth it!!
AB6WL Rating: 2012-03-10
Great Program!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Since much has already been said in previous reviews about the wonderful features of MacLoggerDX, I will only add - Buy this program and enjoy using it along with Don's great customer support. It's worth every penny.
W6WIF Rating: 2012-03-05
W6WIF Time Owned: more than 12 months.

If I could give a 10 to a logging program MacLogger Dx 5.3.6 would get it hands down. There are several reasons for this. The first one being the support you get from the designer of the program Don Argo and I needed a program that would work well with my Apple. I have never meet Don but he has answered everyone of my questions and gets back to me when he gets my e mails.I have found many companies are never around when you need them once you have purchased their program. This is not the case with Don Argo.I have had all the versions of MacLogger DX from day one and each time a new version comes out it is even better. The graphics are unbelievable and to be quite honest everyday I discover it will do something else I had always wanted in a logging program. I am using my ICOM 7600 and my apple IMAC 10.6.8. My data base is QRZ.com. which is tied directly into the program. The different maps that you can choose from are fantastic. You make the contact it shows a line to the contact on the map and gives you the distance in miles and at the same time brings up all the information of the contact as well. The log itself is simple and gives you all the information you could ask for. It you want the program it to turn your beam it will do that as well with the right components. For those who want to do RTTY and PSK31 his program will work with several interface companies. I hope one day to have the pleasure of meeting Don to thank him personally for his help and advice. There is a free download which he offers. Do yourself a favor try it and if you do get it be assured Don will be there to answer any of your questions.
K6XR Rating: 2012-03-03
Amazing program Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
An amazing logging/radio control/dxCluster program. It becomes intuitive after just a little use and the layout is the very best. Of course, this is on my Mac-Mini. I have wkusb keyer connected as well and it is very smooth and easy to use. If you have a Mac, this is the program for your operating activities