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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
AE3K Rating: 2012-07-07
seems low quality to me Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I can't say my experience with MacLoggerDX is as positive as the other reviewers here.

In a fit of optimism, I paid $95 for the Mac logger program, because it sure looked nice, but it was a pain to learn my way around with the 10-minute timeouts.

But I immediately had lots of problems with the mapping aspect of the software. It gives great Screen Shot, but in my opinion is poorly done. For example, the user has to select discrete map sizes, instead of letting the software resize or zoom automatically or when the user changes the window size.

Worse, I still to this day cannot figure out how it decides to plot stations on the maps. Sometimes a W7 ends up in New Jersey, even though the location is correctly decoded in the text portion of the display to indicate Arizona (to give just one example).

In my opinion, the manual is written from the point of view of somebody who already knows the program well, and understands the unstated assumptions and world view. For a Mac product that is supposed to "just work" it is pretty disappointing.

When I tried to get email support, I sent questions and screen shots and tried to be as clear as I could.

FWIW, I've been developing software for 30 years, including high-power GUIs for engineering and industrial applications. So I think I know how software is supposed to work.

I have deleted my $95 copy, and truly regret the purchase.

For me, it's either using one of the well-known loggers in the Windows VM, or else a paper log. Paper logs are usually not very disappointing or annoying.

KD2ALV Rating: 2012-06-07
One of the reasons I am in Ham Radio Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Don
I received all three licenses in July, 2011 and then bought my gear that included an ICOM 7000, Rigblaster Advantage and yes Mac Logger DX. Since then, I have sent him many emails and he answered each one honestly, patiently and concisely. One immediately sees firsthand his dedication and love not only for MacLoggerDX but to the greater Ham community.
MacloggerDX
This program is essential for my sheer enjoyment as a Ham. A couple of weeks ago I wrote to Don about a radio that I am thinking about buying and asked him if MacloggerDX would work on it. Why would I ask him such a question? Because if the radio did not work with McLoggerDX I would simply not buy it.
This package, MacloggerDX and Don Agro is a great value that will never be beat by any other logging company. An that my friend is a guarantee!

Great Job Don and keep it up!
Daniel Codianni
KD2ALV & HK3DC
W6AAJ Rating: 2012-06-04
W6AAJ Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I've used this product for several months and it's as good as everyone says. When you buy software you want to be sure that it's supported software, that the feature set is growing and that tech support is there for those few times when you need questions answered. The answer to all of those questions is YES.
KE1B Rating: 2012-06-04
Hands down, the Premier Logger for the Mac! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using this program for years, and it just keeps getting better. Virtually every feature you would ever want or need for everyday logging: supports every popular radio, telnet, QRZ integration, awards tracking, and much, much more!

Support is incredible, with the developer sometimes providing fixes within MINUTES of reporting a problem.

If you are a Ham, and you have a Mac, you want MacLoggerDX.
If you are a Ham, and you don't have a Mac, you want a Mac and MacLoggerDX
Z21BB Rating: 2012-06-01
Second to none Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I moved on to Mac a couple of years ago, and was hesitating for a while about changing my logging software as I had been using the same excellent Windows-based one for so many years and was very familiar with it. So I was still using that one for a while, running Windows in parallel with my Mac. The discontinuation of support and updates to my old logging program finally prompted me to take the step and look for a good Mac-based option. MLDX is not just good; it is actually very, very good. It is a joy to use, very simple and intuitive, and yet very powerful and sophisticated "under the hood". It interacts VERY smoothly with about anything else written for ham radio under the Mac platform. But the best thing about this program by far is Don, the engineer behind it. Updates are frequent, suggestions by users are heard and considered and, in brief, support for the program is just second to none. It is work in progress. It has only become better and better over the years. Worth every cent it costs.

73

Fernando
Z21BB, EA4BB (ex ST2BF, D2BB, TU5JL, 9Q5BB)
M1ICL Rating: 2012-05-31
Outstanding software and service Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Putting Ham Radio aside for a moment, this is one of the best pieces of Mac Software I have come across with a level of service provided by Don that I have yet to beat. I can only echo what others have said here.

Far more than just logging software and puts some other commercial software to shame.

All I can say is that if you are Ham with a Mac then this software should be on your machine.

Keep up the good work Don.

Regards
Ian
M1iCL
KF5JRA Rating: 2012-05-31
Best all around program and support. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Being a fairly new ham (licensed in 2011) and a mac user for both work and personal use my goal was to find a native program to run on my mac's. Well the after trying the free ones and the other shareware programs I kept finding issues. It was either they were not written directly for the mac with not so friendly mac interface or they did not do provide what I was expecting of them.

One of the reasons for choosing MLDX was that it has a smooth workflow that can be tuned to almost any operators style on how he likes to work his station. This coupled with the practically instantaneous response on support questions made the choice that much easier to make for the purchase.

My MLDX interfaces with both my old Icom IC-735 and Yaesu 857D and shows all the information available for what the radio allows to be queried for. This coupled with cocoamodem and my SignaLink USB have logged all of my contacts both digital and phone.

Don, keep up the good work and always look forward to your new features.
K2WO Rating: 2012-05-31
The BEST! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using MacLoggerDX since it was released. It is the finest logging program that I have ever experienced. I have used many of the Windows loggers over the years and all of those designed for the Mac. Many are quite good, but in my humble opinion, none come close to MacLoggerDX. The best part is that the program just keeps getting better. The person behind this software is Don Agro and he is simply amazing. His support of this program is the best that I have experienced with ANY software. On the surface, the price for the software ($95) seems high, but trust me, in the long run it is cheap. If you own a Mac, this is the ONLY software to use.
N2LJ Rating: 2012-05-31
Keeps on ticking! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I posted a review previously, and I just have to say that Don Agro has continued to maintain this excellent Mac App right up through Mac OS X Lion. I've owned it for nearly 8 years now, and the regular updates are welcome.

It gets along great with just about any rig you can think of. My 718, my 7000 and my current 746 Pro all provide log data to MacLoggerDX through the CI-V interface (provided here by a MicroHam USB II). I've only used it with Icom, but it supports Ten-Tec, Elecraft, Yaesu, Kenwood, and anything that uses their protocols.

A recent addition was MacLoggerDX HD for the iPad. You can carry your log with you, monitor the DX spots, and even do some rig control wirelessly!

If you have a Mac, and you're into Ham radio, you NEED this!
NN4BJ Rating: 2012-05-31
OUTSTANDING! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
SUPPLEMENTAL REVIEW: I have used a number of different ham radio programs for the Mac, Linux, and the Windows environments. None comes close to MacLoggerDX for its simplicity, elegance, and capabiities. If one looks at the total number of reviews here the majority are 5/5 with a few disgruntled low reviews because the reviewer has some pet need that it does not do this or that. Hardly reason enough to rate this excellent programming effort so low. Every piece of software ever written can be improved, but is it the RIGHT improvement for the majority of users. I wrote code for over 40 years and understand the total effort and dedication it takes to design, develop, code, debug, and most importantly SUPPORT software that handles so many functions, radios, and interfaces. Don is a master of each. MacLoggerDX is well worth the $99, and I highly reccomend it to any Mac user Ham, all in all, it is a enormous value for what you receive in return. A well written virtually bug free software program that has excellent developer support. Even if a bug is found DON works with the users and squashes it. KUDO's Don.