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Reviews For: DXLab Suite by AA6YQ

Category: Ham Logging Software

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Review Summary For : DXLab Suite by AA6YQ
Reviews: 177MSRP: Free
Description:
Integrated suite of programs for logging and station management
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.dxlabsuite.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
141774.8
W9FI Rating: 2020-11-13
A big learning curve, but well worth the effort. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is an integrated set of applications that works extremely well together. But to take advantage of the features, you do have to invest the time to learn how to use this stuff. Difficult at first but it gets easy-to-use pretty fast.

73, Jim W9FI
WA3AER Rating: 2020-11-13
Superb Logging Software Suite Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have nothing but good things to say about DXLab software suite. Yes, it has a steep learning curve; but if you bite off a bit at a time it comes together nicely. I use DXLab as my daily logger and to accumulate contacts from N1MM (also a steep learning curve with the same advisory - learn a bit at a time). The User Interface is not modern and glitzy; it is functional. The support is exceptional; I've often wondered where Dave finds the time to respond to all the queries, but he does without significant delay (same is true of the N1MM developers).
Unless I choose an inoperable Telnet/cluster source, I've had no connection issues. Note that those clusters are not commercial ventures and do go down from time to time. Pick one of the reliable ones and there is little issue. PLUS, with DXLab/SpotCollector, you can have multiple Telnet/Cluster nodes operating concurrently.
DXLab does do award tracking, although that's not my primary reason for using it. It is comprehensive, if not totally intuitively obvious to the casual user. But, again, help is available.
I have used simpler logging programs before and found them wanting in both functionality and support. That this software suite is available at no charge is almost beyond belief. Dave knows his product inside/out. And it is continually being updated.
K3SX Rating: 2020-11-13
Excellent and Comprehensive Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using this software for more than 10 years. It does everything one would even think about doing. Provides real time logging, the ability to sort by whatever parameter you want it to, has a network of users, helpers and a user group which is super helpful. It is updated several times a year and as necessary when things change. Oh I forgot to mention it is totally free all the time. As Earl Scheib used to say- " no ups no extras." User comments are taken to heart and positively responded to almost 24 hours a day. Oh, all of this is free too. Thank you AA6YQ!
K8GI Rating: 2020-11-13
Incredible!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Update to earlier review: Still using this incredible software (actually, I think for about 13 years now.) As an active DXer I can't imagine wanting anything this suite of software does not do. It's almost like cheating -- hi hi. The DXLab software tracks my progress vis-a-vis every desired objective and award. If a needed entity is spotted anywhere in the world one of the five clusters to which I am connected let me know. The learning curve for maximum benefit is not trivial but it's really quite simple to get it all going initially and one can add functionality rather easily along the way. Essentially, one can use as much of it as one wants. And, there's an extremely active mail list inhabited by smart folks who are willing to help, not the least of whom is Dave, AA6YQ, the author.

Five stars -- all the way!

W5SV Rating: 2020-11-13
Complicated, but top notch with great support. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a complicated set of programs that takes a bit to get all down because of the huge set of different ways people want to use it. To its credit, there is excellent support from both the author and the user community. It is really amazing when you get it all set up and working, but the price you pay is there is a learning curve - and it is very rewarding for most of us to go down than trail.

I have used other logging and rig control programs, some paid for and some freeware and none of the others I tried gave me the full functionality nor support that I needed.

I have been using it for years and have found it even interoperates with some other software not from the same author, which might be better suited to some purpose such as contesting.
KB0FHP Rating: 2020-11-12
Great Program - Easy Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using the DXLabs Suite for nearly 17 years - maybe even longer. Regarding comments about not able to obtain a DXCC count (by band or total), it is a one mouse click (maybe two). Awards are just as easy. There are the standard DXCC, IOTA, WAC, WAS, VUCC, but there are many other awards that are one click efforts such as DDFM, DOKs FFMA, Helv. 26, Holyland. Preparation for the awards is just as easy - as the cards needed are indicated, making the paperwork process much easier.

Integrating logging with other programs like WSJT or JT-Alerts is straightforward.

I have recommended this program to many others, and will continue to do so
KA9JAC Rating: 2020-11-12
Best you will find Time Owned: more than 12 months.

In two clicks I can know exactly what my dxcc counts are, its even broken down by band, shows what i have worked, confirmed and verified by mode and band. I currently have my setup set to connect to 4 cluster sites, a couple are unique for specific things. No issues here either.

I have not found another program with the level of support available that DXlabs has, even when you have to pay for support.
VE3EKR Rating: 2020-11-12
Dog's breakfast Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am a bit late in posting this, so I apologize for that. I spent months trying just above every logbook out there. I even bought a few to support those that make a living from it.

I spent a full month with DXLabs. First, it would never reliably connect to the cluster I would use all the time. Not sure why, but every other logbook does just fine.

The User Interface is written by a very smart person, however it is, to be honest, a mess. Key parts are not in any sort of logical place.

If it does awards tracking, I was not able to get it to work as well as HRD does when I want to know my DXCC count. 1 mouse click. I'm sure it does it somehow, but you need to be a DBA to figure it out our watch a dozen YouTube videos.

I really wanted this to work since everyone raves about it. Sorry, I don't see it. If it works for you, that is great. I really wanted it to work, but, no joy.

Logging programs are like cars. Some you like and some you can't stand at all.
K0AF Rating: 2020-05-27
Incredible! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After being QRT for quite a few years, I was looking for a program to replace my ARRL paper log. I test drove a couple logging programs and found one that would have worked OK for me but since I was looking for a long term relationship I didn't want to settle for just OK. When I tried the DXLabs suite, I knew I had found "the one". Maybe I should say I found "the seven" since DXLabs consists of 7 applications that work together seamlessly but my immediate interest was in DXKeeper, the logging application. Due to its flexibility and large number of options the setup seemed a bit overwhelming at first but the documentation is phenomenal. The online help is not only comprehensive but easy to search and navigate. I see a few have commented that the setup is too difficult but if a 70 year old fossil can manage then you can too. Take my word for it, it's worth the effort!

I've also used the Commander application to interface to my Icom 7300. I really like that it auto-populates the frequency and mode fields when logging a QSO. The large on screen waterfall display is nice too!

In a word, the DXLabs suite is amazing! The only feature I found missing is a "Donate" button on AA6YQ's DXLabs website!
MM0IEL Rating: 2020-05-23
Superb suite of programs Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Not only is this by far the best suite of programs I have used but the care and help provided by its creator (Dave AA6YQ) goes far beyond what you would expect in a paid product and this is, of course, a totally free one.

As a suite of logging, transceiver control, rotator control, call book lookup, award tracking, QSL card printing, propagation prediction, and spot collection it cannot be bettered. Each part of the suite can be used independently or they can be linked together.

The suite is supported through a forum and any question or problem is answered by Dave extremely quickly and he goes out of his way to help.


Since my previous review I changed my transceiver for one that was not only new for me but to all Hams. As such it was not shown on the DXLab list of transceivers. Whilst most of its facilities could be used by using another Yaesu transceiver some would not work. When this was mention to Dave he rewrote DXLab Commander and asked me (together with another operator) to try it and see if it worked. When we found any snags he rewrote the program and asked us try it and report back to him. No matter how small a snag we found he would solve it until he was satisfied that the program worked our transceiver correctly.

It is support like this, together with the care Dave takes to get things that give this suite of programs a 5 star rating. If I could I would give it more than 5 stars