| AB3CV |
Rating:      |
2016-09-23 | |
| Excellent software! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've used DXLabs Suite for the past 5 years and have enjoyed it greatly. I both chase DX and contest. For contesting I use N1MM for which it is purpose built. It is quick and easy to transfer those contacts via ADI to my DXKeeper log after the contest is over for upload to LOTW which is my normal practice.
DXKeeper Capture allows for quick entry of contacts and if setup with your callbook (QRZ for me) fills in all of the needed information for capturing a QSO. If a spot is clicked on in SpotCollector all is filled in for you with no additional work.
The "flashing lights" mentioned is just information missing when the QSO was logged. AA6YQ's help files are extremely well managed and up to date with each modification made to the software. His attention to keeping the known bug list at zero is legendary as is his online customer support.
I like the multiple windows as it lets me keep only the pieces I want to see occupying screen space and arranged as I want them. Further most of the windows are user configurable to show only those things important to me.
I didn't jump deeply into all of the modules when I started but did add them fairly quickly as I discovered their utility from reading the help files and the Yahoo group conversations.
Thanks largely to DXlabs in those 5 years I'm now at 314 countries confirmed, 2300 Challenge worked and DXCC on 160 thru 10m with a total of 35792 QSOs. DXLabs made that possible due to excellent Spot collection and alerting (I have it text me), logging, QSL management and support.
Highly recommended! |
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| WW3S |
Rating:      |
2016-09-23 | |
| great software, but maybe not for everyone.... |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
with regards to the last review, like most powerful software, the learning curve for DxLab is rather steep. I'll admit, its not for everyone. The nice thing about this software, is just about everything is user configurable.....the bad thing about this software, is just about everything is user configurable !!!! but with regards to entering QSOs rapid fire, it does that, its called the Capture window...award tracking is great, interfaces seamlessly with LOTW, the support from the author is superb, their is good support from the mailing list, and most times when someone posts "this software sucks because yada yada yada" the reply is usually, "well, did you check the setting for XYZ, try that and see what happens" and then that response is "DOH....I didnt know the software did that, that is realy cool"...so the price is certainly right (some people arent comfortable with free stuff, for some reason they think if they pay more, its "better"), the support is great and friendly, I've been using it for years, now over 120,000 qsos, plus 2 logs I manage from DX operations and I am one truly satisfied "customer"....73
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Earlier 5-star review posted by WW3S on 2016-03-22
support is great, does everything you would want in a logger and more, and you cant beat the price !!!!! There is a somewhat steep learning curve involved, but there is a super supportive user group and the author, Dave, never sleeps !!!! The learning curve is expected with all the features and full intergration of all the different modules...the beauty is, if you dont want all the modules, dont run them, only run what you need or want.....tracking awards, DXCC, whatever has never been easier, and I've tried them all at some point in time.....did I mention you cant beat the price !!!!! |
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| K3TN |
Rating:      |
2016-09-23 | |
| Complex but fantastic |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I started out with N3FJP's logging software and then moved to Ham Radio Deluxe. Each had deficiencies compared to how I operate - mostly DXing, I do a lot of contesting but use N1MM+ for my contest logs. But, I needed a day to day log that could handle importing all my contest logs, too and handling all the QSL (LotW, eQSL, buro response) chores and I also wanted to operate RTTY, PSK through it.
When I first loaded DXLab I thought it was crazy complex - you had to load 6 or 7 different modules. However, they all play together very nicely and over time I relaized the modularity had 2 big advantages over the other logging programs:
1. Bugs were fixed much faster and new features get added much faster. AA6YQ's support is phenomenal - usually within hours.
2. You have more flexibility on how much and where you want things to display on your screen.
Once you get over the complexity of multiple modules, operation is a snap. The logbook (DXKeeper), the packet cluster monitor (Spot Collector) and the radio control work together seamlessly. DXKeeper makes it easy to upload to LotW and eQSL and has scripts for many other functions. There is a map display of spots, a bandmap display, many other options. Commander is supported by lots of other programs (like WSJT and N1MM via bridge software) so you can leave DXLab running while you run other programs and QSOs get put right into your DXKeeper log.
There are a few negatives. The WinWarbler RTTY/FSK software to me is way harder to use than DM780 and other packages. The program has so many options that many of the screens contain buttons I never use - I'd like to be able to have a configuration capability to simply many of the main screens.
The "flashing red words" error mentioned by the other reviewer is confusing until you understand it is generally pointing out an error (like an unknown or invalid DX prefix) that needs to be corrected or the log entry will be invalid.
All in all, after trying several other programs I've stayed with DXLab for 5 years or so now, with a log that now has over 120,000 QSOs in it. Still going strong.
73 John K3TN
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Earlier 5-star review posted by K3TN on 2016-03-24
I've used all the major logging programs and settled on DXLab about 5 years ago. At first it seemed very complicated, 5 or six different programs to installed compared to one or two for the other logging programs. But once you do that you realized all the modules play together seamlessly and it is nice to only run or have displayed a few of them at a time under certain operating conditions.
My rating is a 5 for features, reliability and support, and the fact that of all the ones I've used DXLab just makes it easier to operate the way I'd like to operated.
There are few areas that could improve. I like the way DM780 in HRD works better than I do WinWarbler in DXLab for RTTY and PSK. I'd like it easy to directly enter a frequency, even without Commander active on the screen, a few other areas.
But overall just a great piece of software - and the support by AA6YQ is phenomenal. 99% of the time he solved a problem the same day by explaining how, and where fixes are required, they come out within a weei. |
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| N2RJ |
Rating:  |
2016-09-22 | |
| Trust me, I tried to like DXLabSuite |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
So I tried. I really honestly tried. Really really hard. I tried to use and like DXLab suite based on my friends reviews and raves about it. I guess I can't see what all the fuss is about.
I was a user of Ham Radio Deluxe. Decent when Simon Brown actively maintained it but had a lot of bugs. When W4PC and others took it over, they fixed a lot of bugs but some new ones came in. I just kept using the free version until more of those bugs just hampered my efforts. I tried the pay one and then saw that they really didn't improve that much in it.
Then I tried DXLabSuite.
Oh. my. God. I can't see for the life of me why people rave about this thing.
For starters the interface looks like Windows 3.1. Past that it seemed very user unfriendly. There was no straightforward way to enter rapid QSOs in succession (such as when running a pileup) at least from the outset. It uses the outdated and nonstandard "launcher" helper app to load the others. Reports are generated in HTML rather than in the program itself. When you make an error in a QSO entry you get these weird red flashing words on the screen rather than an understandable error message.
I tried several times to like DXLabSuite but in the end I just couldn't. It may be powerful but it was not pleasant nor straightforward to use.
I switched to Log4OM and I never looked back. |
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| NA5U |
Rating:      |
2016-05-05 | |
| EXCELLENT!! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| This is best logging software I've every used. It truly DXer's dream for solid operation and EXCELLENT support from the author, Dave - AA6YQ, and the user group! I highly recommend it! |
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| KI0KB |
Rating:      |
2016-03-27 | |
| Amazing Logging Program |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I switched to DXLab Suites about one year ago.
It has excellent on line support information to walk you through the set up and virtually any questions you may face about it's use.
Any question you may have and post are answered quickly... you are not left hanging. AA6YQ as well as others are there to guide seemingly 24/7.
Any issues with program interfaces caused by changes in QRZ, LoTW, eQSL web sites etc. are handled quickly which is so much different than with my previous logging program that cost money. You are not left hanging with a non functional aspect of your logging program for days or longer.
You can use as much or as little of the program(s) as you desire to meet your hamming needs.
The ability and functionality of keeping track of your progress on almost any award you can think of is excellent. It makes keeping track and managing your QSL endeavors easy whether it's electronic, paper or both.
I am convinced that if there is something you think the program should be able to do to make your life easier you will find, once you look into it, that it is already available in the program.
People describe it as a "steep" learning curve but I prefer to think of it as a progressive learning experience. Once you get the basic rig interface (Commander) and logging function (DX Keeper) set up and running you will then naturally want to start exploring each of the other program modules individually to add to your overall hamming experience and abilities.
For the cost of ZERO dollars on the users part I don't believe there is a better or more comprehensive logging program out there.
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|
| K0ZR |
Rating:      |
2016-01-03 | |
| Very Good |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| My station is "wired" for SO2R and not all the general logging software available support this. DXLab does a nice job of seamlessly allowing me to switch from one radio to another unlike some of the others. With SO2R comes talking with the other peripherals SO2R entails. DXLab works great. DX4WIN was my favorite until going to SO2R, and unfortunately DX4WIN cannot see my second radio no matter what I have tried. Other simpler software packages just don't support more than one radio. This more than fits the bill for general logging. |
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| ZS1DX |
Rating:      |
2015-09-10 | |
| Great Logging Software |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I've been using DXKeeper (part of the comprehensive DXLab suite) for more than a year now. Currently running great on Windows10 64 Bit, scaled to 125%. I'm a past user of DX4WIN, AC Log by N3FJP, and Win-EQF. And I've test-driven MacLoggerDX, Log4OM and Ham Radio Deluxe. DXKeeper is easily my favourite logger. Relatively easy to learn, full-featured, up-to-date and extremely well supported with a very active Yahoo Group providing insight and help where needed. I value the excellent integration with LOTW (awesome, easy system btw.), eQSL and ClubLog. Once the Log Page display/layout/colums have been set to your liking, with font style/size etc., it is very easy to navigate and interpret. And DXKeeper keeps perfect and easy track of all the various awards available. Although I don't often use the numerous other programs in the DXLab Suite, they are well integrated and make for a very effective DX'ing support/info/logging setup. JT65/JT9 logging is a breeze with the excellent integration of JTAlert and WSJT-X. I would pay $100 for DXKeeper, but Dave AA6YQ does not accept money. Amazing. While MacLoggerDX is certainly prettier to look at, and well-featured, I much prefer the power and configurability of DXKeeper. Definately worth a test-drive if you're serious about logging your precious DX contacts, tracking awards, and don't have time to waste with so-so loggers. Thank you Dave! 73 and good luck, Christian |
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| K2SN |
Rating:      |
2015-07-14 | |
| Enormously helpful for DXing |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Dave, AA6YQ and his DXLab software suite have powerfully enhanced my DX activities. Although I have been continually licensed since 1958, constraints of school, work, and family limited my air time. In infrequent sessions, using General class license WA2DFP, I occasionally worked a DX station, but remained far from DXCC. My log was always pencil on paper. After retirement, with family grown, I began looking again at my 20-year-old transceiver. Computerized logging seemed worthwhile. With some false starts, I came to DXLab, only for DXKeeper, the logging module. For a while I also kept the pencil and paper log, just in case the computer idea didn’t work out. But of course, it did work well, and I added a refurbished desktop machine dedicated to this new purpose. DX became more interesting, so I added SpotCollector. Now the internet pointed me to needed QSOs. This inspired equipment upgrades in the shack, from the ground rods on up. The Commander module allowed SpotCollector to tune the transceiver to the desired frequency. DXView rotated the antenna and displayed entity status, while Pathfinder facilitated the QSL process. For the first time, digital modes came into play, enabled by WinWarbler. Amazing support from Dave (does he ever sleep?) and the DXLab Yahoo group taught me how to make things work. All of that led to upgrading the operator to Amateur Extra class. In less than a two-year timespan, using just a 25-foot high Yagi with a 10-foot boom, only on 10, 15, and 20 meters, over 200 entities are confirmed on each band and each mode, for a total of 265 mixed as of July 2015, plus the WAS Triple Play. I certainly would not have reached these milestones without Dave and his marvelous DXLab software, the brains of my station. |
|
| VK3MEG |
Rating:      |
2015-05-17 | |
| the best Logger |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
Dx labs suite is the best logging and software managing prorgam. i have used.
if you have hrd and are considering change DO IT this software might not look as shiny but the level of usability and function its amazing. it is as close to a mission critical software that i can find. rock solid logger rock solid cw keyer, the same for rtty and psk. So if the dx comes up quick and you are there early you wont be fluffing around trying to get your unsupported software running. you will point and shoot in a minute or 2 you will be looking for the next new one. this is for the DX'er who wants rock soild reliability.
btw migration from hrd takes a while but is worth work the work
cheers |
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