| N2OGK |
Rating:      |
2018-05-24 | |
| Update |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| This product is by far the best Logging software I have used in my 25 years. After resolving my customer service issues with the company I have changed my review to give them the 5 which the product deserves. |
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| KA7RAI |
Rating:      |
2018-02-17 | |
| Look no further... This is it. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I've tested all the free and donate applications out there some so-so and some just never really preformed. Then I bit the bullet and bought Ham Radio Deluxe. There's no comparison, This program just flat does what it says it will do and then some. And the support... Better than anything I've ever seen. I got a reply back at 2AM from Ferry, he was very helpful and I was amazed at the time of day he answered my question. If you want a Ham program buy this and don't bother wasting any time on the others. |
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| KM4SFF |
Rating:      |
2018-02-04 | |
| Comprehensive ham tool. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
This is by far the most comprehensive ham application I've used. I have experience working with some of the other well known logging applications and they are good at what they do, but I like how everything integrates within one application. Besides logging, there is awards tracking, rotor control, a digital communications tool (DM780), transceiver interface and much more.
The application allows you to rearrange certain screens giving you a customized workflow. I like this feature because not all operators work in the same manner.
Customer service:
My customer service experience was outstanding. Ferry responded to an incident I submitted within two hours and it was a holiday weekend!
HRD offers a 30-day trial. If you are considering another logging application, I would highly recommended giving them a try.
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| N2JF |
Rating:      |
2018-01-24 | |
| Great all -in-one logging suite |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I think it's the best overall logging program to keep track of all your ham activities. Here are some bullet points why:
-First of all, pay the small fee for the program. The free version is outdated and it glitches with newer programs
-The customer service is the best. Comes with paid version...and is the best software support you will get anywhere. I had several glitches which I could not figure out. Jim is tech services connected remotely and fixed every problem on at least three occasions. Unbelievable in this age of horrible service.
-Don't bash this program...chances are the problem is on your end and not with the software...it's usually a setting on your computer.
-It's not really designed to be a contesting program..although it can be used as one. Much better to import all your scores, contacts, etc. from N1MM and FT8 and let HRD become a central clearinghouse which keep track of your awards, QSLs, etc.
-I would suggest using mysql to convert the logs if they are large...much faster than access. HRD has instructions on how to do it. If I can figure it out, anyone can.
-Initial setup could be a breeze or glitchy, depending on your rig and computer. Another reason to pay for the support.
-Rmember, it is a suite of different featrures that are usefull, not just a logging program.
-Overall, I find it the best overall program out there to keep track of your activity and daily contacts. Not perfect, but the HRD folks seem to be responsive to bugs and glitches and appear to be constantly approving the software. That's more than I can say for other developers.
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| W4NNF |
Rating:      |
2017-10-14 | |
| Good, solid program(s) just like always... |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
To make it short and sweet, if you've been using the free (v5) version of HRD you will be happy with the for-pay v6 program. I'd used Simon's HRD for six years. Did everything I needed it to do and did it well. So why did I recently hand over money for the pay-to-play Ham Radio Deluxe?
First of all, I suspect it's just a matter of time before changes in Windows break version 5. I'd rather upgrade at a time of my choosing than wait and be forced to do so during a contest, etc. etc.
Secondly, over the years, v5 has begun to generate some errors and lose capabilities. The Logger, for example, throws up an error due to a url it used to get propagation information being outdated. No big deal, but annoying.
Finally, the modest amount you'll pay for Ham Radio Deluxe is worth it (to me) to ensure the program hangs around. If you are experienced in using it, you really shouldn't need any support, so just pony up for the version with the shortest support period, which is less than 50 bucks. No need for a CD in these days of broadband, so don't worry about that extra expense.
The only thing that bothered me about upgrading was that I have everything working for me just the way I want it, and I was afraid installing the new one would mess that up. It didn't. Mostly it didn't, anyway. The only thing I lost during the upgrade was the macros in DM780 I'd set up for PSK 31. Not a big deal and took just a few minutes to reenter my information.
What if you've never used HRD, though, and are wondering whether you should? There are various programs available, like Fldigi, that can do some of the things HRD does, do them well, and do them for free. But HRD is the only program I've tried that does EVERYTHING I need it to do. What does HRD do? Ham Radio Deluxe is not actually one program; it's a suite of programs:
Rig control. I was perfectly happy with this, but I notice that it's been improved, with some new options (for my Icom transceiver) that I didn't have in the free version. What rig control will do is allow you to operate your (computer savvy) rig from the PC. With HRD's rig control module running, you shouldn't have to touch the front panel of your transceiver unless you need to change some of the more basic settings. It even includes a pseudo band scope that works pretty darned well.
Logging. There are computerized logbooks that work as every bit well as HRD's logger, but HRD's logger is user friendly and does what I need it to do the way I need it to work for everything from contesting to day to day operations. It interfaces with the digital modes app of HRD, DM780. You can look up calls on QRZ with a touch of a button, open an Internet browser, even locate the station you worked on a map using Google Earth. It's also simple to set up for use with Logbook of the World. A pair of buttons on the logger's toolbar allows down/uploading to LOTW.
Rotor control. I don't use a rotor at the moment, so I have yet to try this program module, but if you need computerized antenna pointing, this will do it according to my buddies who have used it.
DM780 aka "Digital Master"...This is the app that allows you to communicate in the more popular digital modes. Works fine, and is all I use for PSK31. As above, you don't need to leave DM780 to log your contacts; you can do it from within the program. I love DM780.
HRD downsides? A few.
The logbook can be ornery if you don't have a strong Internet connection. I sometimes don't in my shack, which is in a detached building. Click "look up" without a good connection and Logbook can hang up. In a couple of instances, this has also caused DM780 to crash as well.
At the moment DM780 lacks, not unexpectedly, that hot, hot, hot new mode everybody is crazy for, FT8. However, the free program to work that mode, WSJT-X, interfaces with HRD and that allows you to set up the software just by selecting "Ham Radio Deluxe" in WSJT-X's rig setup window.
While Ham Radio Deluxe looks good, as it always has, I sort of expected some refinements, particularly on the rig control app as far as appearance. Don't get me wrong, it looks fine...but it's basically almost exactly the same thing I've been staring at for six years.
In the beginning, when the software transitioned from free to for pay, there were some hiccups with bugs, support, and PR issues. All this seems to be in the past now. While I haven't had occasion to try the support system, I am told the new owners are now doing a good job.
To sum up, I am every bit as cheap as any other ham, but I'm glad I upgraded. End of story, game over, zip up your fly...HRD is still great.
This is a big, sprawling set of programs with tons of settings and options. Take it slowly. Get rig control working, move on to the logbook, and then tackle DM780. The manual is not perfect, but is pretty good, and I suspect will get most new HRD users going without recourse to the support folks. |
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| KT8DX |
Rating:     |
2017-06-05 | |
| Update of previous review |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I jumped the gun on the previous review I left for HRD. I found an article online telling me how to go into the Windows registry and edit it for HRD would work. Seems silly and dangerous to have to edit the registry but it did work. HRD is what it is - a big, multi-function application that does just about everything one could want with a station automation program. But will all things complex, the more there is, there more there is to break. BMW owners understand this only too well. |
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| WA5CAM |
Rating:   |
2017-04-23 | |
| New User Denied? |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Just got back in the hobby about 4 months ago and I may have installed this about 3 months ago needing a logging program. Now I am needing rig control, digi modes etc. Oh course now I can "test" it because of my previous install. Oh well, moving on. |
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| W6MYN |
Rating:      |
2017-03-15 | |
| Fantastic & Priceless |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
If your serious abt DXCC, Contests, Awards or simply rag chewing you must have Ham Radio Deluxe in your repertoire .
Over the course of 2 years HRD enabled me to acquire 278 Countries/Enities could not have done this without this marvel package, a solid reliable Rig controller, Logging pgm, Rotor contoller along with numerous other pgms/aids.
If your hesitant abt the install or operation
Their outstanding support team (Tim in particular)
Will cheerfully guide u through the process.
Catch u on the air de w6myn |
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| AE5GG |
Rating:      |
2017-03-08 | |
| Great tool for every shack! Excellent Technical Support! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I purchased the HRD software several years ago. I use it regularly with my Yaesu and Icom radios (both new FT-991 & IC-7851 and "old" FT-1000D & IC-R8500).
Some comments on this review section cite that this is complex software. I don't see it that way. I see a great piece of software that has to accommodate a wide array of radios and configs. I know how utterly complicated that can be. So hats off to them for doing it in one great package.
Recently I migrated to a new PC and in doing so I copied my files from the older PC to the new one. I then installed HRD's most recent version. I had a glitch / error box, that popped up when I opened the logbook. I couldn't figure it out. I finally contacted HRD who responded almost immediately with several possible fixes. I tried them all without resolution. The tech (Tim) connected remotely to my system and resolved it in <2 minutes. It turned out that there was a erroneous/corrupt database on my system. EXCELLENT efficient work!
I literally never use my radios without this software - I'm that hooked! The log book, which shows you all of the active callsigns on each band is utterly phenomenal and great for catching DX/contesting! I hope your experience is the same! |
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| KM6AXC |
Rating:    |
2017-02-25 | |
| (Chuckle) They got the message? |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
OK guys, here is my take on this Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD) product. First, I read roughly 10% of the 2200 responses about the lousy product/service that HRD has to offer. When I began using the product, I became so disgusted and frustrated, I gave up on it many times - after many reloads and uninstalls of it. The reviews mentioned above were right on. But I stuck to it - damn the torpedoes type of thing.
To the owners credit, he did recently post a new item that both apologizes for past employee actions and also promised better service. Well, believe it or not, I CALLED TWICE after (reading that) for help and both times, a tech answered and actually gave me good answers. I was blown away!!.
TRULY TRULY I say unto you, even now, this product is WAY TO COMPLICATED. Ever heard of KISS? But, alas, once you figure it out, the darn thing is great! As long as you keep it simple (KISS). It still freezes now and then but the reload (i.e. restarting the Radio portion of the program - not a complete new download) seems easy (so far). Here is what I can offer (I'll leave my three pages of complaints for a later posts - complaints that deal with it's complexity). I have a Yaesu FTDX 3000 machine. The manual that comes with it (as you undoubtedly know) is a major joke!! But, that is another complaint letter to the editor that will get posted later:):).. I tried to use that manual as a guide to "interface" with HRD (remember KISS? Instead of the fancy word "interface", why can't they simply say "linking the radio to the computer program?). But, to say the manual was of no use is an understatement. I then - probably like most of you - turned to the internet. I found one article that expressed the amazement of a ham who realized that most users of the machine did not know that there was an internal soundcard built into the Yeasu machine (of course, the Yaesu manual did not mention that point). Anyway, I followed the numerous steps he outlined and the HRD program "worked". But, that was just the beginning of many other associated problems involved in using the Yaesu internal soundcard. I therefore recommend that you do NOT use the internal soundcard but instead, use the below stuff.
So, here is what I did and now, other than the idiotic complexity of the program (in terms of the hundreds of buttons/configurations/processes/occasional freeze ups/etc. you can choose while operating, it works satisfactorily. First, invest $150 in the Signal Link (probably others just a good but this is the only one I use) and get the little $12 plug in thingy that goes inside (they will tell you which one to get). Plug one end (the six pin connector to the rear of the radio and the other USB into the computer. Configure (or per KISS, "set up") your HRD sound card to CODEC for both input and output. Go to YAESU web site and download the Virtual serial port (after you push the product button for FTDX 3000 and then find the itty bitty word that sas files - the download will show up in your device manage as ports 3 and 4). 3 is Enhanced and 4 is standard. I "think" 4 is used for CW but that is another battle that still lies ahead of me. HRD will not work if such is not downloaded. Then, hook up another cable between another usb port on your computer and the usb connection at the rear (note that each end has a different plug in type). Now, if my "computereese" is correct, what this does is permit your computer to operate the radio from the HRD program (i.e. the cable that goes to the usb slot on the back of the radio) while isolating the inefficient computer soundcard from the HRD program (i.e. you have substituted the computer soundcard with the more efficient Signal Link soundcard - the one that hooks up to the 6 pin on rear of radio). Call Signal Link and they will make sure you get the right stuff. Once I got all this done, the HRD program is for the most part, doing what I want. I keep my efforts ONLY in the area of learning how to log contacts automatically. I do not even bother with the tons of other stuff - yet!!. So, if you have the same radio and need help, look me up on QRZ and email me. I spent at least 25 hours getting this thing to work - maybe I can lessen your time commitment? :):)
Jerry
KM6AXC |
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