Specifications

From January 2005 QST © ARRL
By Steve Ford, WB8IMY
E
asyLog5 is a complex piece of software. That is both a
compliment and a caution.
This is not merely a computerized ham log. EasyLog5
will control your radio (if your radio has computer-control
capability), manage awards, allow you to send CW, send and
receive PSK31 and PSK63, send pre-recorded audio (“voice
keying”), monitor your favorite DX cluster and more.
And when I say “more,” I really mean much more. The folks
at Microware Software have done their utmost to create the ulti-
mate do-everything Amateur Radio application for Windows.
Whether they’ve succeeded is ultimately up to the judgment of
each user. One thing is certain, though: with its multiplicity of
features, EasyLog5 takes some time to explore and master. Does
that mean that “EasyLog” is an oxymoron? Not at all. Each func-
tion is easy to use; it is just that there are so many of them!
Tailoring EasyLog5 to Yourself
Like most EasyLog5 users, I find that I use some features
frequently and others not at all. I love the ability to have up to
five separate logs open at once, jumping between them by click-
ing on the folder tabs at the right side of the main window.
As a PSK31 operator, I found this portion of EasyLog5 par-
ticularly enjoyable. My only gripe is that one of the receive
windows prints yellow text on a red background. That’s diffi-
cult for my middle-aged eyes to discern and there is no way to
change the color scheme.
I used the radio control feature with my Yaesu FT-897 trans-
ceiver and it worked quite well. A small window pops up and
allows you to select frequencies and modes as you please.
The DX cluster function is terrific, especially in its ability to
filter spots. For example, I set mine up to show only RTTY spots
from North American stations, on 40-10 meters, for DXCC en-
tities I haven’t worked or confirmed. On busy evenings when I
can’t spend hours at the radio, this is a wonderful feature.
Perhaps my favorite EasyLog5 feature is the “Running”
mode. In this mode you are presented with multiple QSO en-
try and checking windows. During a contest, or during normal
operation, you can type in a call sign and instantly know if
you need that zone, prefix, state, DXCC entity, etc for an award
or contact credit on a given band or mode.
My Wish List
EasyLog5 has almost everything I could ask for in a station
logging/management application. But like anyone else, I have
my wish list for future versions.
• I wish EasyLog5 supported the VHF/UHF Century Club
award with the ability to quickly tell me which grid squares
I’ve worked and confirmed, especially in the Running mode.
• I wish some of the remnant Italian language text labels
(Microware is an Italian company) were rendered in English.
In the world map display, I know “sole” means “sun,” but it is
still a little jarring.
• I wish I didn’t have to input my approximate location as
a six-character grid designator. Most hams in the US only use
four-character grid square designations, such as “FN31.”
EasyLog5
All this aside, EasyLog5 is still a highly capable, well-
designed application. If you are curious, my advice would be to
download the free trial version at www.easylog.com/eng/
index.htm (click the “Now available—the trial version! Down-
load it!” link). Just bear in mind that you probably won’t be
able to fully explore EasyLog5 in one sitting. Be patient, take
your time and, above all, read the manual.
Manufacturer: Microware Software. Distributed in the United
States and Canada by J. B. Sims Services LLC, PO Box 550895,
Dallas, TX 75355-0895; jbsims_services.home.att.net/. $89.54.
System requirements: Pentium or AMD processor, 400 MHz or
better, RAM 128 MB or greater, Windows XP, 2000 or NT.
The EasyLog5 main window.
The world map window. In this instance, the DXCC entities I’ve
confirmed on RTTY are highlighted in yellow.