Author: Andreas Schawo, DF1ASC (HamQTH, eQSL)
DragonLog is a logging program to log hamradio QSOs. Beside logging for ham radio you can also log CB radio QSOs.
Screenshot in german translation
- predefined fields for logging
- log multiple QSOs
- edit log entries
- input validation for callsign, RST, locator
- show worked before if a callsign is already logged
- distance calculation
- automatic time
- local callbook with immediate lookup
- OM data build of your contacts (per callsign)
- contest call history with received exchanges (per contest and callsign)
- incorporating prefixes/suffixes
- user triggered callbook search (HamQTH.com and QRZCQ.com)
- single and multiple QSO log upload
- HamQTH.com
- eQSL upload, check and download
- LoTW signing, upload and check status
- basic statistics (soon with graphics)
- log Contests and xOTA QSOs data (supported Contests see
Help - Available Contests)- follow Contest statistics
- export Contest log as Cabrillo, EDI or special file formats
- CAT (band, frequency, mode/submode, power via hamlib integration)
- watch log files for automatic log import of WSJT-X, JS8Call, fldigi and others
- QSO log import/export
- ADIF adi/adx/adi(zipped)
- Excel/CSV
- log 11m band QSOs
- filter preset for recent QSOs (last week, month, half year, year)
- UTF-8 support (e.g. use german umlauts)
- convert non ASCII characters for ADIF export (for supported languages)
- integrates CassiopeiaConsole
- display DX spots from DX cluster via telnet
- selectable font and font size
- default proportional font with slashed zero (modified Inter font)
- 3 independant font sizes for application, QSO form and CassiopeiaConsole
The installation requires a python installation (>= 3.10). On Linux you may have to install libxcb-cursor0.
# python3 -m pip install DragonLog
If you want to be able to export/import to/from Excel files install the extra packages
# python3 -m pip install DragonLog[extra]
Run as
# python3 -m dragonlog
Or if your python scripts folder is on PATH you can start DragonLog with
# DragonLog
For windows there is also an installable MSI and ZIP package available for convenience.
At first start DragonLog opens the settings dialog for you. You should configure at least your callsign, name and locator for a sufficient experience.
To select a default QTH/locator go to the QTH & Rig tab and
add your first QTH and locator e.g. Koblenz (JO30si).
Before you can start to log QSOs a database has to be selected. It can be placed on a path where you wish to. The database will be created and initialised.
At the next start of the program the la 8000 st database gets opened automatically.
You can switch between different databases as you like.
If you want to manage different QSO databases you can select them via commandline argument e.g.
# DragonLog QSOs-2024.qlog
If you also want to provide a separate configuration you can use e.g.
# DragonLog -ini DF1ASC.ini
The arguments must follow the format in this order
DragonLog [-ini INI_FILE] [QSODB_FILE]
You can log single QSOs by using the shortcut Ctrl+L.
The displayed form can be handled the easiest if you use TAB key to jump from field to field.
The form requires a callsign from your QSO partner and a start date to save/upload the data. It gives a colourful feedback for the quality of your supplied data. The colour feedback highlights required and recommended data only.
| Colour | Meaning |
|---|---|
| red | required |
| orange | wrong format |
| yellow | empty |
| green | ok |
| blue | worked before |
If automatic time is selected, the end time gets updated at saving the QSO.
QSOs can be edited by double-clicking on an entry in the database view.
In log and change mode there is an extra tab for QSL and different upload status. Here you can check the status of your paper QSL, eQSL inbox or LoTW QSLs.
The different callbook lookup retreive locator, QTH and name for a callsign. If a lookup result is available (internal or external), only empty form fields are filled with this data.
A callsign lookup on the internal callbook happens after typing a callsign. On saving the QSO the data gets added to or updated in the internal callbook.
DragonLog can retrieve additional OM data from HamQTH.com or QRZCQ.com callbook and upload the QSO to different services.
Make sure that you properly set the credentials for each online service in the settings. The password is stored in the systems key vault (e.g. Credential Manager on Windows or KWallet on KDE/Linux).
Only QSOs with a matching locator in the TQSL application (installation required) can be signed and uploaded. DragonLog provides a selection for the stations configured in TQSL. Then it searches for all QSOs with the matching locator which were not already sent to LoTW.
If you secured your TQSL (which is not recommended) set DragonLog correspondingly. DragonLog will then request your password on each upload action.
If you want to automatically log QSOs from other programs e.g. WSJT-X or JS8Call DragonLog can watch their ADIF file for changes and import new logs as they are created.
Starting file watching opens a file dialog where you have to point to the log in question. Some programms are preconfigured. Check the user manual of other programs to find the correct path.
If you want to use the worked before feature of the other program consider to export your QSOs beforehand. DragonLog will only import QSOs which are not already included in the current database.
Only a few little contest are currently supported. The number will increase as I make progress in contests or someone using this Logger places a feature request.
If you want to log a contest, bring up the Contest Statistics with Ctrl + T and select the contest and date.
This will also set the QSO filter of your Logbook to display only this type of contest in the given range of date.
CassiopeiaConsole also will be set to contest mode.
Then you should start to log QSOs with either CassipeiaConsole (heavily suggested) or via QSO form.
For contests you do not have to track your sent exchange. DragonLog will care about at export. So just let the running number increase and care about the received exchange from your QSO partner.
After the contest, use Contest - Export Contest... to generate a contest file in the special format (e.g. Cabrillo). The contest name and dates should be preset in the dialog from the Contest Statistics. These informations maybe important, as DragonLog may build your sent exchange out of them.
Please check the exported file properly before sending it in!!!
During a contest the call lookup is performed against the call history instead of the internal callbook. After typing a callsign the received exchange will be filled with data from the lookup.
After saving a QSO in a running contest, the received exchange data is added to or updated in the call history. The callbook will also be updated.
Following formats are supported for export
- ADIF 3 format (ADI/ADX/ADI zipped)
- Excel file
- CSV format (UTF-8 encoding)
If you backup your log regularly at HamQTH use zipped ADI format for your whole logbook.
ADIF ADX is the best choice for creating a backup for your own storage. The data can completly be restored from this format. Also
ADX should be preferred over ADI as UTF-8 is supported. Unfortunatly most services do not support ADX. For ADX fields where UTF-8 is supported (*_INTL fields) additionally the ASCII counterpart is exported.
For ADX ASCII only fields (all ADI fields) all german umlauts and ligatures are converted automatically to suiting ASCII counterparts.
Following formats are supported for import
- ADIF 3 format (ADI/ADX/ADI zipped)
- Excel file
- CSV format (UTF-8 encoding)
The import file is expected to have the same structure and column order as exported by DragonLog. So best practice is to export an example QSOs with the current program version and adjust the import file accordingly.
Empty rows are skipped. A row is considered empty if the date/time is missing.
UTF-8 content (*_INTL fields) are preferred over ASCII counterparts when importing ADX files.
For ADI files DragonLog fixes different problems depending on the source of the file (see ADIF Compatibility)
You can use hamlib to interact with your radio.
The QSO logging form automatically updates radio information:
- frequency (and band)
- mode (and submode)
- power
Hamlib can be downloaded at https://github.com/Hamlib/Hamlib/releases. DragonLog is tested against version 4.5.5 and 4.6.2.
After selecting your radio and interface settings you can press the start button to start the communication.
Currently, DragonLog can only configure radios with serial interface.
Unpack or install your hamlib release. On the CAT settings tab you have to select your hamlib unpack/installation directory.
If no package is available for your distribution you have to compile the hamlib release first. Download the release .tar.gz (not source), unpack, ./configure, make, make install. The rigctld is assumed to be in /usr/local/bin and thus on your path.
Each release of DragonLog provides a very recent country data file. If you want to update it manually visit https://www.country-files.com/category/big-cty/ by Jim, AD1C and download a Big CTY Zip file. Unpack the Zip and goto Settings - Dx Spots to select the file. You can check if the file is correctly loaded via Help - About. Check if the version date and version entity corresponds to the website.
The flag display is based on the mapping from Flagpedia.net and matched against the Big CTY data. This is sometimes weak and thus error prone and needed manual fixes. There are still 15% unmapped (mostly islands).
If a flag is mapped wrong, please stay calm and drop me a mail. The mapping does not reflect my view on country borders.
DragonLog © 2023 by Andreas Schawo is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0