Add Logbook Entry (ALE)
Ham Radio Deluxe Logbook has a number of powerful features for tracking QSO data. This information is contained within the Add Logbook Entry (ALE) window and its fifteen tabs. This section will describe these areas. The ALE window is opened by clicking on the Add button in the toolbar.
Menu Bar
But first, it’s necessary to understand the options for the ALE. The ALE’s menu bar has a number of menu items.
Options
- Clicking the Options menu renders the following choices:
- The Times option can be selected for UTC or Local time.
- The Start and End times can be set according to the operator’s operating style.
Recommendations
- DXers and Contesters should use Current Time in the Times selection. This uses the time of the computer clock when the QSO is logged. Because DX and Contest exchanges are so short – lasting for only a few seconds – there’s an increased likelihood of making a QSL match to services like LOTW if the QSO is set to Current Time.
- Rag-chewers may want to use Set by user. This accommodates QSOs of longer durations.
Font Option
- This enables the operator to change the fonts used in the dialog ALE.
QSL Defaults
- This enables the operator to choose the initial values for the three QSL fields. This is helpful when using a value like Queued to set the LOTW value so that it’s easy to do a search for QSLs that need to be uploaded to LOTW.
RST Rcvd / Sent
- This provides options for canned values of RST.
Button Position
- The operator can select from bottom, middle, and right side location of the Update, Cancel, Reset, and Add Spot buttons. This is useful when vertical or horizontal space is restrained.
Menu Position
- The choices of positioning the menu on top or bottom are provided.
Other options
- Toggle on/off options
- Show Tooltips
- Save VFO B in database
- Keep Propagation Mode
- Mirror Locator on Location Tab
Show Worked Status
- This option enables a W icon to display for Call, Country, and Locator fields. This lets the operator know that these items have been worked before.
Tracking
- The Tracking menu enables the ALE to use the data coming from the rid for frequency or mode and automatically populated into the ALE. (Default is ON for both.)
Show:Fields
- This option enables the operator to choose which of the thirteen fields will be displayed in the ALE. (Default is all ON.)
Show:Tabs
- This option enables the operator to choose which of the fifteen tabs will be displayed in the ALE. (Default is all ON.)
Logbook Tab
The Logbook tab which is the first of many tabs at the bottom of the ALE window provides detail on previous QSOs with the station being logged. Partial and Exact matches are options.
Worked Tab
The Worked tab provides detail about previous QSOs with that callsign, country, continent, zone, IOTA, or locator… by band and/or mode.
Country Tab
The country tab contains the DXCC information about the country being logged. This data is ‘display only’ and is not saved in the QSO record. As such, it's dynamically displayed.
Contact Tab
The Contact tab provides a place to store information about the station operator’s age, Special Interest Group (SIG, or club), SIG website, email address, website URL 10-10 number, equipment, and biography. Callsign Lookup sources often provide much of this information.
Location Tab
The Location tab provides a place to store information about the station operator’s location – including State/province, City (QTH), County, ARRL Section, postal address, CQ and ITU Zone, continent, distance, and polar coordinates. Callsign Lookup sources often provide much of this information.
IOTA Tab
The IOTA tab provides a place to store information about the IOTA reference number and Island name.
Antenna/Satellite Tab
The Ant/Sat tab provides a place to store beam heading and satellite information.
Award Tab
The Award tab is for tracking the award credits within the various awards programs. A QSO record cannot have both Submitted and Granted status for a given award. Selecting one de-selects the other. More information about the use of this tab can be found in the Awards Tracking section of this manual. These values are determinants of what is displayed in the Not Submitted, Submitted, and Granted columns in the Awards Tracking tab.
Contest Tab
The Contest tab provides a place to store data related to contest exchanges.
Custom Tab
Six Custom fields can be defined and used by the operator. This is useful for tracking awards that are not hard-coded within Ham Radio Deluxe such as Summits on the Air (SOTA). Clicking on the Configure button enables the operator to rename these fields.
My Station Tab
The My Station tab is particularly useful when the operator has multiple operating locations. The operator can select from profiles (stations) created in Ham Radio Deluxe Logbook.
Propagation Tab
The propagation tab saves solar data into the QSO record. Be sure to check the Track box to turn this feature on. The information comes from the most recent WWV or WCY information.
QSL, eQSL.cc, and LOTW Tabs
The QSL tab is for tracking paper and electronic QSLs. QSL Sent and Rcvd have the following values:
QSL Rcvd:
Y yes (confirmed); an incoming QSL card has been received, or the QSO has been confirmed by the online service
N no; an incoming QSL card has not been received, or the QSO has not been confirmed by the online service
R requested; the logging station has requested a QSL card, or the logging station has requested the QSO be uploaded to the online service
I ignore or invalid
V (deprecated) verified
QSL Sent:
Y yes; an outgoing QSL card has been sent, or the QSO has been uploaded to, and accepted by, the online service
N no; do not send an outgoing QSL card; do not upload the QSO to the online service
R requested; the contacted station has requested a QSL card, or the contacted station has requested the QSO be uploaded to the online service
Q queued; an outgoing QSL card has been selected to be sent, or a QSO has been selected to be uploaded to the online service
I ignore or invalid
- Note: These values are determinants of what is displayed in the Confirmed and Need QSL columns in the Awards Tracking tab.