Amateur Radio Logging Software for Linux

I use Linux almost exclusively, so I was interested in finding some logging software that works on Linux. I have found CQRLOG and I think I'm going to stick with it. In addition to logging, it supports XML integration with QRZ.com, shows the current contact's location on a world map and can control your rig, in addition to other features.

The developer behind CQRLOG doesn't agree with the subscription rules recently put in place on QRZ.com, so he has made his own similar site called HamQTH.com. Presumably CQRLOG will work with this site as well.

State QSO Parties

I'm still new enough into HF that I haven't yet learned when various HF events are happening. This year, Field Day happened a month after I got my license, but I was aware that it was coming up. Since I started out June without an HF radio, I wasn't expecting to work Field Day, but I managed to get myself a Yaesu FT-857 and Buddistick antenna in time, so I was able to make 40 Field Day contacts. Since I started out having no clue what I was doing and only worked a few, sporadic hours, I was pleased to have made that many contacts. Next year I'll be much better prepared for Field Day.

In the meantime, I just discovered this list of state QSO parties: http://qsoparty.eqth.net/

There are quite a few opportunities to try to work specific states scattered throughout most of the year.

Back Into Radio Bigger Than Before

When I initially got my amateur radio license, I did so because two of my friends were already licensed. KB5DOA and KC5ISS wanted me to use some of the local repeaters with them. I got my technician license in 1996 and have been continuously licensed since. Life got busy a few years ago and I got a new vehicle and never put the mobile radio into it. Finally, in 2010 I realized that I was never going to not be busy again, so I decided to simply make the time to get the radio back into the truck. That led to a resurgence in my interest in amateur radio and I've now upgraded to general class and even participated in Field Day this year for the first time. My time is still limited, so I plan on making blog entries about how I'm operating with modest rigs in spare time.